3 important things you need to know if you want to be a singer/performer: •You have to be willing to be vulnerable on stage • You have to have something to say • Your goal CANNOT be that you want the audience to like you

Singing...lowers stress levels: While singing you are allowing yourself to feel the emotional content that is appropriate for the song. As a result, you are releasing those emotions and stress in your body (muscles) and literally decreasing the cortisol in your blood stream. People work all day, come to choir practice tired but then leave choir practice energized.

Ted Engstrom said “The reward for those who persevere far exceeds the pain that must precede the victory”. This is a principal that I share with ALL my students.  Whether they are in my Confidence Booster Group Singing and Performance Classes, Carleton University students, Choirs that I work with or private students, it is a fact that you must persevere no matter what, if you are going to attain the victory.“To sing and or speak in front of an audience and not allow nerves to sabotage your performance so you can clearly convey the message, is the goal.”  -Roxanne Goodman It takes COURAGE, in spite of how you feel, to still push through and know that sometimes all you have to go on is your instructor’s...

What if you decided not to be afraid any more and try the things you’ve always wanted to try and be the person you always thought you could be. What would your life look like? How would you feel? I asked myself these questions 10 years ago and my life now is dramatically different than what and how it use to be.

When I was a little girl I was always afraid. I could not let myself be, say and do what I really thought for fear of being ridiculed (we all have our own sad story). As an adult I have had many years of experience and training (as well as therapy) that has brought me to a place where I believe it is extremely important to be yourself if you are going to experience any kind of happiness in your life.

Why I am thankful I am a Canadian…   I can SING whenever  and wherever I want to. I can RESPECT people’s differences. I am free to LIVE my faith. BOYS and GILRS are free to go to school. I can SHARE MY CULTURE freely with others. I have access to CLEAN DRINKING WATER. I can EXPERIENCE FOUR SEASONS every year. I can HAVE A DREAM I want to fullfill and THE GOVERNMENT has programs that can and will HELP ME SUCCEED. I can go to the doctor because I have a MEDICARE CARD. I can BE MYSELF.  No country is perfect, but we must never give up hope.  Yes there are many things that we must address in our country, ...

Are you going to wait 50 years before you allow the music, gift, talent, ability, invention, or what ever you have buried inside of you to be shared with others who need it now?

Singing allows you to connect to your inner self. Singing helps you to release negative emotions and completely enjoy positive ones. Singing helps you to be honest with yourself. What ever is going on inside of you while you are singing, comes out, you cannot hide. So when you practice singing a song while being mindful of being relaxed and letting go, this practice seeps into your speaking and communicating skills. “Singing exercises your heart, lungs, and releases endorphins, making you feel good.” Kismetry.com. It’s your voice so use is confidently.

As a vocal coach I get to facilitate and then witness the magic of singing.

This is a new year full of possibilities, a fresh start.