All Things Vocal Blog & Podcast by Judy Rodman: November 2022

Training & insights for stage and studio singers, speakers, vocal coaches and producers from professional vocal coach and author of "Power, Path & Performance" vocal training method. Download All Things Vocal podcast on your fav app!

Friday, November 25, 2022

Gift Suggestions for Singers, Songwriters, Speakers and Musicians UPDATED 2022

...whatever it is, wrap it with love

Do you have singers, speakers and/or musicians on your gift list? Here are some suggestions, updated for 2022:

$25 or less...

$26 - $65

  • Singing In The Studio course (the ultimate professional level course for any singer who will be recording vocals.) Try that coupon to see if it still works: FALL22SAVE25
  • Vocal Production Workshop (for engineers/producers who want to get the best vocals possible out of their singers) For this too.. coupon might still work!
  •  FALL22SAVE25
  • HearFones  I have a limited number in stock right now. (Domestic shipping only, sorry, no coupon. I price them as low as I can.)
  • 1/2 hour vocal lesson with me in-person, online or phone (I'll provide gift certificate)
  • Microphome foam microphone cleaner All of us should have a bottle of this.
  • A limited subscription to Netflix or boxed set of a TV series (for idle hours on the tour bus)
  • A music "fake book" or sheet music
  • Stands - music stand, mic stand, guitar stand
  • iPad stand holder
  • Tickets to a live concert event
  • mini-trampoline for core and wellness physical workouts all voices need.
  • A thumb drive for music tracks and vocal exercises
  • Mp3 speakers (some of the cheap ones sound fine and work with not only iPhones but also Android phones, tablets, laptops, etc.)
  • iPhone adapter (for newer iPhones that don't have a phone jack)

$65 - $250

  • One or two hours of vocal lessons with me in office or online (I'll provide gift certificate)
  • Speaking Voice Technique video vocal training course 
  • My full UPDATED 6-disc Power, Path and Performance vocal training course - again, try that coupon FALL22SAVE25 .  Please specify if you want the course on disc, or prefer the files on thumb drive - or just the digital version
  • A membership subscription to CARTNE music career training.
  • A 'Little Prompter' teleprompter for cellphone, laptop, computer (I love mine!)
  • A JBL Bluetooth Speaker
  • A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) such as ProTools, Studio One, Logic, Reaper.
  • A course by Bree Noble in music business such as "Profitable House Concerts" (she has several more)
  • Music marketing/promotion training by Rick Barker
  • backup hard drive for recording projects
  • A Cajon, Djembe or frame drum 
  • A new smartphone and/or data package
  • Membership(s) in NSAI (for songwriters), AFM (Musician's Union) or SAG/AFTRA (singer/actor union)
  • Photoshop Elements (An affordable version to create web banners, flyers, edit photos, all kinds of photo uses)
  • Masterwriter software 
  • Gym membership and/or personal trainer (for health, looks AND vocal stamina!)
  • Acting or dance lessons... Google classes and prices in your area, get recommendations.
  • Live performance coaching
  • A microphone - spend some time finding out what is needed. Will it be for stage performance or recording? For a speaker, say a lavalier mic system (this is what I have)? A podcast? There are cheap and more expensive mics for all these applications, do some digging around. An economical time-tested stage or rehearsal workhorse is the Shure SM58 or Sennheiser 835.
  • Mp3 player or speaker (and if you're dealing with the newer iPhone, you'll need wireless)
  • A small mixing board
  • A quality pair of headphones  
  • turntable (LP vinyl player - and hey, discriminating ears love vinyl!) 
  • An instrument case with wheels, or lightweight gig bag
  • Digital recorder 
  • Surprise your performer at a show with flowers!

$250 and up...

