New Warm-ups

So right now I'm in the process of developing a new set of warm-ups that specifically focuses on pop and rock singers...warm-ups that help with improving on long notes, licks, runs, growl warm-ups and so on. I just got the Zen of Screaming DVDs also for some fun new information, I hope it's stuff I don't already know, cuz it's always exciting to get some new technics...Am I a huge dork?? Probably, all in a days work right!?

New teacher????

So, if you didn't know my student of five years Angelina is interning with me. Learning book keeping, doing some email stuff, learning how to keep track of receipts and such...but starting summer 2012...she will be our NEW TEACHER!!!!

Who better to start teaching than someone who has been training under me for five solid years. No one knows my business, my method and my style better than her. She will begin to take beginner piano and vocal students starting in the summer time.

This is just the next step to building this to be an awesome business!!! I will start booking students for her April 2012. If you have referrals for Angelina, it is 25.00 in cash for you if they sign up with her for a month. Yeah! CASH!!! Can't beat that right?!

Contact kaity@heartsperformingarts.com for more info!!

Spaces...

Just been daydreaming again about owning my own studio...here's what I'd like to have in it...

A larger performance space to do recitals, and 3 smaller rooms for lessons.

An office space with a new computer and recording equipment we can use all the time.

A cool lounge area where people can hang out before/after lessons to do homework, ask opinions, watch tv and just be a part of a cool place.

How am I going to get there? Well...I've got a couple ideas. And hopefully it will start to build sooner rather than later...

My goals

So. I'm going to make it my mission to try and accomplish the goals I set out to in the summer.

Is it just me or does everyone just feel completely unmotivated in the summer time? I always get more stuff done in the fall/winter...maybe cuz there's nothing better to do! HA!

So lose some weight and finish my stupid portfolio. It's gonna happen. I need to start booking myself cuz I know I can at least fill an hour right now...and I'd really LOVE to host a sing a long. That would be fun right!? Just print off a whole lot of songs everyone knows and just play piano. Play for tips, you know. That'd be good times. Have guest singers...and so on. I think that could work!!

Anyways...here goes nothing!!!

Kaity

Section one goals!!!

So here's the final total!

13 kids are still left in the competition!

and

8 teenagers remain!

New goals will be this week! I'm also introducing passes that will allow you to escape one of your goals for a week, if you are gone or really busy! This will come in handy for a lot of you!

My goals...well...let's just say...I need to be a little more realistic!

New rules, and new goals will be coming up this week!!!

REALLY REALLY GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!!

Random Things to Cover...

Holy Random Posts Batman!!!!

But I have some random things to say!

Here's one:
For everyone trying to compete for the big year end prize...I have 18 kids left and 13 teens. Yes. This is down from 50 altogether...most people are knocked out because of not practicing...so...PRACTICE!!!

Here's another:
My goals are coming along. I have a decent portfolio working out, and my Hanon's are coming along swimmingly. If you want to do what I do...you can google Hanon's 6ths exercise 1-12 and a free pdf file comes up! Hey fun!

And Finally:
Singing and trying to teach with pnemonia and a migraine are hard.

I think that's it for now....

Kaity

Upcoming Gigs!!

Come hang out with me here at these shows!!!


July 22nd- Jammy Jam and Kaityoke at the Star Bar
July 29th- Surly Jones at Lee's
August 2nd- Surly Jones at National Night Out
August 4th- Motley Thursday Jammy Jam
August 5th- Surly Jones at Duluth Street Dance
August 17th-Surly Jones Opening for Hairball in Owatonna at Steel County Fair

Neato!!!

Hanon's 6ths!

So!! I've always been a big proponent of Hanon's 6ths exercises and decided to pursue them again. I'd like to get all 60 at 108 bpm for 16th notes. Apparently if you can do them all at 108 you can get through all 60 exercises in an hour. Pretty sweet! I'm working on 1-11 before it starts to do octaves and such. I have a handful of intermediate students working on exercises one and two. Trying to get 80bpm. It went well today! I have one at 108, about 5 others around 92 and the other 5 at a mere 65. hahaha. Those are silly hard.

And to add to my solo list:

Boys of Summer: Don Henley
Fallin': Alicia Keys
Somewhere over the Rainbow: Eva Cassidy
These Dreams: Heart
Dog and Butterfly: Heart
Dance in the Dark: Lady Gaga
Run: Leona Lewis
Time after Time: Cyndi Lauper

Having a tough time finding uptempos that sound normal on just a piano and vocals...but hopefully more soon!! I have an absurd amount of ballads!!!


