Level 2 Requirements & Prizes

Level 2 Requirements and prizes are posted in the margin on the right of this page.  Guys... they are dude awesome.

A couple of things:

1. Every student who reaches Level 2 in 2011 gets a $50 MMVS money and gets to be in the Epic Level 2 showcase.  So get your Level 1 and then get on the road to Level 2!!
2. The Level 2 MMVS Artist of the Year receives a prize package worth approximately $1,000.  And it's not about who gets there first.  So check the requirements link and get pumped!
3. There are smaller prizes along the way for those who move quickly.  Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.

I'm editing a video now with some additional info.  Should be up tomorrow.

Be fierce!

MM

LEVEL 1 CONTEST STARTS TODAY!

POST TO COMMENTS: Level 1 Contest - who is in?  Road to Level 2 - who's on it?

MMVS SHOWCASE 1/23/11 - DUDE AWESOME! 

LEVEL 1 CONTEST!  1/24/11 - 3/31/11

It's that time again!  The first student to reach MMVS Level 1 will receive:

*$100 MMVS Money (for lessons and/or workshops)

*Video feature on MMVS blog, web site and youtube channel

*Extra song at the Spring Showcase

*Mad bragging rights

Ties for first place are possible if students reach Level 1 the same week.  

2nd and 3rd prizes will be given at my discretion IF the competition is close and the effort is enormous!

See the "Level 1 Requirements" link on the upper righthand side of the blog, print out your checklist and bring it to your lesson EVERY week.  

LEVEL 2 REQUIREMENTS COMING LATER THIS WEEK :)

Emma vs Singamajig

Recently my student, Luis, ran into my studio with a singing purple bear named Singamajig.  He exclaimed "Please tell me you don't already have one of these!!!"   I did not already have one of those. And that's surprising, really, because now I don't know how I lived without him.

Better late than never, Singamajig is an important part of vocal instruction at MMVS.

Other teachers go back to that same, tired list of "great" singers like Freddie Mercury and Mariah Carey to help students improve their tone and vocal stamina.    But let's get with the times, people.  Singamajig is where it's at.

Emma Converse took her first Singamajig lesson yesterday.  She kind of got schooled.  Just sayin.

Get Ricky to the Dude Awesome Showcase of Epicness

Hi everyone!

I had a great time on Sunday at our rehearsal.  If you haven't yet signed up for this Sunday, please post to comments so I know you're coming.  Final Rehearsal Workshop:  Sunday, 1/16/11, 1pm - 3pm $10 ~ @MMVS

Also, please note there are NO LESSONS on Saturday, January 22.   This is the day before our big event, so if you are a Saturday student, talk to me about making other arrangements for you that week.

Rumor has it that singer/songwriter Ricky Manning (my Skype student from Florida - I teach him to sing, not Skype) might just be able to make it to our showcase and sing with us!   So this is the kick-off to my public "Get Ricky to the Show" campaign.

Get Ricky to the Show!

Please post your predictions of what awesome things will occur at our dude awesome showcase of epicness so that Ricky is convinced he can't miss it!

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MMVS Dude Awesome Showcase of Epicness:

Sunday, January 23, 2011, 3pm @ Chef's Table, Fairfield CT

SHOWCASE TICKETS: $5 Limited to 4 (or 5) per student.  Tickets must be purchased in advance (through me).  There will not be tickets available at the door. 

PERFORMERS DON'T NEED TICKETS BUT EVERYONE ELSE DOES, INCLUDING FAMILY OF BAND MATES WHO ARE PLAYING WITH YOU.

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Some of my thoughts and gentle reminders as we get closer to the show:

*Remember to introduce the song you're about to sing.  And if you wrote it, say so - CLEARLY!
*Joke around with the audience, get them singing and clapping along.
*Loosen up.  Don't keep your hands in the same place the entire time (don't grip the mic like it's keeping you from falling out of an airplane).
*Be GREAT audience members for each other.  Please hang out close to the performance area during the show so you can sing along, interact with the singers and dance to my Slayer / Katy Perry medley.

Just one question for you: What are you telling yourself to keep in mind for your performance?  Are you flooded with a dozen singing technique tips or is your mind clear?

2011 = BEST YEAR EVER!

Frank Concepcion told me last week "2011 is gonna be my break out year."  Is that true for you?  Whaddayagonnado?

