Student NATS Club comes to EOU

Happy Monday everyone!  I just wanted you all to know that we have started up a Student NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Club on the campus of EOU.  We had our first meeting last friday where we talked about what students wanted to do in the club (and came up with some great ideas!) along with reviewing a draft constitution and appointing officers. 

President: Jon Davidson
Vice President: Dan Lockart
Secretary: Mallory Livingston
Treasurer: Erin Rufener
Faculty Advisor: Jamie Jacobson

I will be posting the draft of the constitution here tomorrow for you to review.  I believe it was decided that we would vote to accept the constitution at our next meeting FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21st.  For now, the club has decided that we will be meeting every other Friday at 2:30. 

During the next meeting, I was asked to present some beginning information on how to structure a voice lesson and asked to maybe give one in front of the club.  It was pointed out in the meeting that students rarely have the opportunity to sit in for other people's lesson and observe the teaching/learning process.  When they think of teaching the lesson, most beginners can only pull from what they have learned themselves while in the studio.  We'll be talking about that and I am in the process of gathering some great resources for the club on that very topic. 

It's going to be a wonderful adventure as we explore vocal pedagogy.  We hope you can join us whenever you can!  If you'd like to be an "official member" of the club, please notify one of the officers listed above and we'll make sure you are on the list. 

Dr. Ingo Titze and friends explain how the voice is like a car.  I use that analogy all the time in the studio and it's applicable not only in the phonation aspect (vibration of the chords) and resonance as talked about in this video, but also in registration (singing in the "first gear" for chest voice, for instance).  Great video! 

A few things for week two of our 2011 Fall Term:

• I have made my EOU schedule public and attached it on the right hand side to this blog.  If you are wondering if I am in the office, when your lesson time is, or when you could swing in to ask a question, you can check there.  You will not be able to add yourself to myself to the schedule without clearing it through me, but if you have a question that my calendar can answer, you not have access to it.
• The first meeting of the Student NATS Club will be held THIS FRIDAY, October 7th at 2:30 in the choir room (LH 123).  There is *minimal* time commitment required for this club and we'll be doing some pretty great things and learning a lot.  If you are interested in learning more, come to the meeting and decide if it might be the right club for you.
• Thank you to those who came to support Jonathan in his Senior Recital last Saturday!  I hope you learned something from listening to him and enjoyed his wonderful performance!  For those PRIVATE STUDENTS who were unable to make it, be sure to find 2 other vocal performances that you are not involved in and write about what you hear.
•  We are off and running in week 2 of classes.  Keep your head above water and enjoy the learning process!  :)  Remember: I'm here if you need anything.

 And now.....For your listening pleasure:  Act One Scene Three from Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute).