Auditions & Career

The Singer’s Library: Queering Vocal Pedagogy

A new book provides insights on creating gender-affirming voice studios.

Crossover Corner: Could, Can, Will, and Getting Current with Crossover

Could versus should: One of my favorite things to say to voice students and friends is “Don’t should on yourself.” And I need to regularly remind myself of the same. I’ll overhear a teacher working with a student on a piece I’ve forgotten or a song from a new musical and think, “I should assign this to so-and-so” or “I should learn this music” or “I should start singing Purcell again” or “I should do a lecture recital.”

Whistling Hens: Reacting to the Landscape

Soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick and clarinetist Natalie Groom formed a duo, Whistling Hens, which commissions women composers for their ensemble. Learn more about how they formed, their process, and the rewarding, exciting work of these two women in chamber music.

Second Acts: Alternative Career Paths

Singing is not known to be a “forever” career. Moving from a performing or teaching career to an entirely different field does not negate the successes one gains in music, but the skills we learn on the operatic stage transition well into alternate career paths.

Crossover Corner: Magic, Fear, and Moving Forward

Fear is a natural part of being a performer. In this month’s “Crossover Corner,” we learn how to run toward our fears to discover the new in our art and bring magic to our creative efforts.

On the Pros of Teaching

For many pursuing a professional singing career, to teach or not to teach is a very tough question. Is it possible to balance teaching with my singing obligations? Will I be able to teach and still have vocal stamina? Can I teach if I’ve never done it before? The answer is a resounding yes!

What Can Be Done about Fewer Males and Lower Voices on the Singing Scene?

The classical singing industry finds itself with fewer lower voices professionally and in school programs. Recruiting tenors, baritones, and basses requires shifts in cultural understanding of the arts as a professional field.

Tips from Juilliard: Why Do Auditions Have to be a Zero-Sum Game?

As a performing artist, you will take many auditions during the course of your career. There is a lot of advice available on preparing for auditions, but what about after the audition? How do you prepare for that? I’d like to explore that question in this article.

Music Major Minute: Unexpected Vocal Literature, Part II – Beyond the 24 Italian Songs and Arias :

Working on your Italian lyric diction is. . . come si dice? Più importante! Outside of diction class and voice lessons, subscribe to DictionBuddy.com or ItalianforSingers.com for pronunciation practice of your song texts. If you are a curious scholar looking for songs beyond the 24 Italian Songs and Arias that will help you level up, this column is for you. 

The Singer’s Library: Class Voice

A new text helps teachers explore efficient and effective implementation of the class voice format.

Zero Views Blues

How do we know if anyone is watching submitted audition videos? As prescreening videos become more ubiquitous, singers are feeling frustrated with analytics revealing that videos were not viewed by companies rejecting them from auditions. 

Online Presence for Singers

In this conversation, Frisco and Otaño discuss the ways that singers must manage their online presence. Read on to discover ways to improve your website and social media to your professional advantage.