Singing Lessons Blog

Onstage Confidence

brightonsinginglessons — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:50:46 +0000

Check out the video (part 1) all about onstage confidence.

What’s This All About?

brightonsinginglessons — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:44:11 +0000

Questionnaire about singing teaching

brightonsinginglessons — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:05:00 +0000

1. How long have you been teaching for?
I have been teaching for 12 years now, starting with the Academy of Contemporary Music In Guildford, then Chichester Uni & BIMM. Also Private Students.

2. What were the main skills you needed in order to become a singing teacher?
Music Skills such as Aural Perception, Basic Keyboard Skills, IT Skills, Psychology (Singers are often blessed/cursed with artistic sensitivities!) Business Skills, Being always on time, working with different musical tastes…

3. Is it a challenging or daunting job, and if so how?
I found it to be so for the 1st 3 years as I was learning how to teach & learning about vocal techniques myself. Then it suddenly got quite a bit easier.

4. If there’s one student misbehaving in a class, how do you approach this?
Nip it in the bud by saying “Timothy, put your phone away” (or words to that effect!) If they continue to be troublesome, a chat outside, then if it worsens ask for an accompanied chat with a member of learning support. Interestingly, this does not happen in one-to-one lessons.

5. Have you gained confidence from teaching?
In certain areas yes, in others I realise just how much more there is to learn!
I guess, I trust my judgements now.

6. How do the students react to your teaching methods?
I think it would be a great idea to ask them! Why don’t you take a cross section from my classes to get a true picture?
I would be intruiged to know the results!

7. Do you have some useful tips for teaching? In terms of how to engage students during the lesson.
Ensure that as much of it as possible can be participatory. Singers love to be involved & are not always passionate about sitting still listening!

8. What makes a successful lesson?
Finding something that inspires the individuals & challenges them just enough that they feel they have achieved something & there is still a little “stretch” that has occurred.

9. What do you think are the best ways to motivate students?
Appreciation of their efforts/courage to try something new/ musicality/performance etc. Each and every student seems to have different motivations, this comes from observing your group & each person’s level.

10. Do the students tend to enjoy your lessons?
Again, feel free to interview them!

11. Which parts of the lessons do you think the students enjoy the most?
When I manage to get them thinking & reacting in ways that they would not have thought possible before.

12. How do you manage situations where students are distracted or disinterested?
I chat to them outside as generally this does not happen.
13. How long does it take you to prepare a lesson or a sequence of lessons?
Quite a long time, I tend to prepare powerpoint lesson plans for the whole 10 week term, then review to see if the course is progressing enough through a sufficient amount of challenges for the level of the group.

Madeleine aged 15 singing Someone Like you – Brighton Electric Studios

brightonsinginglessons — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:33:57 +0000

Here is the wonderfully talented Madeleine singing. Not only that she is also a dancer, very useful in this day & age of multiple talents.

We worked together to capture the essence of these beautiful lyrics.

Video about Nodules, Vocal Health and advice from London Singing Lessons

brightonsinginglessons — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:44:37 +0000

London Auditions – for Brighton Vocalists

brightonsinginglessons — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:58:43 +0000

Hello Singers!
This may audition (scroll to the bottom) may be of interest to you personally or to a singer you know?
Good luck, and if this is your type of thing go for it! I have done a little research and it seems legitimate. The Phone number is at the bottom of the email so you could perhaps find out more?
All the best to you…
Chip openaudtions2

Brighton Singing Audition Opportunities

brightonsinginglessons — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:54:35 +0000

I keep getting emailed audition opportunities this week, so I will keep them coming in the hope that a few of you can take advantage?
Don’t Forget – we have 3 places left now on our 3 lesson deal now – so do not miss out!

Paddle Round the Pier are searching for bands/musicians for Paddle Round the Pier 2012.
So if you’re a musician or in a band (or know anyone who is) and would like to be considered for the Paddle Round the Pier 2012 music line up, please send me an email ‘JenPaddle@hotmail.co.uk’.

Last year we had an AMAZING 48,000-50,000 supporters through the gates and once again we’ve raised over £30,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, RNLI and Surf Relief to share. Everyone involved in the event works completely for free, so every penny raised goes in the pockets of those who need it most.

If you would like to find out more about the ‘Paddle’, please come find us on facebook or visit www.paddleroundthepier.com

I also thought I’d let you know about Hutchins Live a new venture I’m involved with. Hutchins Live films bands/musicians and other talented peeps with the aim of promoting them to the rest of the UK and then the world, woohahahaha

Hutchins Live also holds and films two events a month, one at the Latest Music Bar and another at The Brunswick. If you would like to find out more or perform at one of these events, please come find ‘Hutchins Live’ on facebook or email me at ‘JenPresents@hotmail.co.uk’.

Upcoming Hutchins Live Events
9th Oct – Latest Music Bar – Samuel J, Elissa Franceschi & special guest
13th Oct – The Brunswick – Jim Stapley, Autumn Red & Charly Coombes & the New Breed (yep Gaz Coombes’ brother from Supergrass)
10th Nov – The Brunswick – Mirrorkicks, Some Velvet Morning & Hollywood Assassins
20th – Latest Music Bar – Line up to be confirmed
8th Dec – The Brunswick – Line up to be confirmed
18th Dec – Latest Music Bar – Hutchins Live Christmas Special – Line up to be confirmed
(Doors open at 7pm, £4/3 entry or JUST £2 if you pop your name on our facebook page)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hutchins-Live/239323306102128

Coming up with youtube video topics

brightonsinginglessons — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:02:45 +0000

At the moment, I have been writing 12 episodes of lessons to be put out via youtube about singing technique. It is only now that I realise just how big this topic is!

So I thought I would ask – what would be most useful to you personally in terms of an informative useful video for your singing career?

The floor is open to you, dear reader!

Audition Opportunity – Brighton Singers

brightonsinginglessons — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:00:23 +0000

Born to Shine is a prime-time ITV 1 series this summer, which has a unique mix of showcasing young talent, expert performers and UK & International guest stars as well as a celebrity challenge – - where each of our young stars teaches a celebrity to learn their skill to performance level.

We are working closely with Save the Children who have launched their “No Child is Born to Die” campaign that every child does have potential – Born to Shine is a celebration of that potential.

We are hoping to include talented 11-16 (max 17) year olds to be part of Born to Shine. Each of the first 5 episodes sees 3 talented youngsters from a range of disciplines (gymnastic, dance, music, etc) and their celebrity protégé battle it out in front of experts, judges and the public. One star per episode will go through to the ultimate showdown in the finals.

We are interested in people of all disciplines but I am currently focusing particularly on talented singers – pop, ballad, etc. It would be brilliant if you are able to put forward your most talented students in our age range that you think would be brilliant for the show.

I look forward to hearing from you. I can be contacted via email or my direct dial is 02071574973.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,
Hermione

Produced by Chip Jenkins

brightonsinginglessons — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:16:48 +0000

Well as a vocalist & songwriter, it was very interesting to be thinking of arrangement, drum fills, basslines, keyboard sounds and whether Rachel could comfortably sing the right number of syllables within each line.
Here is the 1st of the 3 tracks that we co-wrote together called “With Poison”.