Melody Taylor Studios

Summer balancing act

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:45:36 -0400

Summer is here!

And with it comes the challenge of different schedules. My schedule is changing around a bit, and I have a few short vacations planned, so make sure to look ahead on my schedule and book in advance. The first weekend out will be the last weekend of June. I’ll be out Thursday June 27th-July 1st for a family reunion. Sunshine and catching up. My favorites.

I’m sure you have some fun things planned too. Are going on adventures? Trying new things? May I add a challenge to your summer bucket list?

Sing something DIFFERENT.

I as a teacher have a fault. *gasp* It’s that I don’t have a very broad knowledge of music. I’m stuck in the classics of the 40’s and musical theatre. It’s what I was raised on. But I’ve been challenged by many of you and my summer goal is to not only look up every artist you mention, but try to emulate them in some way. Now, I can’t sound like Trixie Whitley (thank you J!). But I LOVE her deep alto blues. So, I play. I mimic. and I find new things in my voice.

So…Your turn!!

Find a singer who is ‘out of your league’ to aspire to.

Pick someone with a voice completely different from yours. If you have a brighter voice, choose a singer with lots of depth and warmth. Do you have a booming voice that can shake a house? Find a crooner and sing a lullaby.

Most of the time, I point people towards other artists with similar sounds as their own. It’s good to play to our strengths. But risk is worth the scary that comes with it.

Assignment: PLAY! No limits. Take the risk.

What’s the worst that could happen? You find something new in your voice. Well, darn.

Keep singing!

Take Those Vitamins!

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:58:48 -0400

And we’re back in the blogging world.

Things are going just wonderfully here in Jacksonville. I love my students, my church, my friends…….

But this is not a sappy blog.
A few weeks ago, I said something accidentally brilliant (don’t you just love those moments?). I made a mental note to blog about it and I’m just now getting around to it (don’t you just love those busy weeks?).

A student was asking my opinion on which I thought was most important, Lessons vs Practice. My unintended genius went something like this….’Lessons can be thought of like trips to the doctor and practicing on your own or with recorded lessons or with the CD programs can be thought of like vitamins. And you really need BOTH!’

The more I’ve thought about it, the more I like this analogy. Vitamins are taken as a kind of maintenance. They are good for you, but they can’t do it all. That’s like the CD programs of Singing Success and Mastering Mix or any other systematic program. You can also take prescribed ‘medicine’ like singing with a recording of your lesson. BUT! You still need too talk to the experts sometimes. And not just when you are sick. If you are like me, you go to a chiropractor weekly to help prevent sickness! You go for checkups to make sure there isn’t anything you should change about your vitamin intake, or diet, or lifestyle. This can be compared to voice lessons. Who’s the expert on your voice? *raises hand*

I have several types of students. Type 1 is the kind who comes in each lesson having practiced and observed their own voice. They have questions ready and are also willing to go wherever I guide them in their lesson. They take their vitamins daily, exercise often, and are always ready to make changes so they can keep improving. They visit me often to make sure they are staying on the right track.

This blog doesn’t concern you, Type 1! You may go now. Stop reading and keep doing and I love you and I’ll see you at your next lesson. Wahoo!

Type 2. Oh type two. They think that by taking vitamins (whichever happen to please them at that moment) and exercising everyday (muscles are good, right?!), and prescribing themselves critically acclaimed cures (It’s a miracle!) that they are always going to be happy and healthy and the best version of themselves. They don’t need a doctor (They are SO overpriced, after all). They’re doing all the right things so they are just fine, right?

It’s my job to ‘examine’ your voice to help you make it better. And it’s constantly changing. Every person won’t need the same thing. In fact each person needs something different each day! I love you, Type 2…So, let’s work together!

Type 3. I DO love you Type 3. But I will be honest with you. I, your ‘Doctor’ cannot fix your voice in one check up a week (or less often). If you are putting junk in your body, overdosing on some vitamins and ignoring others, and rarely flexing your cords…well, there isn’t much I’m going to be able to do for you in a 50 min session.

Help me help you! And yes, just like the Doc who asks ‘Have you been taking your vitamins?’ I’m going to ask ‘Have you been singing?’.

Don’t be discouraged if you are a vitamin junkie. And don’t cry if you are just now realizing I’m not a magician. Learn from the health experts. Do both! Take your vitamins AND get checkups. Practice AND take lessons. And watch the ‘magic’ happen.

Watch out for those allergies though…they’ll getcha every time. And I can’t fight them off for myself, so you are on your own….Achoo!

