Ellen AllenMar 14 minWhat's the Deal with Vocal Warm-ups?What kind of vocal warmups are best, how many, and why? Voice teacher Ellen Allen shares some advice!
Ellen AllenApr 5, 20213 minFive Ways to Level-Up Your Voice LessonsIf you've taken private music lessons before, you're probably aware of the basic elements that are required for progress. Showing up...
Ellen AllenMar 4, 20213 minThe Singer's Toolbox: 5 Must-Haves for Happy PracticingWhen it comes to developing a practice routine, it's all about finding what works for YOU. Sure, your teacher tells you want to practice...
Ellen AllenJan 14, 20214 minFive "Must-Have" Elements for a Show-Stopping PerformanceHave you ever sat in the audience, listening to a singer who maybe *sounds* great, but whose stage presence is just… awkward? Or, maybe...
Ellen AllenDec 18, 20205 min"Sopranos, Less Vibrato!": Thoughts on the V-Word from a Choral Singer & Voice TeacherAs a classically-trained, professional choral singer, a choral director, AND a voice teacher, I have loooots of thoughts about the V-word...
Ellen AllenDec 2, 20205 minVirtual Choir 101In these not-so-unprecedented-anymore times (let's face it, we've been at this nearly nine months), musicians of all stripes have had to...
Ellen AllenSep 9, 20202 minBack-to-School, Back-to-Practicing!While the start of this school year is undoubtedly unlike any other, there are still elements of our back-to-school routines that we find...
Ellen AllenAug 12, 20202 minHow to Maximize Your Vocal Warmups, Part 2In my last post, I talked about the basic structure of a vocal warm-up: how you should start, what you should focus on first, and how to...
Ellen AllenJul 29, 20204 minHow to Maximize Your Vocal Warm-up, Part 1Virtually any singer will tell you that vocal warm-ups are important. Ask them why, and - particularly less experienced singers - will...
Ellen AllenJun 30, 20206 minHow To Sight-Read Like a ProDo you like to sight-read? LOL, right? Well, some people do. *Meekly raises hand* Why do so many singers dread sight-reading? Oh, so...
Ellen AllenMay 28, 20205 minThe "Ten Commandments" of Choral SingingI don't know about you, but the news earlier this month about aerosols and COVID and singing and super-spreading got me REALLY down. The...
Ellen AllenMay 6, 20206 minWhy the Arts MatterI originally wrote this post back in 2017, for the Rising Stars Productions blog. Looking at it now, I feel it's more relevant than...
Ellen AllenApr 11, 20203 minSix Tips for Mindful PracticingMindful singing means being aware of and responding to the workings of your instrument. Here are some tips for more mindful practicing.
Ellen AllenMar 31, 20203 min#SocialDistantSing: The Importance of the Arts During COVID-19The arts are vitally important, especially in a time of crisis. I hope we can remember this even after the world has returned to "normal."
Ellen AllenFeb 5, 20204 minVocal Health, Part 2: I'm Sick!Even just a hint of sickness can send any singer into crisis mode, and for good reason. So how do we deal with sickness as singers?
Ellen AllenJan 28, 20204 minThree Steps for Memorizing MusicMemorizing music can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be! You just need a roadmap and some strategies!
Ellen AllenJan 21, 20204 minFive Steps For Learning New SongsBelow, I outline a basic music-learning system that can be employed for most musical theater pieces, as well as pieces in other genres.
Ellen AllenJan 21, 20203 minVocal Health, Part 1: My Voice Is Tired!Raise your hand if you've ever experienced a tired voice after a long stretch of singing. You're not alone! When your voice gets tired,...
Ellen AllenJan 18, 20206 minManaging Performance AnxietyPerformance nerves are often inevitable, but they can be managed! Where do they come from, and how can we deal with them?