First Assignment

Hello!

I am 20 years old. Basically I am a severely out of shape vocalist. But, I REALLY want to get back my old ability that is tucked away in my vocal chords somewhere and continue to grow my range and fine tune my talent. I would like to be on the worship team at my church, but I am too embarassed to volunteer at this point. I do need someone that is affordable. =-)

Thanks bunches!

Dear Bunches:

I assist singers like you all the time.

I will have you do a lesson with me every three weeks. We will also do telephone follow-ups to make sure you are doing what you need to do to make your goal. It dosen't get more affordable than this!

Here is your first assignment:

• Eat and sleep right.
• Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water everyday.
• If you are ill, do what it takes to get better.
• Exercise so your body has strength and stamina.
• Sing (really SING) at least three times a week for at least 45 minutes.

It doesn't matter so much WHAT or how you sing or exercise or eat or sleep, but THAT you sing and exercize and eat and sleep and all that.

Contact me soon.

Gary Shannon, Portland, OR
503-761-1837
mentor@voice-mentor.com

Cover Letter

2008-02-16

Dear "Find A Job" Client:

Normally, when applying for a management position, I carefully research your corporate values and purposes before deciding to apply. My cover letter would underline aspects of my own goals, purposes and activities unified with your mission. Since I have no idea who is seeing this document, let's skip researching you and tell you about me. If we're a match, you'll work that out for yourself.

In physique, I am perfectly average - you won't notice me twice on the street. Maybe you'd notice I dress well, but nothing bling. In speaking and communication, though, I am anything but average. I listen a lot more than I talk. I get jokes. I don't solve your problems unless they really are mine to solve. What I do say resonates. I will show you what I think is best. I don't insist on my own way. I am deeper than I seem (so are you, and I know that).

I have unusual training and experience. I am certain you do not need to hire a professional vocalist and music teacher and conductor. Consider, though how those skills and abilities to work solo or in ensemble, as a leader, follower or enabler, translate into your field. In these positions, I planned or assisted in planning the budget, dates, venues, repertoire, and marketing. I auditioned and coached choristers, soloists and instrumentalists. I wrote, arranged and improvised music as needed, and directed rehearsals and conducted performances.

Tedious details here:
As a vocal musician, my skills include conducting and directing; keyboards (including piano, organ, MIDI and electronic keyboards); vocalist (tenor, counter-tenor, baritone in Classical, Theater, Opera, Ancient, Rock and Pop styles); composition and arranging (part-songs, reductions, theater music, chamber music); teaching.

Education: BA in Music Theory/Composition and BA in Music Education from San Jose State University in 1979 under Dr. Charlene Archibeque, with minor studies in Voice, Keyboards, Accounting and Theater.

Awards:
Portland Yamaha Organ Competition, Grand Prize Winner, Senior Division, 1992
California Association of Community Theatres, "Best Actor in a Musical" 1975

Employment: I served as: Music Minister for Unity Church of Portland from May 2005 to March 2007 Substitute Choirmaster/Organist at All Saints Episcopal Church since 2002, Rehearsal Director (1986 –1993) and Arranger for The Dickens Carolers since 1986, Chorus Coach for Cabaret Magnifique (1996) and Unicorn Theatre (1973-1980), Performing Arts Teacher for The Delphian School in Sheridan Oregon (1976-1979), Guest Conductor/Music Director for Oregon Repertory Singers in 1995 and 2000, Director/Organist for Portland Scientology Celebrity Center Singers (1993-1999) Director for Rose City Timberliners SPEBSQSA Chorus since 1998, Tenor Section Leader for Portland Symphonic Choir since 1998

I served as a professional actor, chorister and/or vocal soloist with: Choral Cross-Ties, Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Repertory Singers, Dickens Carolers, The Musical Company, Cabaret Magnifique, Portland Symphonic Choir, North West Chorale and several local churches (All Saints Episcopal, First Methodist, St. Mark’s Anglican). I in English, Latin, Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, Hebrew, French, and other languages. Private voice coach, voice teacher, piano teacher and accompanist since 1992. http://www.voice-mentor.com/

Other jobs I've held include sound recording engineer, website-designer, IT specialist, computer applications coach (I've successfully coached users with new applications using my broad knowledge of software and hardware), private school chef, short order cook, caterer's assistant, and fast food manager.

"To Love, in spite of all, is the secret of greatness." I donate and volunteer regularly to several causes: Goodwill Industries, Food for the Poor, Portland Symphonic Choir, the Barbershop Harmony Society, Catlin Gabel School, David Douglas School District, the Lutheran Synod, All Saint Episcopal Church, the Citizens Commission for Human Rights. I look for similar passions in my fellows.

Summary:
What else might you need to know? I prefer part-time work. I love living and playing in Portland Oregon. I have allergies I control by diet. I rarely take any drugs. I think outside the box - sometimes that thinking says, "Use the boxed solution." My happiness does not depend on your approval. (Yours doesn't depend on mine, either.) I smile easily.

Contact me anytime, any method.

Gary Shannon

4022 SE 100th Ave., Portland OR 97266
503-761-1837 garyshanno@aol.com http://www.voice-mentor.com/
Skype: voice.mentor
(8-{D} <-- Balding, bespectacled, mustachioed, happy guy

MY WEBSITE EXISTS

Well, it's only a start, but here it is. My son himself informs me that my website is terrible. I figure, for a beginner, it's more important to MAKE it, then go back and make it better. As long as I'm not mis-representing, I can't really get in trouble.

I'm really happy with the domain name too.

http://www.voice-mentor.com/

I still haven't quite worked out how to make online payments work, but I supsect Paypal has all the tools I need. That will go in next.

Nature's Clues

There is no substitute for a variety of food being well prepared to lay a foundation of good health. I found this unusual view in my inbox.

A sliced carrot looks like the pupil, iris and radiating lines of the human eye. Science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A tomato is red and has four chambers. The heart is red and has four chambers. Research shows tomatoes are indeed heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a heart-shaped cluster. Each grape looks like a blood cell. Research today shows that grapes are profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, wrinked and folded like a neo-cortex, cerebrum and cerebellum. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb more than look like bones, these foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - and they look like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. (It takes 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.)

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas that produces insulin for the regulation of segal levels in the body. You can guess that the sweet potato can help balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes

Water. Air. Food. Shelter. Always back to basics.

Voice-Mentor.com

A Mentor is:

• a trusted guide
• an experienced tutor
• a selfless coach
• an aid to others toward their own dreams.
• informal, helpful, wise, encouraging and supportive.
• appreciated and valued.
• attentive and confidential.

A Mentor is NOT

• threatening or abusive
• overbearing or bossy
• gossipy, negative or a rumor-monger
• intolerant or judgemental

This is what I bring to my online voice studio at Voice-Mentor.com .