The Happy Singer

Songwriting and the Singing Voice with Kelly Hoppenjans!

Hi Singers! 

 

It's about time we had another podcast episode, huh? Things have been crazy over here with keeping up a totally virtual singing studio and my on-going struggle with ADHD... it has gotten so much worse during this pandemic, ya'll. (more on this soon.) I actually recorded this episode back in November and it took me this long to sit down and edit it. Such a shame to keep such great content all to myself, but FINALLY, it is all yours. :) 

Here is our lovely guest. Give her a follow on all the socials:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyhoppinjams/

https://www.kellyhoppenjans.com/home

https://open.spotify.com/track/7cHA06sHB2yhsr08htrFzN?si=9992c54a9b814a02

https://open.spotify.com/artist/109JFJprhfxiGV3dT3QXwZ?si=62IEvABLQpeBDh95HWrM4Q

 

Kelly Hoppenjans has been teaching voice in the Nashville area for the past seven years. She is an adjunct instructor at Belmont University in Commercial Voice, teaching private commercial voice lessons, vocal styles, and commercial vocal ensembles. She specializes in working with singer-songwriters and unique voices, and her Master’s thesis was focused on determining the connection between vocal qualities and songwriting in female singer-songwriters. Kelly is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, and released her full-length album OK, I Feel Better Now in October of 2019. The album received airplay in numerous AAA and independent radio stations across the country, and was featured in publications like NPR's All Songs Considered and World Cafe, The Alternative, Ghettoblaster, and American Songwriter. 

 

Kelly wrote this fantastic article: "Cross-Voice Influence: The Relationship Between the Singing Voice and the Songwriting Voice" in the Journal of Singing that you can find here: 

https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/_subscription.html?cmd=dl&file=5ED8qhfwgvNSgDS0LhVqg9NIAa6F_21J-yu2a3hpaKI

Let me know if that links doesn't work for you! I can PDF it or maybe Kelly can! 

We talk about this article, teaching, songwriting, vocal exercises, and so much more. 

Thank you so much, Kelly! And also, I apologize for the wait. 

Hope everyone is safe and finding some little form of happiness. Hugs, 

Kristy 

How to Make a Change with Music-For-Change

Happy December, Singers!

I am so proud to present this interview with some of the founder's of Music-For-Change! This is an incredible organization in its first year of life. One of my amazing students, Piper Wallace, is apart of it and once I heard what it was - I knew they just had to come onto the podcast to talk about what they have created. If you are interested in helping them grow, please visit their website: 

www.music-for-change.org 

They could use your help and there are a number of ways to help them. 

Happy holiday season! Remember to think of others this time of year. I hope you enjoy this episode! 

<3 Kristy 

Perseverance with Arbender Robinson

Hello, All! 

It is so good to be back making episodes. I have been trying to find stories of hope, resilience, and strength during these times and I really think you're going to like this one. My friend and colleague from New York Vocal Coaching, Arbender Robinson, has been making the most of his down time to continue to still work on his craft and stay healthy and happy with "Early Morning Vocals." Check out his Instagram to hear for yourself: @arbender2

Listen to this episode and start thinking about a routine you can get into to help stay afloat during this crazy year! Thank you so much, Arbender, for coming on and inspiring people. You do so much good for this world. Thank you.  

 

Find out more about Arbender here:

https://www.arbender.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXmIRP1PcnY&feature=youtu.be

 

Arbender Robinson (Actor) Broadway:  In Transit, Shuffle Along (revival), Les Miserables (revival), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Disney's The Lion King, Book Of Mormon, Hair, Ragtime (revival), Disney's The Little Mermaid, Hairspray. T.V.: The Last O.G., Nurse Jackie, Little Voice, Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning. 

He made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning production of Hairspray; where he covered the role of Seaweed. In the original cast of Disney’s The Little Mermaid he covered the role of Prince Eric. He also served as the Dance Captain and Swing for the Broadway revival of Hair and was seen in the Broadway revival of Ragtime. His Broadway credits continue with Disney’s The Lion King, Broadway’s 6th longest running and all time highest grossing show. Since then he was in the original cast of Beautiful The Carole King Musical and the 2014 of Les Miserables and is the cover for Marius. He is also the first African American to ever play Marius on Broadway. Arbender starred in the 2016 hit music Shuffle Along alongside many Broadway Legends including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry. The show was Directed by Tony Award Winner George C Wolfe and Choreographed by Savionne Glover.

 

Prior to moving to NYC, Arbender was a featured Vocalist with Royal Caribbean Cruises as well as an actor and vocalist for numerous Disney productions at Walt Disney World. He spent 4 years as a studio session Vocalist for the Disney Organization and can be heard in various parades and attractions worldwide. Arbender also performed extensively in Regional Theater in the US as well as numerous shows abroad including: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Five Guys Named Moe, Sweeney Todd, Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Ragtime, Secret Garden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Songs for a New World, Parade, Miss Saigon and Into the Woods.

