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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a bio?
Here are some basic elements. This will vary slightly based on what the bio is for. This particular guide is for recital programs.
FOR THE 2024 PROGRAM, LET'S WRITE IN FIRST PERSON FOR FUNSIES!
Name, age, school, how long you’ve been studying voice w Erin. If you’re a senior, put where you’re going to school next year and what you're majoring in.
Then brag a bit. Music activities, honors, etc. If you feel obnoxious bragging, keep this in mind: yes, it makes you look good, but guess what? It also makes ME look good.
Thank people who have supported you throughout your musical journey. Parents, siblings, teachers, what have ye. Gratitude is everything.
You can also say something funny or quirky. Quick rundown of hobbies, a random fun fact.
If you want to, take a minute to talk about your pieces—why you chose them, how you connect with them, etc.
It does not need to be in this order, nor do you need to include everything on the list. These are just some good basic elements.
***Be yourself, have fun writing it, and let your personality shine through.***
How do I do a self-tape video?
Answers coming soon
My voice feels tired. What do I do?
If your voice feels tired, it was already tired before you felt it. So,
A. Back off. Assess how long it takes you to feel tired and what is happening when you feel like that.
B. Do a bunch of slides on a straw in water or your favorite SOVT.
C. Let your voice teacher know what's going on so you can assess next steps.
D. If you can, try to see WHERE you are tired. Is it the neck muscles on the sides, or is it right in the center where your vocal folds are? This will help us figure out preventative measures and next steps.
My allergies are crazy. Help?
Okay, I am not a doctor, so I will not be giving medical advice. I will, however, be telling you things that have helped me and my students.
MEDICINE
There are three main oral, over-the-counter antihistamines: Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin.
- With Zyrtec, many people complain of tiredness or anxiousness, as well as more extreme drying of the vocal folds, so I recommend this one the least.
- Claritin seems to be the one with the least side effects, but is frequently less effective than the others.
- Allegra seems to be the best of both worlds? In extreme situations and for limited amounts of time (a few days MAX!) I have taken an Allegra in the morning and a Claritin at night, just to stop the madness.
- A note about antihistamines! They work better if you take them consistently. So if you know allergy season is coming up, start taking your meds preventatively, and then take them every day so they build up in your system, not just "as needed".
Now. There's this magical antihistamine nasal spray called Azelastine, which, until very recently has been sold only as a prescription. Apparently there is an OTC version out now. I don't know the name, but any pharmacist will. It is MAGIC, y'all .
AT HOME TREATMENTS
- Nasal Rinse: Iterations of this are things like the Neti Pot and saline rinses like Vicks Sinex.
- Salt Water Gargle
- Steam
- Nebulizer!!! With saline solution! Honestly, I feel like all singers should have a nebulizer. Please note: they never carry them at CVS and generally have them at Walgreens. One could also order on Amazon.
VOCAL DO'S AND DON'TS
Do:
- Be easy with your voice
- Theraputic vocal exercises such as SOVTs. Straw bubbles, lip trills, gentle ng sounds will encourage gentle but efficient fold closure
- Stay hydrated! This thins the mucus so it doesn't stick around on the vocal folds as much.
Don't
- Clear your throat. This slams the vocal folds together and causes them to produce more mucus
- Use your voice more than you need to
- "Stage whisper". It's hard on your voice. If you are losing your voice and need to communicate, just speak as normally as you can.
- Sing through pain or discomfort. EVER.
Wacky Wellness Tips
Let me reiterate that I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. In fact, some doctors would be irritated at this advice. Here it is, anyway, just in case it's helpful.
TWO WEIRD THINGS THAT HELP ME STAY WELL
ACF by Buried Treasure. It's disgusting. Like, really gross. Chasing it with juice helps kinda. You can get it at Whole Foods, Sevananda, Nuts and Berries, and Amazon. If I feel like I'm getting sick, I will take this every two hours. It works every time. It's like a miracle in a bottle.
It's disgusting. But it works.
Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements by Host Defense. This comes in capsules and a tincture. When I'm taking this every day, I don't get sick. And I have a shite immune system. They carry this at most health food stores and at Amazon. This is also gross. There's a trick to it being less gross. Ask me in your lesson and I'll show you. Or get the capsules instead. I just hate taking pills lol.
Help! I need an accompanist!
Here are my favorite people:
Wayne Gilreath: jiwagi@gmail.com
Don Jones: don@atlantasimt.org
Holt McCarley: holtmccarley@gmail.com
I'm looking for a vocal health professional. Who should I call?
