Studio Class

Join me for the second part of our “Change the World” music project episode! In our last episode we started discussing: 1) How can music influence the body to support fitness and rehabilitation? 2) How can music motivate the mind to promote academic achievement? In this episode we will be going over some questions including: 1) How can music reflect the psyche to improve mental health? 2) How can music foster intimacy to strengthen relationships? 3) How can music enhance connectedness to support communities? Show Notes: - Garrison Keillor - "Good Poems and Good Poems for Hard Times” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/garrison-keillor - Twyla Tharp’s “The Creative Habit” http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Creative-Habit/Twyla-Tharp/9780743235273 - Voice of Calvary Ministries in Jackson, MS http://vocm.org/volunteer-opportunities/ - Urban Servant Corps in Denver, CO. http://www.urbanservantcorps.org/ - Single Words She Once Loved Recital - Megan Ihnen - https://www.facebook.com/events/1731284407

Yes. It’s a hefty topic. With the world events going on at the moment, I have had this nagging feeling that I need to devote some of my attention to how my art can be a force for good. Divas, not only do I want to help you make it rain in your business but I want to help you change the world while you’re at it. This episode covers: 1) The motivation behind our "Change the World" music projects. 2) How to identify passions, pain-points, and purpose. 3) How can music influence the body to support fitness and rehabilitation? 4) How can music motivate the mind to promote academic achievement? Show Notes: - Olafur Eliasson | World Economic Forum “Why art has the power to change the world.” | https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/why-art-has-the-power-to-change-the-world/ - Elevator pitch formula: “I’m a ______ (profession) who is passionate about _______ (things you’re into.) My mission is to _______ (how you’re changing the game) by _______ (secret weapon.)” - Katrina Skewes McFerran, Professor at the Melbourne

As Annie Dillard wrote in her incredible book The Writing Life, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour and with that one, is what we are doing.” In this episode we go over: - My 10 Minute Meeting Formula - My Master List of Micro-Actions - My Singer Goals (Model Tasks) List ... and more! Are you signed up for my email newsletter? Check it out at bit.ly/DivaSidekick

Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands -- the ongoing process of establishing a prescribed image or impression in the mind of others about an individual. In this episode, we'll go over the "Branding in 7 Words" exercise, some basic questions you can ask yourself to better identify your own brand, and crafting your elevator pitch. Thanks to Juanitos for the music featured in this episode. Show notes: Being Boss Podcast - https://beingboss.club/podcast/podcast-episode-10-personal-branding Artists U - http://www.artistsu.org/

The opera field is fiercely competitive. It has been and will continue to become more competitive. Fact. Your electronic press kit (EPK) is a first impression in many cases. It is imperative to frame your accomplishments in a way that will read clearly, demonstrate that you’re a great match for the job, and stand out from the other singers.

Divas, I’m curious, what areas of networking feel great to you and which ones feel less than great? Help me zero in on the pointers you need in your best diva life. Hit me up on twitter - I’m @mezzoihnen

This is a shorter podcast episode but you should plan to take time by yourself to complete the exercise after listening. This is a 15-25 minute activity - without taking time here you can go to as many business of music classes as your heart desires but you won’t learn a darn thing. Who's ready to discuss seemingly impossible goals?!

Are you a generalist, specialist, expert, or authority in your corner of the musical world? Not sure? I've invited my first guest, Rebecca Ihnen (yep, she's my youngest sister), on to talk about the different levels of your creative career and how to advance from one to the next.

What's the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation when it comes to singing? How can we use the ritual of setting intentions before our practice sessions to have more agency in our development as singers? In this episode, I outline 12 points of my practice plan plus a few bonus memorization techniques. Hope you enjoyed this plan - now, it’s your turn to tell me your favorite techniques

The praise and recognition of your talents are not achieved by deception, a congenial personality, or simple good luck. Divas, for our Studio Class assignment for this week, I want to you to prepare yourself for success. Show Notes: Great Pretenders: People Who Feel Their Success Is Undeserved by Birgit Spinath (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/great-pretenders/) Sybaritic Singer - sybariticsinger.com/blog

Greet the audience members with warmth and appreciation. These people took the time and effort to attend your concert. Be gracious. Remember >> This is not a time to analyze your performance nor dismiss their congratulations for you. Accept their compliments with a simple “thank-you” or “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Thank them for coming! Show Notes: 29 Days to Diva is in full swing: sybariticsinger.com/blog 29 Days to Diva: The Course: bit.ly/29daystodiva Erica Sipes - Beyond The Notes: http://ericaannsipes.blogspot.com/2009/12/follow-up-thought-about-greeting.html Sugar Vendil - Nouveau Classical Project: sugarvendil.com Come say "hi" to me over on Twitter - I'm @mezzoihnen.

