Livestream Lessons! 🎶

Greetings my friends!

I do hope you’re fairing well with all that is going on in this world.  This Covid-19 pandemic is forcing us to separate and avoid human interaction and the period of social distancing is not without psychological implications.  I think it’s essential to keep a sense of humor, joy and even a bit of adventure during these times.  

 

Online lessons are suddenly the main topic of discussion in my circle of friends, and you may be considering trying them yourself if you’re not already jumping in on the amazing wonders of technology today.  

 

Some of you have already scheduled online lessons with me.  If that’s you, I thank you for braving the world of online learning.  

 

If you’re stuck at home, perhaps some online lessons would be something you’d like to try.  I have openings for voice, ukulele, acoustic guitar and songwriting and the online classroom is a great way to learn!  Plus, if you’re a musician with a schedule that’s been cleared there’s no better time than now to take advantage of your empty schedule to brush up on your skills.  

 

Let me invite you to connect with me for details. Call 951.897.0876 or send an email. Together we can make the most of this crazy world and make it a better place together.  

God bless!

Cosima

Ukulele 4 Christmas!

I’m running a very special offer right now!

Get this starter ukulele with soft case and goodies when you register for 3 months of ukulele or voice lessons. Just say “Ukulele 4 Christmas!”
Good for local and Skype/iOS or other remote platforms. 

Learning to play the ukulele is fun and fast. Learn to play your favorite cover songs in just a few lessons.

 

The ukulele is perfect for little hands too! Ages 9 and up.

Promo ends December 25th!  Contact me for more information. 

 

Never fear, the FREEBIE is HERE!

Merry Christmas and please forgive me.  I honestly intended to post a Christmas Freebie on the 24th, but alas, it slipped right by me.   But…. Never fear, the FREEBIE is HERE!

Click the link to unlock your gift (better late than never). A full 45minute uncut video shot with my iPad of our vocal workshop earlier this month. Thank you for your loyalty and ENJOY!

THIS LINK is time sensitive so don’t delay because this FREEBIE will go away.

 

Holiday Lesson Packages

Holiday discounts are on!  It’s been a while since my last post.. well, a really long while, so to show my appreciation to you for following me I’m posting a discount to help make your season bright.

Check out my IN PERSON LESSONS at TakeLessons.com’s.

TODAY only, save 20% on any new lesson package with me when you book with code CHEER20. This sale ends at midnight, so don’t wait. Visit my page and start doing what you love this season!

Or, if you’re not local you can purchase lessons for yourself or buy a gift certificate for someone on your list for LIVE ONLINE LESSONS at my brand new Savvy.is page and give someone a gift that will help them reach their musical goals.

 

And.. as an added bonus I also offer songwriting, acoustic guitar and ukulele lessons in both venues.

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Pitch . . . Then and Now

The music business today isn’t what it used to be in the 50s and 60s. In those days there were two kinds of performers. The singers with smooth velvety voices like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald or Frank Sinatra to name a few.  On the other side of the vinyl record lables were the Motown singers like the Shirelles and the Marveletts, or the early folk singers such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie, who’s talent was often raw.   Many of these performers sang off pitch and had unpolished voices.  These were, after all, the voice of the people.  They were right out of the crowd folks who stood out in an industry that was just getting started.  Many of these singers didn’t have the training available to singers today and the general audiences were ok with that.

Today, technology in studio and in live production is very advanced and can make a huge difference in what the audience hears.  For example, if a singer goes off pitch the production team can send their voice through a pitch correcting device, autotune, and the audience is oblivious to the poor pitch issues of the performer.  Just do a search on youtube and you’ll find plenty of videos of pros getting caught with bad technique.  If the audience knew the truth it might not change the popularity of the performer but it would change how the audience listened.

On the other hand there are some performers that should use autotune to save their audience the agony of listening to their seriously pitchy performances.  Some people have no idea they are off pitch and would benefit greatly from singing lessons.

I believe technology like autotune can be fun when used as the special effect it was designed for.   It’s also quite acceptable when used in the recording studio to sweeten the production if pitch is an issue but too many singers rely on the technology to correct their bad technique.

