Dear Ms. Moira,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful presence and music at convention these past few days! I was trained in Choral Education/Bel Canto Opera technique, but we were always taught to NEVER sing while playing anything. Hire an accompanist for choir rehearsals! Get someone to play guitar! Never stoop to accompaniment! etc. I always found that incongruent with what felt right for me, especially considering historical practices like our ancient bards/bard-ettes and more recent art song and folk singer/songwriters. But I just couldn’t break free from what was drilled into us at school. What you’ve accomplished by accompanying yourself, even with opera arias! on that gorgeous harp is such a freeing inspiration!! Maybe even shy little me CAN have a go at singing while performing on guitar and piano and still sound decent, despite what our professors said. Well, once I get past super-shy stage-o-phobia…so I still have a lot to work on. But at least I have hope!
Thanks again, and I look forward to watching your career progress! ~ Bekah Dhand Fremont Mission School of Music Violin, Voice, Piano, and Young Mozart’s Group Instructor