Spring 2024 Workshops
May 5 Vocal Exercise For Any Age
3:00 -4:30pm, Mid-County Senior Annex 829 Bay Ave, Capitola.
Whether or not you’ve ever taken voice lessons, you’ve probably heard about “right” or “wrong” things to do. But those rules are changing, especially for performing artists at mid-life and beyond. Come review classic vocal warmups and learn some new ones that are informed by the latest voice science and that balance relaxation and vocal ease with strength and muscle conditioning. Learn how to overcome thin, weak, or unstable tone and vocal fatigue, in order to sound your best when acting, singing, teaching, or just speaking up in public. This dynamic approach is science-based but may not match what you’ve learned in the past, so come ready to shift your thinking while you tune up your voice! The good news is that vocalizing more, not less, is an important piece of the puzzle. fmi: NextStage Productions
“Warm, funny, engaging, and passionate… Joanna makes highly technical info accessible to all vocal artists.” — Mary Ellen Wessels, music educator
June 3-25 The Voice of Your Life: Wellness, Ease, Strength, and Integrity Four-week class: Mondays June 3, 10, 17 and Tuesday June 25. 6:30-8:30pm, Santa Cruz Actors Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.
Renew your expressive voice through solo and group exercises, health tips, and explorations of your vocal biography. You’ll expand your repertoire of warmups and understand why they work; rediscover the fundamentals of breath technique and vocal wellness; and appreciate your personal voice as a multi-dimensional channel for art and life. Register here
“Joanna has a unique ability to marry the technical and spiritual aspects of voice. I recommend her for anyone interested in voice exploration, education, and healing.” — Andrea Odinov, Lee Strasberg Institute
June 15-16 Singing workshops at Redwood Folk Music Camp of the Community Music School of Santa Cruz. (Warmups & Wellness; Rounds singing; Singing-while-playing-an-Instrument). Weekend camp 11:30 AM Saturday through 5 pm Sunday, Monte Toyon Conference Center, Aptos.
https://www.communitymusicschool.org/redwood-music-camp
July 28 From Stage Fright To Stage Presence sponsored by “Jazz for Everyone” program of the Jazz Society of Santa Cruz. 2:00-3:30pm, Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street.
Learn the latest insights from body-mind psychology along with practical tips to help you manage those distracting jitters and to fully “show up” onstage when it’s your turn to shine. Singers, actors, instrumental musicians and all other performers are welcome.
https://tinyurl.com/JazzSocSC4Everyone
“Joanna is a virtual treasure trove of knowledge and experience in all aspects of voice, and generous about sharing her knowledge…the ultimate professional.” — Carole Kornsweig, Speech Communications Consultant
More topics available: contact me to schedule SOMETHING FOR your GROUP!
Everyday Voice Care: My most requested workshop. How the voice works, what vocal cords are made of, and how to take care of it all. Minimal jargon, maximum practicality.
Acting out the Larynx: a fun group activity that turns throat and airway anatomy into “personalities with jobs to do.” Leads easily into Q&A on health & wellness. Suitable for teens through adult professionals; a special favorite of pedagogy students.
Warmups and Why They Work: breathe, stretch, trill and blow bubbles while learning what routines suit different voices and styles; the difference between warming up and conditioning exercise; and why voice-teacher-lingo gets so weird.
The Multi-Dimensional Breath: The goals of breath management for voice; mechanical options for the ribcage, diaphragm and abdomen; a philosophy of available-efficient-and-comfortable versus only-one-correct-way; learning to feel and develop what suits your own body and vocal style.
Self-Massage of the Vocal Region: Safety-first guidelines for hands-on attention to the muscles that surround the voice box. Why relaxation is great but not a cure-all; the pros and cons of vocal vibrator devices; how to combine massage with active throat and voice exercise for deeper transformations.
“Joanna has been an important presence in the field of vocal arts rehabilitation: as generous to fellow professionals as she is to her clients and students. She’s a consummate teacher and a remarkable human being.” — Karen Kochis-Jennings, California State University, Northridge