When asked to describe the vocal ability of Arbender, one critic said “clear, effective, killer range of death...and that is a good thing. Look out Billy Porter, Arbender has arrived“ As a teaching artist, Arbender has worked with many organizations around the country and has a very unique teaching style that's accessible to all ages and talent levels. He also works significantly at bringing arts awareness to programs all over the country as well as serving as a huge advocate for Autism awareness and research. You can find more information here by following the link for "Teaching" or you can visit him at the New York Vocal Coaching Studio in Manhattan.  www.NewYorkVocalcoaching.com

Arbender also mentioned a few things to keep his mom happy:
“I am a huge advocate for education, the thirst for knowledge, and believing in the power of your dreams. Dream big because sometimes these things can come true. I studied theater, music, dance, and management at Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I have lived and or worked professionally in more states than I can ever recall and I now consider NYC and The Great White Way my home”

Chat with the host of The Working Singer Podcast, Jamila Ford!

Wow, it has been a while! Thank you so much for being patient while I am navigating and juggling a lot of work and life. This is an interview/chat with the wonderfully kind, Jamila Ford. Jamila is the host of "The Working Singer Podcast." This convo goes all the way back to October, I believe. Like I said, life has been crazy. Sometimes a very good crazy. 

You can find out more by checking out Jamila's website:

https://jamilaford.com/home

Jazz/soul singer/songwriter Jamila Ford has garnered attention for her sizable singing chops. Her slight frame belies a bewitchingly powerful yet smooth mezzo-soprano voice that gets your attention and demands a second listen.

 

Majoring in music with an emphasis in vocal performance, Jamila attended the University of California Riverside, graduating with her BA in 2001. Since then, she has performed around the world as a solo artist and as a backing vocalist, lending her talent to the projects of artists such as Seal, Angelo (Fishbone), Melody Gardot, Spiritualized (Coachella Festival), and Bonnie Pointer (The Pointer Sisters). Drawing influences from jazz to R&B to pop, she can give you a history of 50 years of American popular music during one of her sets, with her sultry voice providing the linchpin. 

 

Jamila released her debut EP, the breezy Traces of the Day, in January of 2001; the funky ‘70s R&B-inspired Fabulous EP in 2003; and her first full-length album, the soulful and revealing Enough (a nominee for Independent Music Awards best Soul/R&B album), in October 2010.

 

Her latest EP, the critically-acclaimed The Deep End, was released in September 2014. A collection of reinterpreted standards and an original composition. Jamila’s smoky, sophisticated, and self-assured vocals breathe new life into “All Blues,” “Gentle Rain,” “Sugar,” and “Wild Is the Wind.” Her original composition, “Silencio,” is a strutting Latin-jazz tinged ode to the unspoken connection between lovers.  Says Jamila, "I love music and I love to sing. Music is my genuine path in life. It is the best way for me to give of myself to this world. I sacrifice for it in a way that I do for nothing else. I feel most whole and most connected when I’m on stage singing." 

 

The Deep End was included in the first round of ballots for three GRAMMYs for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Engineered Album and earned raves from critics, who hailed her as "...an exquisite song stylist validating an impressive artistic repertoire with economy and style" (CJ Bond, jazmuzic.com) and proclaimed "Ford is ready to take her place among the elite of sophisticated jazz vocalists" (Paul Freeman, Pop Culture Classics). 

 

An active member of West Coast Songwriters (WCS), Jamila was awarded Hollywood Songwriter of the Year for her song “Not Exactly Perfect” in 2007. She went on to compete at the grand finals alongside the year’s other regional winners at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA.

 

Jamila has played to enthusiastic and supportive audiences at L.A.’s Café Cordiale, Room 5, First and Hope Supper Club, Pips, and Genghis Cohen, and is also excited about her recent foray into performing at house concerts, which gives her a chance to connect with her audience on a more intimate level.

 

Host Jamila's acoustic duo for a house concert! It's easy and fun! Find out more here. 

 

Here's to happy singing! 

Kristy :)

Service and Purpose

Bonus episode for this week! 

I am getting all fired up over here over the climate change and young activist, Greta Thunberg, being amazing. Have you heard this girl speak yet? 

Hope this reaches you when you need it. I think we all have great power to make a difference. Big or small - it counts. 

Hugs,

K 

My Visit to The Memphis Rock n Soul Museum

Hi again, Friends! 

Here is an episode all about my trip to this really cool museum located in Memphis, Tennessee. I really hope you get to go someday because it really meant a lot to me as a musician. When you are there, you are engulfed in history about where our music came from and its whole journey. Very humbling. 