Keep singing…..

Holiday Special!

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:13:14 -0500

Hello everyone!

I’m in TN for a limited time and I want to make sure you take advantage, so I’m offering a »»>Holiday Special! ««<

Contact me ASAP for scheduling because I won’t be here long. This rate applies to Skype too! Hope to hear from you soon!

Keep singing…

Melody

New Website Coming Soon!

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:36:54 -0500

Hey everyone,

I have a new website in the works, but in the meanwhile, here is an updated Bio that you can download. Thanks!

Until then,

-Melody

Officially Official

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:43:38 -0500

IT’S OFFICIAL! I’m a certified Brett Manning Associate!

So thankful, excited, overwhelmed, and humbled. God is good. I can’t possibly thank everyone who was involved, but here is a try: My family for their unconditional love and support, my past teachers for their wisdom and guidance, my friends for the many hours of talking and processing, my ah-mahzing boyfriend for being too good for me, Brett, Shelby, Jeff, and Jason for their incredible ability to share their knowledge, Heather and the interns for their organizational and administrative magic, my fellow BMA’s in training for the laughs and ‘shop talk’, all the students who came in or Skyped in to be guinea pigs, The Garlands for providing a roof and bed in Nashville, and my Creator who gave me this passion and ability to sing and teach others how to.

I’m sure I forgot someone in there. Know that I’m appreciative and couldn’t have done it without all of you. Stay tuned for updates and changes on my website. The transition to FL is now in progress…so many things to do!

Keep singing….

Change, but don't!

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 22:56:00 -0500

Recently I’ve had the privilege of teaching some pretty awesome vocalists including my very talented friend, Tera Lynne (check her out here: www.teralynne.com). She has such a power-house voice, and is a wonderful writer as well. We are working together on endurance and making sure her voice is the healthiest it can be. At the end of the lesson she said something that broke my heart a little bit. And I’ve heard other students say similar things. All the comments go something like this….

‘You know, this is the first voice lesson I’ve had where I didn’t feel beaten into the ground and discouraged when I left.’
Or
‘I had another teacher who tried to change my voice or make me sound just like them.’
Or
‘THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ME!! I feel like I can actually sing!’

Ouch.

The ouch isn’t for me, you understand. I have been blessed to have loving, caring, nurturing teachers throughout my vocal education and I’m so thankful. But how very disheartening.

To know that they have had other lessons feeling like they just weren’t good enough. They didn’t fit the mold the teacher made for them. They felt limited in what they could do.

That’s like going in to get your haircut and the hairdresser saying. “Wow, your hair is really lifeless and straight. I don’t think I can style it like this. I know you like it straight and edgy, but I really think it would do better with a perm. That way it looks more like mine. See? Isn’t mine pretty? Yes, that’s more desirable. Let’s make you gorgeous.” And then they do whatever they want to do.

I wouldn’t want to go back to that salon. I happen to have very straight hair. And I’ve had some stylists offer suggestions on how to bring some body to it. Why? Because they want me to look and feel my best! With MY hair. And I’ve taken most of their suggestions. They are the experts after all. But if they did something I asked them not to, ugh! They wouldn’t get my business anymore. I would walk around with hair I wasn’t satisfied with and, while the ‘do’ lasted, self inhibition would be my best friend.

Now, the analogy is imperfect, but go along with it for a minute. Why, as a voice teacher would you point out the ways in which your student’s voice is different than yours and then go about ‘fixing’ it? NOOOOOOO! Everything in me cringes.

There are some things like cord closure and release of tension that every person needs. But those little ‘flaws’ in a voice that make it so unique? Why would you try to erase them? I can’t/don’t want to make my students sound just like me. I want them to sound like the BEST version of THEMSELVES!! Yes, every voice needs to be healthy. And yes, things like pitch and being able to communicate are important. And versatility is a thing to be desired. However, if your voice has a niche, I’m not gonna try to yank you out of it!! I’ll try to broaden your horizons, because that is part of growing your voice, but stifle you, I will not!

The purpose of this post is NOT to diss on other voice teachers. I would venture to say that most, if not all, had the best intentions. And it’s also not to toot my own horn. I HAVE FLAWS and I’m learning something new everyday. I’m sure, because it is human nature, and I am human, I will at some point be guilty of trying to change someone. However, I strive to celebrate the differences in my student’s voices.

The point is…I’m so glad Tera felt encouraged. And I want all of my students to feel that way.

Be the best that you can be. Always strive to improve. But don’t change who you are. Your voice is…yours. God made you with a unique gift to share with others….so SING!