More to come...

Solo Set List!!

Hey!!

I'm doing really well on this particular goal!
Here's the list so far of songs that I will do at solo gigs:

Atlanta: Butch Walker
Bakers Street: Gerry Rafferty
Black Velvet: Alannah Myles
Chasing Pavements: Adele
Fireflies: Owl City
Forget You: Cee Lo
Gravity: Sarah Barrilles
Hello Seattle: Owl City
Hotel California: The Eagles
How Come You Don't Call Me: Alicia Keys
I Put a Spell on You: CCR
Jar of Hearts: Christina Perri
Like a Star: Corrine Bailey Rae
Listen to Your Heart: Per Glese
Love Sneaking Up On You: Joss Stone
Mercy: Duffy
Moondance: CCR
Paparazzi: Lady Gaga
Put Your Records On: Corrine Bailey Rae
Rolling in the Deep: Adele
Speechless: Lady Gaga
Stay: Lisa Loeb
The Freshman: Verve Pipe
Torn: Natelie Imbruglia

So many more to come...this is only 21 I've got a list of almost 50 that I'm gunning to learn by the end of summer.

Suggestions???? Comment below!!!

Kaity's Goals

So! Just like my students...I also have set some goals for myself...here they are!

1. Lose 15-20 pounds
2. Finish piano portfolio
3. Record a new demo (finally)

Here's where I'm at!

Goal 1. Well....hahaha. this is the toughest. Always has been! But I've worked out three days in a row and gotten back to some better eating habits. Hopefully they will sink in sooner rather than later!

Goal 2. I learned 6 songs today for the portfolio, still working on key signatures and making sure they work for me. I learned Speechless and Paparazzi by Lady Gaga, Chasing Pavements and Rolling in the Deep by Adele, Hotel California by the Eagles, Spell on You by CCR and am working on a good arrangement of Bakers Street. Neat!

Goal 3. Need to finish goal 2 HAHAH! I need about 45 songs or so...39 left!

Gigs!!!

This weekend Surly had a couple of gigs, and they were a blast!!!

First off we had Stiff's party...which I have to say...if I ever need to plan a swanky party...I know where to go. Seriously amazing ideas, cool party gifts, she hired these really cool moving mannequin people that really helped make the atmosphere and on top of it we got to play!!! The restaurant manager didn't really know what a band did...haha. She thought we'd break her wine bottles with our subs...lol. But it worked out in the end...everyone had a great time!!!! Great party, great people...amazing food...thanks to Stacy. It was really fun!!!

Then we played star bar on Friday. Totally different thing, but just as much fun. Robert made this great soup...ugh. I need more. Shae and Tree were there, billy is always a good time. The show went great! The set was called out, and the crowd was into it. It was actually quite a big crowd after the Motley show got out. I also got to catch up with an old friend from high school I haven't seen in a while too. Best part of the night was when Freaky called out a song and said 'this song is gonna break some hearts'. Heartbreaker...right!? Coach just didn't get it. It was hilarious.

Anyways, two completely different shows...both very fun. Thanks to all involved I had a blast!

Kaity

Surly Shows!!

Hey!! Here's what we have coming up!!!

1. Surly Jones Private Party...you know who you are!!! 6/23
2. Surly Jones at Star Bar 6/24
3. Surly Jones at Lee's 7/29
4. Surly Jones at Duluth Street Dance 8/5
5. Surly Jones Halloween Party! 10/28
6. Surly Jones Private Gala 10/29


You have a sweet office party or something fun you'd like us to play??? Get in contact with me!!! Yeah!!

Kaity

The Box of Awesome!

So everyone pretty much has their goals...let me give you a preview of what's in each box right now:

Kids:
Inflatable Guitars
Rock and Roll Tattoos
Stickers
Tinkerbell things
Disney Princess things
Glow Sticks
Fairy Wands

Teens:
Multi-pack lip gloss
Moonlight Path Bath and Body works Lotion/Body Gel


Much more to come...just thought I'd give you a look!!!

This week will be the first week where people can possibly miss their goals...currently there are 29 kids competing and 12 teens. Although it seems there are much fewer teens, their goals are extremely tough.

Remember to practice!!!

COMPETITION!!!

There's nothing that gets people going more than a good old fashioned competition. I hate to say that I can be very competitive, not only with others...but mostly myself.