Here is a link to find out more information on it: 

https://www.memphisrocknsoul.org/

There are so many artists that we have forgotten about. I hope this week's episode will encourage you to take the time to buy some old records and let these artists live again. Many of the artists you know and love today were influenced by the forgotten, so be cool and do some investigating of your own. :) 

I will be posting some pictures of the museum on the Facebook group (The Happy Singer Discussion Group) so you can see some of the jukebox's, costumes, instruments, and records I talk about.

Thanks, as always, for listening to the podcast. : )

K 

Circle Singing with Erwan Noblet

Welcome back to The Happy Singer!

Sorry about my long break for vacation! It was much needed and I am back with an interview for you! I hope you like it!

Erwan Noblet is a French voice teacher, singer, improviser, and songwriter with an adventurous spirit. He is currently pursuing a master in voice pedagogy in contemporary commercial music (CCM) at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. His main focus of research is enhancing creativity in academic settings by Circlesinging. He recently participated in Bobby McFerrin's workshop, "Circlesinging: It's all about us," at the Omega Institute in Rhineback, New York. Free vocal improvisation means a lot to him because people can express their inner music while exploring with vulnerability in a safe environment. He encourages people to move beyond their comfort zone to increase their self-consciousness and express their creativity. 

Here is a link to see the institute that Erwan attended this summer with Bobby McFerrin! It looks so amazing.

https://www.eomega.org/videos/circlesongs#!

Thank you so much, Erwan, for being apart of our little singing community. Have a great week, everyone! :)

K 

More on Songwriting

What's up, Singers? 

This week I wanted to blab some more about songwriting for all the beginners out there. This episode is also for those that are advanced but simply haven't used electronics to make music. Perhaps you are all acoustic and you are thinking about adding some synths into your sound? This episode is for you. I talk about "DAW's" (Digital Audio Workstations) and a cool device that I have started to use to make music of my very own. Here is a link to that fun toy:

https://roli.com/products/blocks/songmaker-kit

Let me know what kind of help you need in creating your music. I am here to help. I am planning on having guests on in the field of music production in the near future so that we could go further into this topic. 

Also, if you are in need of some vocal exercises and more assistance from me other than just the weekly episode; I have created a patreon page! Go ahead and check it out! 

https://www.patreon.com/thehappysingerpodcast

The podcast will remain free! This is just an option for people that need more or if you are just feeling generous. Thank you so much as always and don't forget to join our FB group: The Happy Singer Discussion Group! I am here to help! 

K

Music Theory for Beginner Songwriters

Hi, Friend! 

How's it going? Have you been thinking about writing music but you have no idea how to start? Maybe you have a melody in your head and it sounds good! You just don't know how to get it into a full blown song. This episode is for you! I talk about basic music theory stuff and how you can read sheet music or guitar tabs to make something you could show to a producer or friend that plays an instrument! 

I plan on doing more of these but this is just to see where people are at. Make sure to join our Facebook group: The Happy Singer Discussion Group so that you can tell us if this helped you out or if you need more specific help! I can structure another episode on those thoughts you have! 

Remember, I am here to help! 

Thank you so much for all your support and happy singing! 

Kristy :)

Songwriting with Ben Mackel of Threadbare

Hey, Singers! 

Welcome back for another episode about songwriting with an old friend of mine, Ben Mackel!

Threadbare (Ben Mackel) grew up near Asheville, NC and is also a member of the harmony driven trio, The Blue Eyed Bettys. Apart from his high energy shows with The Bettys, this solo project gives Ben a chance to delve further into his love of simple, bittersweet songs that are prone to pulling your heartstrings. 

The name Threadbare is derived from the minimalistic lyrics and simple melodies being weathered and woven into a fabric just strong enough to make a  song that's full of sentiment and comfort - much like your favorite hoodie.

Website: threadbaresongs.com

Facbook: facebook.com/ThreadbareSongs/

Instagram: @ThreadbareSongs

Twitter: @ThreadbareSongs

Youtube: https://youtu.be/F64A_ygJj6Q

 

Streaming

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2CegzmMhHNX8RAYwFfRhKV?si=5jOt6-zZTfWJrVERn5l2NA

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B001123OB8?ref=dm_sh_H1T6ncgT31YKtKklV8GDcUsrH 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Bqlfx6selkohvhlgnzkqdg7cjji?t=The_Morning

Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/threadbaresongs

Band Camp: https://threadbaresongs.bandcamp.com/releases 

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/threadbare/19517785

Thanks, AS ALWAYS, for being apart of this community. Knowing that I am helping even ONE person outside of my work hours at New York Vocal Coaching gives me great comfort and worth. I hope you know that you are loved and needed on this earth. Our time is short here - make it count. Make that music no matter what your evil ego tells you. Let me know how I can help. Join our facebook group for more support. Bless all of you. You're the best. 

K