  • Funding for my vocal production and/or bgvs (contact me if you'd like to discuss)
  • A series of vocal lessons with me (I'll be happy to provide a gift certificate) 
  • Lessons on an instrument.
  • Mixing board
  • A camera, GoPro or camcorder
  • The Shure SM7B cardiod dynamic vocal microphone (I am now recording bgvs and my podcast on this). 
  • An audio interface - simple, or complex like the Apollo (mine is the Twin - the PC version) which comes with console and plugins.
  • A web or Facebook designer
  • DragonSpeak - Voice Recognition Software  (for songwriters and speech writers)
  • In-ear monitors
  • Stage clothes and/or bling
  • Wireless mic system
  • A photo session
  • CD graphics design
  • A music marketing seminar or bootcamp
  • Funding for video shoot
  • An instrument.. guitar, keyboard, mandolin, violin, etc
  • New road cases
  • Home studio recording gear
  • A live PA system
Gifts of Your time/expertise -
  • Host an outdoor socially distanced karaoke party or guitar pull!
  • Write song charts for your loved one.
  • Set them up on a social network they are new to.
  • Teach them to use some software you know they need.
  • Videotape them for TikTok, Instagram, Youtube Live or Facebook Live.
  • Do or better yet, teach them how to do some video or audio editing, such as with Audacity (free software).
  • Type up and organize their worktapes and lyrics, or convert them digitally and save.
  • Write a song in honor of them them (priceless!)
  • Commit to a number of hours of computer work... updating databases, uploading videos and pictures, social network friending, researching, etc. 
  • If you have a home studio, record a song demo or worktape on them.
  • Carve out special time to listen and critique their song, performance, speech.
  • Give them a day of complete voice rest! Do the talking for them.
  • Babysit or dog sit while they perform, record or attend someone else's show.
  • Attend their online show and invite friends!
  • Recommend their music or show on your social network sites

 Or...get creative. Give to a charity in your loved one's name, buy them a star, make a memory spending some time together in a group Zoom or Skype meeting, or volunteering to help safely deliver food or other goods to doorsteps of those in need!

Now: What do YOU want for Christmas? You can leave a hint here in the comments and then send a link to the post:) I intend to update this list every year... so bookmark this post and check back whenever it's gift-giving time for you again!

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Monday, November 21, 2022

Barbara Kite Interview - Acting Technique for Voices

 

Listen & subscribe on iTunes ... on Spotify ... or anywhere else

Prefer video? Watch on Youtube.

This episode begins with my guest Barbara Kite taking me through a quick centering exercise (you can join us). Then this veteran acting coach generously shares some trade secrets from the world of acting that can help speakers, singers and even songwriters. It's a fascinating subject I've long been interested in, and I think you'll gain some insight that will help you in your next performance.

About Barbara Kite:

Barbara is a New York-trained actress and has worked as a professional actor, director and acting coach in Toronto, New York and Portland for over 30 years. She has helped speakers, actors, writers, film-makers, directors and singers to grow in their art and their life. 

She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NY), receiving the Jehlinger Award in recognition of her work. She graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University and received a scholarship to study in Poland at the Grotowski workshop as well as at the Film Institute in Lublin.

Her professional work includes over 300 movies, television series, soaps, commercials, industrials and voice-overs, and she has published a book called ‘Great Speakers Use Acting Skills’. She’s a member of National Speakers Association, SAG-AFTRA and the Canadian union ACTRA, and AEA (Actors' Equity Association.

Barbara's professional credits include:
All My Children, As the World Turns, So the Story Goes, Duplicates, Without Warning: Terror in the Towers, Praying Mantis, Under Suspicion and Nowhere Man. Theatre credits (New York and Toronto) include The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Beau Strategem, Hay Fever, Round and Round the Garden, A Little Night Music, The Cat and the Canary, Icarus’s Mother and Trojan Women.

She collaborated with poet/playwright Victoria Sullivan as Co-artistic Director of the Women’s Production Company in New York City where she directed and acted in plays specifically written for and about women. As a speaking/presentation coach, Barbara works as a consultant for various firms as well as conducting private sessions in authentic communication.

Links mentioned:

Need your help:

I could really use some new ratings (5 stars would help raise the rating of the podcast, especially on iTunes).  
  • Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/atv 
  • Choose your app (iTunes if you have it installed on phone, Windows PC or Mac computer)
  • Leave your rating and review.
A big hug to any of you that take a moment to do this. I have 40 five-star ratings but 6 gave three & four stars which are pulling the overall rating down. Thank you for your help! 

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