It’s important for the singer to have taken the time to study pitch control through ear and vocal training. For that reason I work diligently with my clients to help them with pitch accuracy.  Then when they hit the studio or get in front of an audience they will have confidence their voice will be right on target and their audience will hear the naturally tuned voice they expected to hear instead of an electronic representation.

Amazing!

Some of you may not appreciate the graphic content of this video but I’m mesmerized!

Putting it all together ~

It’s not unusual for my voice students to become interested in learning to play an instrument, especially the guitar or ukulele.  Why not? If you can sing and play then you can take your “backup band” wherever you go!

Learning to sing is a great challenge for many but learning to add to that an instrument is a whole new experience.  It takes some time to learn the coordinations of right hand and left hand and to add singing to that.

I’m so very proud of my students that pursue playing and singing.  They work hard and are consistent with their lessons and for that reason they progress and become not only great singers but great musicians too and as a result they gain a greater appreciation for music as a whole and a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.

I encourage and teach sight singing/reading, guitar and ukulele chords, tablature and music theory basics especially for those students who are considering music as a profession.

Instrument rentals available!

How do they do that?

Here’s a little fun vide with Christina Aguilera on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Listen and then comment below answering the following question. … How do they do that? How do singers know how to change their voices?

NEW YEAR SPECIAL!!

Happy New Year, singers! I’m celebrating the new year with a Buy One-Get One Special!

Did your voice go on vacation during the holidays? Maybe it’s time for a 10 week tune-up in the studio! Or do you have a loved one who wants singing lessons? Buy one 10 week package and another get 10 weeks 1/2 off.

Special starts January 6th and goes all month. Contact me for details.

Music Production: Synthesis Presentation

Hello friends,

Another week and another assignment for my Intro to Music Production class with Coursera.com.  I’ve really enjoyed this class but I must admit it’s been a real challenge trying to get all the information to stick in my head.

This presentation discussed the “Usage of the most important synthesis modules.”  Just click on the Presentation Art  below to make the jump to view my prezi. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Cheers and God bless!!

Cosima

 

 

Singer…. know thyself!

Good morning vocalists!

How do you feel about your level of competency as a musician/vocalist?  It’s a curious thing to see the number of people who have no idea what they sound like when they sing. Some folk’s unconscious incompetence is clear to those listening but they have no clue they are singing off pitch.

Here’s a little something that can help you determine what stage you are in regarding your competency.  It can be helpful in giving you perspective in setting and pursuing your goals.

THE FOUR STAGES OF COMPETENCE

– Unconscious incompetence
The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize the deficit. They may deny the usefulness of the skill. The individual must recognize their own incompetence, and the value of the new skill, before moving on to the next stage. The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on the strength of the stimulus to learn.

– Conscious incompetence
Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize the deficit, as well as the value of a new skill in addressing the deficit. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage.

– Conscious competence
The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires concentration. It may be broken down into steps, and there is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill.

– Unconscious competence
The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become “second nature” and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.

source: wikipedia

Back to School Special!!

What about a Back To School Special on lessons? Message me with the code HSGLEE and get 15% off your next lesson or 15% off 1 month paid lessons.
Refer a friend and receive 30% off your next lesson for every friend that registers for a monthly contract.
And remember: New students get a free intro lesson.

I also teach basics for acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele and piano. Tell a friend! Offer ends 9/31/14

More on Effects in the production process

Greetings music lovers! This week my assignment with Coursera for the Introduction to Music Production class is to “Compare and contrast an algorithmic and convolution reverb. Demonstrate the difference and the important features in both types of reverb.”

I’ve tried on several occasions to embed my presentation but have had not luck.  Please visit my prezi by clicking the Prezi Artwork below to view the assignment.  And, thanks for visiting and taking the time to read through my work.

 

Blessings,

cosima

 

Distortion ~ The Good and the Bad

Hey there folks!  Cosima here.

This is the fourth assignment in a series of posts I’m writing for the online Music Production class I’ve been taking.  For this week’s assignment I’ve chosen to prepare a presentation to “Explain distortion and give examples where it can be both musical and problematic.”

Click on the Prezi Artwork below to enjoy my presentation and perhaps learn a little something too.

God bless and thanks in advance for any input you might like to add.

 

 

For the sake of Zion I will not be silent!

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:1-5, NKJV

Full length CD ~ Surrendered

 

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