Quick snapshot about expense of college education:
Jack Lessenberry wrote about the costs of education in Michigan today, and he points out an obvious problem facing so many of us now-a-days.
Lessenberry states, “Recently I found an old tuition receipt from my graduate school days at Michigan in 1978. I was enrolled for nine credits, and paid $554. That’s about $2,000 in today’s money – still far less than today’s students pay.”
I’d like to point out how that’s less money than what a teacher will most likely pay to renew his or her certificate to keep their job.
(That’s six credit hours, or a combination of earned hours of SCECHs (30 SCECH hours = 1 credit), by the way.)
And what about those young teachers at schools where they are working without a contract and there is no pay raises offered?
I was recently chatting Joe Hertler, musician and recent CMU graduate in education, at the Folk the Police concert last week. He said, “Student loans, it’s scary to think if they are even worth it.”
We need to do something able this problem as a state and country.
I have a good job in a field related to my degree – and I still sometimes feel that student loans make college almost not worth it.
— Joe Hertler (@joehertler) January 22, 2014
Anyone else feeling vocal strain during this dry winter?
The polar vortex can be rough on our voices, as can a four-hour cover gig schedule. Here are five tips that have helped me beat vocal fatigue over these last three years of full-time performing:
1. Warm-up before home practice, rehearsals, and gigs
While driving to gigs, I use Kate Hart‘s vocal warm-ups, religiously. Working with Kate during private lessons and using her warm-up CDs has been essential for maintaining my vocal health. If you have never had vocal lessons, and you are losing your voice at gigs, I encourage you to get some coaching!
2. Practice singing every day
It’s OK to take day off now and then, but becoming a weekend warrior will destroy our voices. Like exercising for sports, it’s essential to have a practice routine for singing.
3. Drink plenty of water
I drink a ridiculous amount of water before, during, and after gigs. I also ask for no ice in my water during gigs. Room temp is best.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
I know, I know. Who doesn’t like to have a drink or two to loosen up during a gig? But honestly, I don’t have more than one beer on a normal day, and if I’m gigging three to five gigs in a row, I avoid alcohol completely.
Now, coffee’s my biggest vice! I drink too much caffeine, and I can tell when it gets the best of my vocal cords. I’m trying to supplement with more teas, often herbal lemon blends, in the morning, but that French Press gets the best of me.
5. Lower song keys to rest upper register
There is no shame in lowering a key half a step or a full step to give your voice a break on the upper register. It’s common to sing a song a half-step lower live than you might on the recording, especially when doing the four hour cover gig routine.
I bring a second acoustic guitar tuned down a full step for my solo, cover gigs that are four hours to allow myself some versatility of full open chords, and lower keys to help my voice stay strong.
Wesley reminds us about the success of practicing.
Do you remember that Youtube hit years ago, a video of a 5-year-old boy named Wesley, singing “Folsom Prison Blues” while playing guitar? Today, I was wondering what happened to that great player.
Guess what. Wesley’s 10, still playing and singing, and getting better and better and better.
Well, that reminds us to keep practicing, practicing, practicing. And the 10,000 hours rule? indisputable.
P.S. Kudos to guitar teacher Rob Hampton of Heartwood Guitar!
P.P.S. Someone in Nashville get Wesley an agent and record deal.
Two quotes for the songwriter today; and one tigerfish
I ran across two quotes that helped me breath a little bit and get working today:
“Going a day without creating something is like going a day without eating.” From Kalpna Patel.
“Don’t be afraid to write crap; it makes for good fertilizer.” Paraphrased from Pat Pattison.
This week, my songwriting group and I are trying to write songs around a common phrase I took from the news, “Tigerfish.”
I freaked out the group–and myself–when I deemed this odd word to be our week’s song challenge, and I worried my friends would jump ship! But I love what Camela tweeted later that day, “[G]et’s me out of my ‘normal’ influences. Pure awesomeness!”
@mikevial @Bob_Schneider I agree. Also get's me out of my 'normal' influences. Pure awesomeness! #PVSG
— Widad Music USA (@WidadMusicUSA) January 26, 2014
I think that’s what writing allows us to do, explore new ideas, places, identities and break out from our normal influences.
Whew! So about 15 of us are trying to write with the word Tigerfish this week. Kelsey Rottiers was one of the first to jump into a persona, and finish her song. I’m a few verses into a possible song, right now.
(It might turn into a kids’ song, as Chris Dupont jested about his own.)
@mikevial AAAH already struggling with tiger fish. Gonna write a kids album probably.
— Chris Dupont (@chrisdupont) January 26, 2014