Today’s Studio Class assignment: create a singing team. Gertrude Stein, during her salon years in Paris, cultivated a entourage of thought leaders. She was inspired by them, encouraged by them, and motivated by them. She may not have thought of them as her team. But, those are exactly the kind of relationships we’re talking about when I encourage you to create your own singing team. The impact of peers on productivity and decision-making has been studied in diverse range of settings, from workplace productivity to migration decisions. Conceptually, the peer group can affect the individual in various ways, including creating positive external influences and allowing the individuals to take advantage of creating products or services within their community. These benefits are also present in the production of music: musicians can learn from observing one another and sharing performance slots can increase exposure.

Charisma and confidence create allure. It is the sense of being drawn to another person. Allure isn’t solely based on exquisite features or a superior IQ. Those both help of course – no one is going to deny that Jonas Kaufman’s good looks make him more enticing. A true diva has “it”. And, YOU are going to actively cultivate it. Watch out world: no more invisible diva. Your studio class challenge for today is to Tune-Up Your Charisma Show notes: Joyce DiDonato Carnegie Hall Masterclass: https://www.carnegiehall.org/DiDonato-Master-Class/ Humans of New York quote: https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735.4429.102099916530784/1204545252952906/?type=3&theater Brene Brown’s TED talk: The power of vulnerability: https://www.ted.com/talks/brenebrownon_vulnerability Simon Doonan - "NASTY - My Family and Other Glamorous Varmints" http://www.simondoonan.com/nasty-2/ Megan Ihnen Twitter: www.twitter.com/mezzoihnen Ready to sign up for the course? bit.ly/29DaystoDiva

The most sublime comment I have ever heard from an audition panel was, “Wow. She really came to play…” Simply put, the audition is the best of your preparation actualized. The better the preparation – the better the audition. It is in your best interest to do as many auditions as possible to not only ‘up your averages‘ but to hone your skills in this specific craft. Before you go slogging through auditions willy-nilly, take this challenge to help make more of your auditions successful. Your Studio Class challenge today is to take that room by storm and audition like you mean it! Show Notes: Helen Callaghan Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Callaghan YapTracker.com twitter.com/mezzoihnen “Have an opinion; have many opinions, and bring them to the table. Nothing is deadlier than music managed rather than lived, performance designed not to offend. Avoid asking for permission in the moment of performance. Sometimes I feel like auditioners are painting themselves white, like apartments that could be

29 Days to Diva and this Studio Class podcast are all about encouraging you to take control of your career and be proactive. If there is something that you have been waiting to do or have been procrastinating, now is the time to carpe the freakin’ diem. Feeling divalicious, yet? Fantastic. So, our challenge for today, even though it isn’t a leap year, is to metaphorically take the leap. Show Notes: let’s discuss: Rejection (aka: getting your a** handed to you.) - https://sybariticsinger.com/2010/09/09/rejection/ The Atlantic: "The Four-Letter Code to Selling Just About Anything" - DEREK THOMPSON JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/01/what-makes-things-cool/508772/

The avoidance of what we fear, however, is exactly the same. Human beings fear rejection. Biologically wired with a longing to belong, we fear being seen in a critical way. We will actively avoid situations in which we feel the potential to be rejected. Not singers, though. No, no, musicians pursue those opportunities. Divas put themselves out on a limb constantly. They open themselves up to feedback and constructive criticism from teachers, coaches, mentors, adjudicators, and audiences. They understand they will hear “no” more often than “yes.” But, it’s that dogged persistence in the face of rejection that makes the “yes” so much sweeter. Show Notes: 29 Days to Diva: The Course = bit.ly/29daystodiva Carol Kirkpatrick's "Aria Ready, The Business of Singing 2ND EDITION!" = http://a.co/8Y4OftN Unfilth Your Habitat = https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unfilth-your-habitat/id542909191?mt=8 Thanks for listening to Studio Class. Please leave us a review on iTunes.

It is the first day of January and you may be realizing that things are often easier said than done. In that first blush of 2016, many of us made those hastily scribbled lists of things that we would certainly accomplish this time around. Now, you may, or may not, have stuck to your New Years’ resolutions like a tenor to a mirror but something tells me that while the gym is getting a little more crowded - you haven’t been spending quite as much time in your practice room as you thought at the beginning of last year.. With that in mind, I’m starting Studio Class. We certainly support taking care of all of your resolutions, but together we’ll be focusing on your arts-career related goals. Show Notes: Diva Audit = bit.ly/diva-audit 29 Days to Diva: The Course = bit.ly/29daystodiva Money: A Love Story by Kate Northrup = http://katenorthrup.com/book/