Sing-ism

Wyzant.com has me connecting to new students and teaching locally. If you go thru their service for lessons, you will pay more and I will get paid less, but you will get the security of an established third-party site that takes credit cards.

Here is a a sample initial contact.

------------------ Job Posting ----------------------

Hi there, I've been wanting to take voice lessons for quite sometime now and never really followed through with it. I have been playing the guitar for many years casually... but now its come to the point where i wanna play and sing and create music and eventually do the solo act doing a talent type of thing like downtown or for friends.. I have the guitar-ism down if you will... now i just need that sing-ism. what kind of information can you give me as far as everything i need to know ... Thank you in advance.. -- J.

Hi, J!

"Got guitar-ism. Need sing-ism." With that kind of word play, you might be a great lyricist.

I specialize in training beginning vocalists. I can guide you to sing-ism, everything from how to sing in tune and how to be present in the back row of the hall, to crafting your career and stage act. Everything.

Now for the barriers:

~~ You need to commit to work and practice during regular lessons. You need to commit to AT LEAST an additional :30 minutes three times a week. Triple that gets better results.

~~ Your home is outside my travel area. If you travel to East Portland regularly, we might meet somewhere there. Another solution: about half my students (some are overseas) take their singing lessons online. Get a computer headset and a free Skype account, Yahoo Messenger, or the like and you can take your lessons on-line.

~~ Share the credit information Wyzant wants so we can connect in person.

~~ Schedule your first lesson. What weekday afternoon (Pacific Time [GMT-8]) can we connect for an hour soon?

I hope to see your reply and hear your voice soon

Gary Shannon
Portland, OR

Hourly Rate: $36.00*
* Rate for advance purchase of at least 10 hours of tutoring ($40.00 otherwise).

Your first voice lesson

A new student request contact:

I am interested in experimenting with my singing ability. I am 23 years old and getting a late start with my desire to sing. I have no other prior experience with voice lessons of any kind or music lessons. With you have some time in your schedule I would like to possibly sign up for lessons with you. Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you, [Name withheld]

Hi!
Gary Shanon, Oregon Portland/Gresham voice-mentor here.
This is a great time to get started. 23 is hardly too late! Chances are that you've been singing your whole life. You've already started if you've sung in a choir or karaoke with a good host. We'll take that experience and build on it.
In your first lesson, I'd like to find out what your dreams are, hear you sing a song and find out what you need and want to learn. Then we start practicing and really mastering what you need and want. Toward the end of the lesson, you'll get a homework assignment. Then we'll schedule your next lesson.
This 2008 summer, I normally teach during the day, since evenings and weekends are reserved for my gigs and my family. We'll also need to pick a place to meet: we can use your home, we can meet online or by phone, or there are places we can use near my home near I-205 and Powell Avenue.
As soon as you complete your contact/billing information, we can start!
Gary Shannon
Portland, OR
45 minute rate: $37.00*

What choirs want

This e-mail is from a singer we heard audition last weekend, but could not accept into Portland Symphonic Choir:

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Thanks for your feedback and for hearing me at my audition.

I wonder if you could answer a few questions that would help me perform better in the future:
What do you look for in members of the PSC? What can I do to improve my voice as you heard it, and how can I perform better in future auditions? How can I improve my chances of getting into an auditioned choir in the near future? Thanks for your input--- and good luck with the coming season of song!
Sincerely,

- [name and e-mail withheld]

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Hi!

Gary Shannon, Portland Symphonic Choir tenor section leader here. Mark in the choir office forwarded your e-mail to me.

Generally, any major choir is looking for strong voices with a free, natural tone color. We cannot accept voices that are regularly out-of-tune, forced, nasal, swallowed, throaty, shouting, inaudible, strained, quavering, breathy, or pinched. Preparing music on your own, adequate vocal range and sight reading ability are secondary considerations.

Voice lessons are always recommended - even our very best singers take voice lessons, sometimes from each other. A free, well-supported sound, without much strain or effort is the goal, and it usually takes an outside ear or two to help develop it.

The audition committee generally does not generally give out details on why we select some singers and not others. However, if you will write back to me and tell me what song you sang for us to jog my memory, I will answer what I can regarding your own audition, and preparing for your next one.

Yours, Gary Shannon
I teach online voice lessons! www.voice-mentor.com My passion: Your art.
4022 SE 100th Ave. Portland OR 97266 503-761-1837
( 8-{D} Balding, bespectacled, mustachioed, happy, bearded guy, usually open mouthed.

Renato Fabbro

I've had the good fortune of connecting to this ace pianist through Portland Symphonic Choir. Since he has no web-page yet, here is a note about him. Ron deserves a web presence.

Officially, per Tualatin Presbyterian Church::

Renato Fabbro received both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he studied with Larry Graham and Angela Cheng respectively. As a fellowship student at Rice University, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the tutelage of John Perry.

Dr. Fabbro has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Boulder Bach Festival, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and was recently invited to give a master class at Marylhurst University in Oregon. Competition prizes include top honors at the Fort Collins Symphony National Young Artists Competition, Young Pianists Competition, MTNA Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist Competition, and the Lee Piano Competition. Concerto performances include those with the Fort Collins Symphony, Grand Junction Symphony, Centennial Philharmonic of Denver, Colorado University Orchestra, and the Grand Junction Youth Symphony.

Dr Fabbro has served on the faculty of Lee College, and has also taught at Rice University and the University of Texas at San Antonio Summer Music Institute.

Un-officially, Ron simply plays piano beautifully, accurately and reads music like nobody's business. That, and he knows all the same cartoons I do.

Understudies

Woohoo, Mr Oh!

I hope you get to sing "Timeless" in the medley - the first time DW and I heard it, we fell in love all over again. After 25 years of marriage, we finally found "our song".

My parallel story this week is with Portland Symphonic choir's performance of Oregon Symphony: Carmina Burana this weekend: I learned/understudied/sang for rehearsals the tenor solos (the featured number is literally a "swan song" that requires shrieking as you anticipate being butchered, cooked and eaten by the chorus). Our out-of-town pro soloist showed up last night, fit and healthy, and sang it wonderfully. I got more laughs that he did, but his voice carries better than I would have. Instead, I'll sing with the chorus and eat him up.

Yours, Gary Shannon

I teach online voice lessons! http://www.voice-mentor.com/ My passion: Your art.
4022 SE 100th Ave. Portland OR 97266 503-761-1837
( 8-{D} Balding, bespectacled, mustachioed, happy, bearded guy, usually open mouthed.

>>In a message dated 13 May 08 10:43:24 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Mister oh writes:

I wrote a while ago telling everybody how I was auditioning for a solo in the upcoming concert for the chorus (it's this Saturday!!)
Although I didn't get a solo initially (other than the brief chanting I do in the Lion King number) fate came into action. The chorus member who got the part of Edna Turnblad in our Hairspray medley has a work conflict and cannot do the concert. Alan had called me a few weeks ago to ask if I could do the part. I agreed thinking that it was just for our run-out performance at the church in Riverside (which was a couple of Saturdays ago). Turns out that not only did I perform it then, but I am also doing it on the big stage at the McCallum theatre this Saturday. In full drag. With costume change. I've already shaved my beard (moustache to follow) and did my legs on Sunday. THAT is a weird sensation! Feels like my legs were dipped in oil. Somebody gave me a fat suit (it's from a Halloween costume - the overweight stripper) and it is quite a scream. I found a lovely "social" dress at Ross, it's a 22W and is quite a stunner. I'm going to put a blue duster over it for the number before so that I can do a quick change from frumpy Edna to glamorous Edna. I'm sure there will be photographs/video to share later....

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