My all-time favorite pediatric ENT is Dr. Melissa Statham. She was with the Emory Voice Center before leaving to start her own practice. She is wonderful and amazing. Here's her info.
My favorite SLP (speech-language pathologist) is Oya Topbas. I recently got to watch her work with and actually scope my father, who was having vocal issues, and she was just wonderful and informative and patient. You can contact her here: 770-740-1860 or otopbas@nsainstitute.com.
All About NATS
- LOGISTICS
- NATS stands for National Association of Teachers of Singing, and there are three levels of membership/competition.
- GANATS is in the fall
- Southeast Region NATS is usually in March.
- If you are a finalist in your category at SERNATS, you are invited to compete at the national level over the summer.
- High school is always on Saturday mornings (so if you see on the NATS website that the dates are the 22nd and 23rd, just know that you're on Saturday until you're in college), usually pretty early in the morning.
- You will be assigned an exact time and a room number. PLAN ON BEING THERE AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE YOUR ASSIGNED TIME and to your room AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE!!!!
- When it's your turn, you'll go in, slate, and have seven minutes to sing. You pick your first song, the judges pick the second, and if there's time, they'll hear part of your third. They'll politely cut you off when it's time.
- Your comments and scores will be sent to the tally room and winners will be announced throughout the day as scores come in.
SCORING
All singers are scored on a rubric, which includes voice quality, connection to the music, musical accuracy, and so on. Judges will write comments as you're singing. Scores are from 50-100. If a judge scores you at 90 or above, it means they loved you and want you to be in the finals.
Even if they are available to you, please do NOT pick up your judges sheets. Kindly allow me to do that and go over them before we talk about them in your next lesson.
WHAT IF I WIN?
Winners are informally announced with pieces of paper placed on the "winners wall" usually outside near the front door of the building. If there are multiple people with very high scores, they will announce a semifinal round, which involves singing ONE SONG to a new panel. All of this is announced as the day progresses, and it moves very quickly, so stay alert!
If you are the winner of your category, you will then sing at the winners' recital, which is typically at 5-ish that evening.
CLOTHING
Plan on wearing church/nice dinner with grandma type clothing. You can be stylish, but please keep it simple. You want to show that which is expressive, which is your face and your hands.
- If you are wearing a dress or skirt: Your face and your hands are what are expressive, but the eye naturally goes towards skin. If you wear a knee-length dress with knee-high boots, your knees start glowing and we're looking there. Only show skin where you want us to look. Be careful with skirt length, too. Auditioners get nervous when your skirt is too short, especially if there is a lot of movement or if your are auditioning on an elevated surface. When in doubt, aim for knee-length or longer. Tights are also good to avoid leg-glow :)
- If you are wearing pants and a blouse or a jumpsuit: Just be sure they go with the characters you're presenting. This is SUCH a classy, modern look happening in singing right now.
- If you are wearing a suit or sports coat/slacks: Please make sure you're tidy and ironed. Check to be sure clothing fits you as well as it can. MT students can play with this look a bit - rolling up your sleeves, wearing super-stylish silouettes, possibly even combat boots or converse; classical singers should keep it timeless and simple. You are, of course, always welcome to wear a pocket square :)
Be sure that your clothing fits you VERY WELL so you look sleek and polished.
OKAY, BUT WHAT'S THE POINT?
The most important thing about NATS is that we go for learning. Yes, winning is fun and stuff, but the most important thing is that we are always learning. I, too, learn at NATS: from listening to students and from talking to my colleagues. Here are some ways NATS is beneficial to you:
- You can make friends and build community - yes, in this voice studio, but you'll also start recognizing random people the more you do these things. Talk to strangers and make some friends! Offer support and always be kind.
- You can choose to see people as competition or you can choose to see them as community. The more you choose the latter, the happier you will be.
- Learn how your body responds to pressure and how to adapt more fully next time.
- Learn how to behave in high-pressure auditions (this will help you your whole life - many things in life life are basically an audition :)
- Become accustomed to conventions in music - how to dress, present your slate, memorize a bunch of music, etc.
- Really challenge yourself and feel amazing afterwords. Because here's the thing: even if you go in there and bomb (which you won't because you are PREPARED), look what you did! You were ready enough to be invited to participate in NATS. You prepared at least three pieces of music! You practiced with your accompanist! You put on fancy clothes and went in and sang for three college professors! This is a big deal and my hope for you is that you leave feeling proud and having learned about yourself.
- All students will receive feedback from their judges, most of whom are college professors. We will go over the comments in your lessons after. This is an immense opportunity to grow as a singer.
That's all for now. Please let me know if you have questions and I'll send more info as I get it.
Erin