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To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Re: First voice lesson
Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 15:46:36 -0800
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

> Hi all! My name is Ann, I'm a 25 year old soprano. ......... I am going
to an
> interview/first lesson next week and don't know what to bring along with
me.
> She says she wants to know what my repetoire is. ....... She told me to
bring one song I know well and one that I have trouble with.

Dear Ann:

Yes, go ahead and bring country or pop music to your voice lesson. Your
prospective teacher wants to hear you at your best and that would be singing
something with which you are familiar. Bring the Handel too, as long as you
know the music. In other words, when she says she wants to hear something
you're having difficulty with, she's referring to vocal challenges, not
problems learning the music. (Learning the notes is YOUR job.)

Before your first lesson, you should give serious consideration to your
goals for singing so that you can discuss them with your new teacher. Voice
lessons should be a challenge and a joy. Have fun and remember, at no time
are you obligated to continue taking lessons with this teacher, so regularly
ask yourself whether your singing is continuing to improve.

Kate Leff
San Diego