One day at a time...

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:18:38 -0400

Where did October go? My time here in Nashville is almost over! It’s crazy to think of all I’ve learned and all the changes I’ve made.

There has been little time to blog, and when I had it I chose to work on other things instead. I also have to fully formulate my thoughts before they can be put out there for the world (or my few readers) to see. But I know I need to be more disciplined in forcing myself to write. In fact, that’s what this post is about…..

Voice lessons. So very necessary for a singer. We need that person outside of ourselves to hear what we can’t, tweak what we can’t put our fingers on. Lessons can be frustrating when we don’t grasp a concept or our voice won’t cooperate, but exhilarating when we conquer a song or gain another note (or an octave, which happens quite a lot at the studio. Proof that this method works!). Fears are conquered and dramatic breakthroughs occur in a room with a piano, a student, and a teacher.

I have observed patterns as I’ve watched lesson after lesson after lesson. There are some students who come in, fairly often, and expect the coach to ‘fix’ their voice. They get frustrated when the coach takes them through the same exercises that they did last week. The coaches rise to the challenge and find new ways to explain, and because they know their stuff, can generally pull a new aspect out of the singer. There is only so much they can do though.

Then there are those who engage in that oh-so-avoided activity known as PRACTICE. These students take the tools given to them in the studio, and put them to use everyday. Some listen and sing along with the recorded lesson. Others, who perform often, use the coordinations learned in exercises and apply them in song. Several use the Singing Success and Mastering Mix programs in conjunction with the knowledge gained from personal lessons. The point is, they put in work between lessons.

Guess which lessons are more exciting to watch? Duh! I have seen absolutely INCREDIBLE changes happen in students voices when they work on their own time. The coach is no longer limited in what they can teach. If the student has mastered the basics, it’s off to the races. It’s time to make Brett peek in the door and say ‘Who is that?! Way to go dude/girl!’

The difference is so obvious and such a no-brainer. So, the question is….why don’t we do ourselves a favor and put in the work?

Notice the word ‘work’. That’s why. It takes time. It means effort. But it is that daily grind that the most growth happens. If you were to go work with a personal trainer once a week and did nothing else, the results would be lackluster. You MIGHT gain muscle. You MIGHT improve your form. What is more likely is that you would be sore once a week with nothing to show for it. But if you were to go say, three times a week and made a point to at least get your blood flowing on the days in between, well then you would see results! They would still be gradual, but so much more fulfilling.

Your voice is the same way! And so is your spiritual walk. Once a week in a pew won’t cut it. There must be constant communication with your Creator. And then there’s your relationships. You wouldn’t dream of ignoring your friends for weeks at a time and then expect to pick up where you left off. You invest time in them, even when it’s sometimes inconvenient for you.

Yes. It is work. But when you put in the work, the lessons are PLAYTIME!!! Be encouraged and challenged. Keep singing. Keep investing. Keep praying. (And I’ll keep writing.) And one day at a time, there WILL be change (and more blogs). :)

The sky isn't the limit...

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:04:53 -0400

I promise I’ll do this more often…ish.

I’m in Nashville and I love it! The BMA program is everything I hoped it would be and more. More on that later.

Yes, I have a place to stay. I went from no prospects to three choices within 24hrs. After I freaked out of course. I’m staying with a wonderful family (parents of in-laws of friends of parents) in Smyrna, just South of Nashville. They are great and have the cutest grand-kids! So thankful I can get my kid fix. I miss the little ones I watched in Birmingham dreadfully.

All the other details of the move worked out, all last minute of course. I feel like this is a theme in my life. I make plans, those fall through so I make new ones, and finally I’m left having to depend on the Lord. May I learn to reverse the order.

Nashville is a great place. Haven’t seen much of it as most of my time is spent at the studio, and I’m not one to explore on my own. If you are in the area, I’d love to see you! Need some social interaction besides Skype dates (though those are welcome as well!).

The studio, the people and place and stuff I’m learning, is marvelous! I am learning so much about my craft and even more about myself. I posted a facebook status when I first arrived that was something along the lines of ‘You know that feeling that you get when you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing? Yeah, I have a whole lot of that.’ And I do.

This program is not just about learning how to teach people to sing. It’s about honing each individual to be the best artist, singer, teacher, person they can be. I am inspired by the Master Associates here. Each one brings their own gifts and perspectives to the table in each lesson. They aren’t afraid to get under someone’s skin to make them better. Each student leaves having taken a tangible step, if not musically, then mentally, emotionally or spiritually. And I’m realizing more each day how entwined all of those aspects are in all of us.

