Dear Editor : I enjoy the articles, but I would like to see an article or information on local opera companies and workshops, including names of persons to contact, not just when auditions are announced. I would also like to see more information on resumes. -Name Withheld
Your request for information on resumes was well-timed. We got your letter the same week we were working on the June issue, which covered resumes and “Your Next Career Step.” If you need more information, please go back to the June issue, which contains contact info for Connie Barnett and Janice Papolos. They do workshops to help singers individually. -Editor
Dear Editor: Please continue publishing articles on mature and/or non-traditional singers. Also, please keep including articles on alternative careers for classical singers (recital, church, etc.). -Name Withheld, Lindenhurst, NY
Dear Editor: Thank you for including material of interest to all types of classical singers. It helps us all get ideas and feel connected to each other. I would like to see an article about how other singers balance working a day job along with performing and studying. Do any other singers have trouble balancing full-time jobs along with singing? -Name Withheld, St. Paul, MN
Helping s ingers connect is one of our main goals. We work very hard to create “The Classical Singer Community.” This is why we set up an online forum at www.classicalsinger.com. There you can meet with singers from all over the world who share your concerns. I have read some of the best solutions to practical problems on that forum-plus a lot of hand-holding! Another terrific forum which, although not sponsored by CS, has exactly the same community spirit as CS is www.OperaMom.com. This is specifically for singing parents. We endorse this website completely and encourage singing parents to take advantage of all it offers. -Editor
Dear Editor: I love the new articles with the “mini technique lessons.” What a great idea! -Amber Womack, New York, NY
Dear Editor: I really enjoy your “voice lessons” with acclaimed singers. I’ve learned so much about my young mezzo voice from reading the comments and experiences of other professionals. It makes me think there is “some hope” for me (in particular the recent Rosalind Plowright was a huge help). -Megan Marino, Gorham, ME
Glad you both liked the lessons in the last few issues. I passed on your specific comments to Miss Plowright. -Editor
Dear Editor: Thank you for all the information regarding birth control pills and the female voice. This is a really important issue, and not enough voice teachers and doctors are familiar enough with it to give good advice. I have been very lucky in that my doctor, who is very patient and understanding, is married to a singer with whom I have performed! She has been very understanding of all my “singer” concerns. My teacher, a tenor, was both knowledgeable and supportive of me through a difficult decision-making process. I have had a history of severe menstrual pain and other PMS symptoms, and I tried everything (diet change, painkillers, exercise, homeopathic remedies, vitamin supplements) to fix things. Each would help for a few months, and then the problems would return. Finally last year, with the support of my teacher and doctor, I began taking the Pill. Since I am a light lyric coloratura, I was really nervous about starting, but I now believe that I have made the best decision for me. I take the lowest dose Pill on the market and have experienced no changes to my voice, no weight gain, and no other side-effects. My PMS and menstrual illness have been greatly reduced, however, and it has been a long time since I have had to reschedule a lesson or rehearsal due to these symptoms. I feel lucky to have done this under the care of such a wonderful doctor and with the support of an informed teacher. I do know, however, that my situation is unusual, and I encourage all teachers and singers (and doctors!) to get as much information about this issue as possible, so we female singers can make careful, informed decisions about our bodies. -E.H., via e-mail
Dear Editor: Probably the BEST hands-on publication for people in the singing business to date. Bravo Tutti! -Gary Aldrich, Reno, NV
Classical Singers a wonderfully valuable publication for young professional singers seeking career opportunities. Keep up the good work! -Kira Slovacek, Ann Arbor, MI
Dear Editor: I really appreciate all the work you do to help make a vocalist’s life easier. Name Withheld, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Editor: I love this publication. It is a great resource for singers. I’m interested in having a career in classical music. The magazine covers competitions, job listings, articles on vocal health and much, much more. Bravo CS. -James Moore, Long Beach, CA
Dear Editor: There was an article about yoga for singers in the April volume, which mentioned a video titled “Yoga For Singers” by Suzanne Jackson. I haven’t been able to find it. Do you have any information of where to get it? -J.K. via e-mail
Your request is just one of many. We have received a flood of e-mail requests for the YogaSing video mentioned in the May issue. While it is not our policy to endorse any product or service in this space, we are willing to provide information in this case because of reader demand. You can purchase the YogaSing video/DVD by e-mailing Suzanne Jackson at YogaSing@juno.com, or by visiting the website www.yogasing.com. -Editor
