A 60-day coaching program for opera singers who want to rise above the other singers out there and get hired.
Cost: $500 USD
Lack of flexibility means fewer gigs
Here’s the deal: the reason you’re not getting hired more is that you lack flexibility. But, I don’t mean “vocal” flexibility. I mean flexibility in terms of how adaptable you are to different situations and different tempos.
Can you sing at any tempo? Or, do you make excuses like:
- “My voice can only sing at exactly 124 beats per minute.”
- “I don’t need to sing faster because that’s not how the music goes.”
- “I don’t need to be in strict tempo there because the score says ‘a piacere’.”
Yes, I know the music should be sung freely and I know your voice is better suited to certain tempos than others, but that doesn’t change the fact that your psychological rigidity translates directly into professional rigidity.
And that’s bad because conductors and directors don’t enjoy working with singers who aren’t flexible.
Fortunately, you can fix this.
How we’ll make you flexible
In this 60-day coaching program, we’re going to make you more flexible. I’ll push you outside your comfort zone by challenging you to do things that sound bad but will liberate you on a mental-physical level.
We will go through the elements of learning a piece of music one-by-one and get flexible with each one:
- Notes
- Rhythm
- Words
- Expression
- Memory
By the end of the program, you’ll have prepared 6 arias or songs through this method.
About me
Hi, I’m Michael. I often play the piano and I often work with singers. Sometimes, they even trust me enough to let me see their insecurities. I sing too, so I know how hard it is.
I’m also an evil mindfulness coach (you can find me on Instagram at @no.michael.here). Please don’t think of me as a normal opera coach…I operate on a deeper level.
What’s involved
This program is a 1-1 private coaching program. The two of us will meet weekly on Zoom for 30 minutes. I’m not going to play the piano because that doesn’t work well over Zoom, but I may ask you to sing with a metronome. If you have religious objections to that (as most singers do), then we’re probably not a good fit (unless, of course, you’re willing to try new things for the sake of personal growth…your call).
In between our meetings, you’ll practice the exercises on your own.
Pricing
The cost for this 30-day program is $500 USD.
Next steps
If this sounds like it might be of interest to you, I invite you to fill out the application form. I’ll be in touch to let you know if I think it would be a good fit.
Hope to hear from you.
—Michael
Postlude
Look, here’s the thing: singing must be natural. It all has to work together flawlessly.
You can’t be standing there trying to remember all your IPA-solfege-novice-level-piano-lesson academic learning while you’re on stage. You’ve got to just go for it.
That’s also how you need to practice. It’s the final aim of everything.
You don’t get there by being intellectual and careful. You get there by being free and intuitive but also thorough.
If the hyper-diligent Type-A thing works for you, fine. Do it. But if you’re like me, and you prefer to improvise your way through life, let’s talk. You’re capable of more than you know.