So many spiritual lessons are being taught right along side the musical ones. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard a phrase like this: ‘We need to learn the techniques, but once they become ingrained, we’ve gotta throw out the rules and just sing!’ How true is this when applied to life at large? So often, I (an ever-recovering legalist) want to know the right and the wrong way to do something. Everything is black and white. Once I’ve determined the ‘best’ way, I stick my chin out, dig my heels in, and do my ‘best’ without wavering. And so often, what is really needed is grace. What is really required is my heart’s allegiance. And what’s really needed is just doing.

This desire to get it right is being beaten out of me. My second lesson with Brett consisted of a short warm up and then a lesson in letting go. Poor me and my craving for rules and formulas and pure technique. He started playing cords and told me to sing. I looked at him with what must have been a very comical blank stare. He grinned and started singing nothing in particular, though I believe it started with the words to Amazing Grace. He stopped singing, kept playing, and waited for me to sing. You remember that part about me liking black and white? That includes black notes on a white page. But since this whole thing has been a risk from the beginning, I did what my mentor asked. I just sang. I cannot say I completely let go. Half the time I would think a note or phrase and opt for a safer, neutral ‘Oh’ on the tonic. But towards the end I started getting emotional because I realized what he was asking me to do. He was asking me to spill my guts and not care. Without notes or words given to me, I am left only with what is inside me. And that’s what came out.

What are nicely formed words produced with perfect technique without the heart behind it? What is a perfect teacher with students who excel technically without the joy of learning and the discovery of each individual’s voice? What is a nicely formed life with perfect relationships without love? Nothing.

I came here in a box. Brett, after surveying the box, gave me the compliment of saying it was larger than most, say 10X10. But there is still sky out there. So, I’ll keep building my vocal cords and brain and tearing down the walls of my box.

Keep singing….

Nashville bound

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:24:10 -0400

Back to Tennessee I go!

I’ve been accepted into the Brett Manning Associate training program in Nashville, TN! I am beyond excited about this new adventure and so humbled to be a part of this company. Truly awesome stuff going on. Check it out! www.singingsuccess.com The more I learn, the more I want to know. Can not wait to get to Nashville and be saturated with this stuff!

I will be in Birmingham till the end of August, then I’m putting all my earthly possessions in storage and driving to Nashville for 2 months. It’s a bitter-sweet parting with B-ham. I will miss so many of you and I want to see YOUR face before I go!! But it is time for this next step, professionally, personally, even spiritually. We are called to live Faith driven lives, and this is a huge step of Faith. I know God knows what He is doing and His hand has been evident thus far. Can’t wait to see where this next step takes me!

Two more weeks of lessons before I go. August 14th and 28th. Email me for a spot! I want to sing with you before I go!

I do have a huge request. If you or someone you know lives in Nashville and knows of somewhere I could stay for a good price for 2 months, please let me know ASAP!

Thanks for your support and prayers through this whole process. Look for updates on this adventure here…..

May you find a new song to sing today!

New Adventures....

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:20:52 -0400

Hello world…

Yes, I know, you thought I forgot about this. I didn’t, but it got shoved under a pile of to-do lists. Happy day…I’m now blogging.

Current news…

No lessons till July 31st. Work and travel schedules will not permit it. So, I’ll see my summer students on the 31st! Be sure to let me know if you’ll be coming.

Next steps…

Exciting things are happening in my life! The end of summer is coming, as is the end of my Birmingham chapter. I’ve taken steps to further my education as a voice teacher. If all goes as hoped, I will be in Nashville soon to soak up a whole lot of awesome! It’s a big step of faith in applying, but I know the Lord knows what is best for me. More details on that as I hear back from the program.

If I am accepted, I will complete the program and transplant to Jacksonville, FL. Why Jacksonville? A rather special man who I need to be closer to lives there. :) Another adventure in the making! If I am not accepted or need to delay for some reason, I will still be moving to FL, but in September rather than after getting certified.

What this means for you?

I still want to continue teaching my current students! I may have to take a hiatus for education, but modern technology provides several options for long-distance lessons. I hope you will consider taking Skype lessons from me!

I covet your prayers as I continue to seek the next step in my life. Love you all and can’t wait to resume lessons!

Keep singing….

New Site Coming Soon!

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:09:00 -0400

CGSMUSIC is helping me put a new site together! I’m excited! Stay tuned. Until then… Music.