I recently had the opportunity to work with Ms. Rosalind Plowright in several one-on-one vocal teaching sessions. In addition to being an outstanding opera singer, Ms. Plowright has the rare ability to convey her many years of rich vocal wisdom that is at once precise, technical and yet appropriate for each unique singer. She brings all of her vocal teaching treasures to each student with the same pathos and energy that she brings to her operatic roles. In experiencing a safe place for growth, I found myself moving naturally into new vocal potential with her unique techniques and insights. She is a vocal coach who asks for your best efforts while being most generous in encouragement along the way. If you are fortunate enough to work with Ms. Plowright, I have no doubt that you will find yourself growing as a singer in ways you previously thought impossible! I recommend her to any singer committed to the journey and the art of beautiful singing!

I have worked with Nicole now for nearly 2 months. As a professional singer for several years, having worked with various singing coaches, some internationally well known, I wondered what new things she might bring to the table that I had not already learned. I have been pleasantly surprised in that each week, there are new tools introduced that are bringing immediate results in my performance. Nicole is a singing coach with wisdom beyond her years, always professional and fun to work with. I would recommend her to any vocal student, whether you are a novice or a well-seasoned performer.

Yes, I saw just a few minutes of it, but that was enough to cause me sorrow.
Having had the privilege of receiving teachings from Native American Elders over a period of several years, including their teachings of the sacredness of the mind/body/spirit connection,I have been deeply concerned about the lack of rites-of-passages for our young people that include an honoring of submission of the energy of the lower chakras to the heart, spirit and core conscience of an individual. As a result, we are living in a culture with youth often wielding the power and potency of the fire chakras fueled by the ignorance of children.

It is the Elders among us who must take a stand. Men and women, who take these youth under their wings and teach them. And in this scenario, especially in the arts and entertainment industry. On the other hand, it is only our Elders who can model this themselves who will be able to teach this with wisdom. Indigenous cultures have modeled this for centuries. Perhaps we in the west could open our hearts and minds to their teachings so that we might grow a more wise generation starting with the one at hand.

There has been a huge disconnect for many youth between body, mind and spirit. This along with a bombardment on the senses of movies, video games and music with a largess of violence has desensitized individuals to that connection of body/mind/spirit by cartooning and diluting the consequences of violent behavior.

We often have the same individuals who brilliantly expound on the power of the human brain to absorb and act on what it is fed. Marketing and advertising intellectuals lead the way. And yet they are often the same group who are lobbying against any wise restrictions on the excessive use of sex and violence in our entertainment industry.

No wonder the kids are confused! The absence of Elders teaching and rites of passage honoring the connection of body, mind and spiirt has certainly contributed to this.

Jane Bakken
Prof. Singer/Recording Artist
http://www.janebakken.com

On Sunday, MTV’s Video Music Awards were watched by over 10 million people in the United States. The ceremony began with two controversial musical numbers which, due to the speed of social media chatter, were consumed by millons more before the end of the night.

Among those who watched the hypersexual performances were millions of teens and kids. Immediately afterwards, people began debating the gendered messages those young people had received.

But how exactly should we be talking about the representation of gender in the media with our youth?

The discussion around Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke’s performance, in particular, has included issues not just of sexual objectification, but race, cultural appropriation and sexist double standards. And the discussion is clearly touching a nerve – setting a new record for tweets per minute. It’s important for us then, as role models, to have these difficult conversations about media with young people, but to do so with incredible sensitivity and openness.

This week, talk to a young person in your life about the media they consume. And use our Conversation Starters – developed in partnership with Common Sense Media – as a guide.

Simply discussing the impact of gendered media with others is among the most significant acts we can take as individuals to shift consciousness around what is possible for our girls’ and boys’ futures.

Onwards,

Jennifer Siebel Newsom & The MissRepresentation.org Team

I have studied with many excellent vocal coaches, all of whom have given me nuggets on this singing journey…and Estill is no exception! I would highly recommend if you are in this area, taking advantage of this opportunity.

Estill Voice Training treats speaking and singing like any other athletic activity and separates training into three domains:
CRAFT (“Skills & Drills”)
ARTISTRY (“Rules of the Game”)
PERFORMANCE MAGIC (“Finding the Zone”)
Craft separates vocal ‘mechanics’ from ‘art’ – working from simple natural vocal expressions, such as laughing and crying, Craft produces fast results and provides the tools to make artistic vision a reality. Estill Voice Training can help individuals SPEAK with more power, SING with greater range, COMMUNICATE with clarity, ease, flexibility and stamina and DISCOVER vocal possibilities or options for application in a wide range of genre.

June 17, 18, 19 and 20 there will be opportunities in the Seattle area to learn a bit more about Estill Voice Training through individual coaching with Judith Goff, Certified Master Teacher in Estill Voice Training. These sessions will focus on CRAFT as it applies to a variety of musical and dramatic genre. For further material regarding Estill training or biography on Judith Goff, check out the website: http://www.estillvoice.com .

For coaching times/cost/location:

CONTACT: Jane Bakken; 425.333.5246; janeandjack1@comcast.net

[...] something about janebakken[...]…

Her new book is being published as we speak…entitled
Whatever Happened to Great Singing? She is indeed one
of the great gifts that I am privileged to pass on to my audiences! You can take in her Master Classes on You Tube under her name, Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman.

Enjoy!
Jane

Becky Johnson
Washington state

“It’s Christmas, 2008, and I was saving up your Christmas CD for now. Tonight I sat in my cozy home, surrounded by lots of snow, and just listened for the first time. I found myself sitting here crying tears of joy and of loss, all mixed together!

Your CD is fabulous! Thank you!

JOE SHIRLEY, Seattle, WA
Ambassador Mentor
Events Coordinator
Coach, Writer
Public Speaker

“Not sure what to expect, (not ever having met her in person), I put Jane’s Christmas CD, “I SEND YOU LOVE”, in to play. I turned around to go about my business, expecting to pay partial attention to the music in the background. Then this voice came out of the speakers, the voice of heaven, of love, of passion and caring all at once. I sat back down and listened to every note.

I have very, very high standards when it comes to music. Not too much passes muster. I have worked (briefly) in the biz, have a sister with a great voice and several albums to her credit, and have produced an album myself, and I care very much about great sound and voice and music.

So I have an ear that listens for nuance, for honest presence and emotion, for artistry, and for skill in production. Jane’s Christmas album is beyond anything I’ve heard in a long time.
I’m impressed as hell and excited to think I might be meeting her at a Biznik event any time now. Bravo!

“It was such a gift to hear your new CD. It truly displays the versatility and creative range of your beautiful voice. The variety of music and arrangements leads the listeners on a wonderful journey. Thank you so much for following your heart and fulfilling your dream!”