Author Archives: Michelle Latour
Does Size Matter: What artistic directors really think
What do artistic directors have to say about body image, weight, and hiring practices? Are singer and teacher perceptions about industry standards false? For an article in Classical Singer last year I posed several questions directly to the people who hire singers. The first was, “Has your perception of body image changed over the last decade?” Surprisingly, only 18 percent felt that their perception had changed, with 82 percent stating that it was about the same. “I personally … Continue reading
Less is More – What University Professors Really Think about Your College Audition Repertoire
Did you know that by choosing the wrong audition repertoire you can actually hinder your chances of being admitted into the school of your dreams? Do you choose repertoire that shows your strengths or do you pick songs in hopes of “impressing” the voice faculty? What do university professors really think about students’ song selections during college auditions? As a university-level voice professor, frequent adjudicator, and active performer, this has been a subject that struck a nerve each time … Continue reading
Judged by Your Appearance: What Artistic Directors and Hiring Agents Really Think about Your Audition Attire
What kind of first impression will you convey at your next audition? You have completed your graduate degree in performance from a prestigious music conservatory. You have the absolute perfect audition arias for your Fach. You consistently nail the high notes in your auditions. You burst into the room each time exuding confidence and have a ready smile. You have even, for the most part, conquered your performance anxiety. Yet the best jobs are somehow eluding you. Could … Continue reading
Pilates and Singing
“That contraption looks ominous” was my initial observation as I walked into the Pilates studio for my first session and noticed with fear and dread the various reformer machines scattered about the room. I had tried a Pilates mat class about a decade ago and I had vague recollections of exercise balls, sit-ups, crunches, oblique work, and more sit-ups. However, I had vivid memories of sprinting to the bathroom to throw up immediately after class from torturing my abs for … Continue reading
Wonder Women: Careers & Family
Busy careers, family life, personal life–we want it all. But how do we keep it in check? Many women successfully juggle singing careers and families, miraculously finding time to travel for performances, practice new music, and attend their children’s soccer games or ballet productions. How do these wonder women do it? As a busy singer and teacher without children, I can barely find time to walk the dogs, squeeze in an occasional yoga or Pilates class a few times a … Continue reading
Tis’ the Season
Tis’ the season for singers to juggle even more than usual- if you are a student, you have probably just finished with finals and voice juries. Add to that a church job, gigging with a caroling company, and a few Messiah-sing-a-longs, and you have the perfect recipe for holiday burnout. You might even pick up some extra cash by working as Christmas help for a retail company. How do you manage all of this without a nervous breakdown? … Continue reading
Crossing Over to Musical Theatre
The term “crossover singing” has become quite trendy as of late. Many classically trained singers have successfully transitioned into musical theatre careers. But do singers who embark on this journey really know what they are doing? How difficult is it to have a career in musical theatre? Do you need a totally different technique and vocal timbre? I spoke with three singers who have found success in musical theatre and published my article in the November 2012 issue of … Continue reading
Social Media and the Voice Studio – Part 2
Facebook, texting, twitter, and other social media are everywhere. Last blog entry I wrote how teachings studios are affected by Facebook. But what about texting? Texting Texting seems to be more and more prevalent, even with the over-40 crowd such as myself. Although I have to put on my glasses now in order to read my text messages, I have the majority of my students programmed into my phone. In fact, I recently had to change my phone … Continue reading
Social Media and the Voice Studio – Part I
I often wake up during the semester to find a variety of texts from students either canceling a lesson or asking a question about an upcoming performance. Then as I drink my morning coffee and peruse Facebook, I can see what my friends, colleagues, and students are up to. Many times students are posting about study guides and music events—but occasionally I see evidence of underage drinking or check-ins for bars, clubs, or restaurants in the wee morning hours. This … Continue reading
Social Media and the Voice Studio
I am currently working on an article for Classical Singer about how teachers use social media and the implications in their voice studio. For this blog entry, I am looking for your feedback and opinions regarding Facebook, texting and email. Teachers and singers, I hope to hear from you! For voice teachers, how do you handle social media? Are you friends with your students on Facebook? Why/why not? If I have a voice student send me a friend request, … Continue reading