I can tell you what I'm gonna do in January alone:

*Start a "Vocal Student of the Month" award ~ student of the month will get 10% off the following month's lessons and a feature on the blog.
* MMVS Showcase, January 23rd ~ we might need to change the venue due to overwhelming participation and estimated attendance.  Please stay tuned.
* Another round of the LEVEL 1 Contest!

Eric earning his Level 1 Status at MMVS in December.  Congrats!

* Announce Level 2 requirements!
* Add MMVS student gigs to the MMVS events page
* Plan the next workshop for early this year
* Post all videos/interviews with the November Level 1 contest winners.  I had some camera issues and other unforeseen delays, sorry!

I'm starting the year off right, how about you?

Happy Holidays!

I wish you the warmest, kindest, most peaceful holiday season you've ever had.

And I also wish you the most ridiculous, random, hilarious, laugh until you fall off your chair holiday, too!

Many of you know that this was a difficult year for me, due to my father's illness and recent passing.  But I am still so filled with gratitude and wonderful memories from 2010.  And you've been a big part of that!  You have all been so uplifting, kind, generous, and FUNNY all year.  You are all bright beams of light in this world.  Don't ever forget that.

Some holiday themed questions for you:

1. Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  If so, do you have any regarding music / singing?

2. Best holiday songs ever, in your opinion:

3. Worst holiday songs - the ones that make you want to throw yourself down a flight of stairs:

4. What are you doing New Year's Eve?

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!  Here's to making 2011 a year to remember!

Talk to the People!

SHOWCASE REHEARSALS:
SUNDAY, JAN 9 1pm - 3pm 
SUNDAY, JAN 16, 1pm - 3pm
Performers should attend one or both.  They are only $10 each!

There is no greater sin for a performer than to be uninteresting. We strive for quality, but the technique means nothing if the performance lacks life, passion, intrigue. Venue, audience, genre, and music selection will change the expectations of what makes a performance interesting, but never forget you are an ENTERTAINER. You must be entertaining! - Vocal Coach Mister Tim

Luis is working on a really cool original song.  I'm trying like mad to convince him to sing at the showcase.
Bring on the peer pressure!  LOL :)

As we prepare for the MMVS showcase (details on the MMVS Events page, see link to the right), I see a lot of you trying to figure out how to move, where to look, and what to do while you're singing.  It's natural for you to feel this way... but you've got to work through it, and I have some things for you to try.


1. Pay attention when you talk to people today.  When you tell stories about funny things that happened or things that pissed you off you will use your hands, your face, and your entire body to communicate to your friends and family.  When you are singing you have to use the same amount of energy.  Similar actions will work wonders.  Talk to the people!

Nilani is a music therapist.  She helps kids with disabilities connect and communicate through music.
Music heals.  Nilani rocks!

2. In order to communicate with other people you have to understand the song.  You have to know what every word means and you have to know the overall point of the song.  If you have no clue, or just a vague idea like "Oh, it's about really loving someone a lot," then your performance won't connect with people.  Make up a very specific story about it (in your mind) and then tell that story.  Talk to the people!


3. Watch videos of the different ways your favorite performers use action in their live performances.  If they are "still" at times, watch carefully.  I promise you they are not standing without any motion or emotion.  Watch verrrry carefully, and then try it.   


4. Tell yourself how to feel in each verse, for each line, and really FEEL those emotions before you open your mouth.  Magical things happen.  I've seen hints of it in many of your lessons this week.  


5. When you're practicing alone, go completely nuts and run around like a maniac while you sing.  Pretend you're performing at Madison Square Garden and your hair is on fire.  Free yourself to be crazy and not have a care in the world how ridiculous you look.  Now stop... catch your breath... isn't that FUN?  At least a little bit?  Are you laughing?  ...  Now, let that fun-loving, free-styling person help you create an entertaining and memorable performance.  Talk to the people!


Questions for you, once you've tried some of these suggestions:


1. Which of these performance tips have you tried?
2. What are the results?  
3.  How do you feel?
4. What are you doing differently?
5. Did you know that you can sign up to receive this blog via RSS?  See the new link/button on the right (in the margin).
6. Which of the rehearsals to you plan to attend?  You don't have to commit this week but I'm looking to get an idea.
7. CONGRATULATIONS COLE MURPHY FOR REACHING LEVEL 1 THIS WEEK!   Those of you working on Level 1 - do you have a goal date for completion?  If not, SET ONE NOW!  :)
8.  Y'all know how much I love you, right?