So I set up this crazy new program with my lessons and business, gonna give it a try for a year and see how it works. Students have three goals to reach in each section. They accomplish all three goals, they get a cool prize of their choosing. Plus the added bonus of learning things quicker, and progressing faster...always good. PLUS, it's a cool way to keep track of your process.

So keeping with the competitive spirit...I'm going to also give myself three goals for the summer. Their section ends September 4th...so will mine. Okay, kids you gotta hold me to it.

1. Lost 15-20 pounds.
2. Develop piano portfolio
3. Complete Demo

There ya go. My goals. So I too will be participating!

I had 7 students pick their goals today...I will keep everyone updated on the process!!!!

Kaity

Recital!!

1990's grunge rock recital. There is a first time for everything right?! I thought of doing theme recitals a long time ago, but didn't think anyone would go for it. I guess i just kind of made everyone do it! haha. I guess that's the best way to go about it right?!

I originally had a bunch of songs in mind for specific students, but of course I don't want to force anything on people that they hate...but luckily I think I chose really well. This was WAAAAY out of most people's comfort zones...which I just love! Why?! It's not cuz I like watching people crash and burn...it's so they have the opportunity to do so! Honestly. You can learn more from one performance than you can in ten lessons. Lots of kids learned they need to listen better, some learned that being in front of people isn't the worst thing in the world, others learned that rock is cooler than they thought.

A couple of stand outs that I just have to mention because I know they worked really hard: Sarah playing Zombie was amazing. It was quiet, it was creepy, it was controlled...a really cool way to perform that particular song. Olivia killed it with Just a Girl...because she is a copy of a very very young Gwen Stafani. Matt and Dylan did a great job with Bittersweet Symphony with all the patches on the keyboard, singing and playing at the same time...it worked out better than we all thought. Carly and Raelynn were dead on pitch. Shreya was hilarious. Cole did a GREAT job with his song. Really, it was quiet beyond his level and he pulled it off...I can keep going of course. And although she may have thought she blew it Tarra kept going no matter what. And honestly...that's the biggest lesson ALL of my students learn.

You might screw up. You might crash and burn. But you didn't die. No one hates you. And no one thinks less of you. Especially me. I've blown it so many times: I can't recall too many perfect shows...and to be honest...I don't want to, it was probably really boring...

Great job by everyone!! Really.

Kaity

Hey two days in a row!!!

In my quest to live what I teach...the more than just singing thing, I have decided my image, does not match how i perform. Seriously. I'm a pretty powerful singer/stage presence and my girl next door curves aren't helping my I'm gonna kick your @$$ persona I've got going on. Well...maybe it's not a persona...I think i do a fair amount of @$$ kicking in my day. Right?!

I'm obsessed with these singers bodies and would like to look a little more like them.
Gwen stafani, pink, veruca salt. I WANT TO BE YOU. what?! I mean....I'd like to look more like you. WHY!? cuz you're not skinny you're powerful. You're athletic, more tom -boy then girly girl. I think that fits me pretty good, don't ya think?

So I've started weight watchers in order to change my life style instead of a quick fix like slimgenics was or any other fad diet. AND I've started lifting, going back to the gym and so on. I'd love to be looking more like my ideal self by sometime next year...you know before I hit the big 30. AHHHH.

Okay. That's it for today.

See ya soon!

I NEED TO BLOG MORE!

Seriously. I'm so terrible at blogging. hahaha.

Singing/Pianoing business today:

Didn't play piano much today due to a weird injury on my shoulder. It think I messed it up while lifting. It's through my neck, under my shoulder blade and making my whole left arm hurt like the dickens. Yikes.

Students are getting ready for the recital! Like always many of them surprise me by just pulling it out at the end and rocking. Had one girl in particular do that today! Good work Carly!

Super excited about one of my girls: Sarah D. who's working on some really really killer tunes. Her song writing skills are insane. We're just trying to tighten some stuff up and make them work a little better for a wider audience. Her piano playing is getting great too!!

I met someone really really good at improv/jazz piano this past Thursday, hoping to hook up with him and learn some new stuff I can jam down my students throats!

I think I got to get back on a normal practice schedule: Learn a new song with chords, sight read, and do my Hanon's. I've been kinda lazy lately: time to get back on the horse.

Ear monitors btw are the best thing ever invented by man. If you're a singer. You need these.

Anyways!

Hope to do this more often...I'm pretty exciting? RIGHT!?

hehe. have no clue if anyone is even reading this...which makes it all the more awesome.

~Kaity