Today’s guest is Brenda Earle Stokes. Brenda Earle Stokes has built an extensive and sustainable professional career as an accomplished pianist and vocalist skilled across classical, jazz, pop, rock, R&B; and Music Theatre styles. Her curiosity and voracious appetite for music has led her to become an internationally acclaimed performer, composer, and educator. Since 2018, Brenda has been busy creating a suite of online courses which is now called "The Versatile Musician". In this episode, Brenda takes us on her extensive music industry journey as she reveals that her sustainable career was built on being resourceful, entrepreneurial, and by simply figuring it out. Brenda believes that versatility is key and the more we learn, the more opportunities we will create not only as performers but also as teachers because the more tools we have in our toolbox, the more students we will attract and retain. Brenda reveals how her performance career experiences inform and guide her student-centric teaching approaches. She explains that in order for our students to acquire the necessary skills that are useful and relevant to them, for whatever it is they want to pursue, we must customise our teaching. Brenda also discusses an existing culture of dumbing down singers in music programs within higher educational institutions, the problems associated with gender bias in the music industry, the importance of being strategic and how to create and seize opportunities for employment. This is such a fun and informative show with Brenda Earle Stokes.

In this episode
1:16 - Introducing Brenda Earle Stokes 7:56 - Brenda’s early love for music 18:53 - Transitioning into the professional world 22:40 - Life performing on board a cruise ship 31:55 - Brenda’s move to New York City 39:41 - Brenda’s transition to teaching piano and voice 46:30 - Are higher education training programs serving the next generation adequately? 52:12 - Training programs that Brenda has created and how they have evolved 
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#50. My Versatile Career & How I Figured it Out with Brenda Earle Stokes

Welcome to A Voice and Beyond. This podcast is dedicated to self-care, professional development and personal growth. Our brilliant lineup of international guests include healthcare practitioners, voice educators and other professionals who will share their stories, knowledge and experiences within their specialized fields to empower you to live your best life every day. In the solo round episodes, my goal is to help you increase your levels of focus, productivity, confidence & energy. Now is the time for you to discover your voice in life, develop a positive mindset and become the best and most authentic version of yourself so you can create greater impact.

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The internet is a minefield of information, but it is also rife with misinformation, and when it comes to voice teaching, as an industry, we are not excluded from the bombardment of information. Whether it’s a YouTube video, an Instagram post, a TikTok video, or a post on a social media forum, there is an inundation of misinformation regarding how to sing, voice training techniques, and singing teachers and coaches themselves showing us how they believe it should be done. We are in an unregulated industry, and anyone can claim to have discovered the holy grail of vocal greatness. Therefore, this week on A Voice and Beyond, I asked Chris Johnson to return to the show as our special guest and voice geek, to spill the tea and shed the truth about some of the most widely spread myths that apply to singing. Chris Johnson is an internationally acclaimed singing teacher and highly experienced vocal coach, who has been trained in vocal manual therapy, massage, and myofascial release, and his training perspective respects the whole self. He is the founder of the singing teacher training organization 'Teach Voice’, and co-founder of one of the most popular podcasts for singers, 'The Naked Vocalist’. Chris has also had a professional performance career and truly understands the demands on today’s singers, and the vital role voice training plays in developing and sustaining healthy vocal production. This is a two-part episode, and in this Part 1 episode, Chris is going to address myths around the role of a singing teacher versus a vocal coach, tension, placement, and the role of the breath in the hierarchy of singing. It is a fascinating and informative episode, and Part 2 will be released in three weeks. 
  This episode is proudly sponsored by The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, offering comprehensive training for singing teachers and voice specialists. Dive deeper into the science and art of voice pedagogy with their unique programs. Visit www.ccminstitute.com to learn more. 
 In this Episode00:00 - Sponsored Ad: The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute03:00 - Navigating the Sea of Misinformation in Voice Teaching06:22 - Myth 1: Singing Teacher vs. Vocal Coach – Understanding the Difference10:19 - Myth 2: The Role and Reality of Tension in Singing17:10 - The Evolution of Musical Styles and Singers’ Adaptations23:26 - Myth 3: Is Shouting Really Unhealthy for Singers?28:57 - Debunking Vocal Myths: Breathiness and Whispering in Singing34:29 - Myth 4: Does Singing Truly Start with the Breath?Find Chris Johnson OnlineWebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitterFor more, go to drmarisaleenaismith.com/159. Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! Follow me on Instagram.

#159. The Truth about Singing: Mythbusting with Chris Johnson Part 1

This week on "A Voice and Beyond," we're thrilled to introduce our inspiring guest, Veronica Karaman who wears many hats as the founder of True Champion Coaching, a performance coach, speaker, and author of "The Champion’s Way." Not only is Veronica a seasoned professional golfer, having competed in the US Open and achieved the title of TN Senior Women's Open Champion, but she also firmly believes that each one of us harbours a champion within us. Over the past four decades, Veronica has dedicated herself to helping others unlock their full potential and perform at their best. In today’s episode, Veronica shares invaluable insights on overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of our success. She emphasizes that whether we're singing or swinging a golf club, there is a champion residing within us. I love Veronica’s perspective that the only difference between singing and swinging is the "w" in between, and that singing and golf have much more in common than we realize. According to Veronica, true greatness emanates from embracing our whole selves, and understanding that our worth is more than trophies or performance outcomes. True victory lies in the freedom to embrace both success and failure, recognizing that our value isn't based on our achievements. It demands superior passion and focus. Veronica describes her 12-week coaching program, offering insights into her strategies for empowering individuals to silence their inner critic and unleash their inner champion. She emphasizes the importance of finding one's authentic voice and pursuing one's dreams with unwavering determination, regardless of the challenges encountered along the way. This is a beautiful and inspiring interview with Veronica Karaman, one that I’m sure will unleash the champion within you. 
 This episode is proudly sponsored by The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, offering comprehensive training for singing teachers and voice specialists. Dive deeper into the science and art of voice pedagogy with their unique programs. Visit www.ccminstitute.com to learn more. 
 In this Episode00:00 - Sponsored Ad: The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute01:49 - Introduction to Today's Episode06:10 - Welcoming Veronica Karaman11:07 - Veronica's Journey in Golf and Coaching20:45 - The True Traits of a Champion33:42 - Developing the Champion Mindset47:20 - Exploring the Champion Zones
 Find Veronica Karaman OnlineWebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitter
 For more, go to drmarisaleenaismith.com/158. Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! Follow me on Instagram.



#158. Unleashing the Inner Champion Within with Veronica Karaman

In a world where productivity is often equated with completing tasks on a to-do list, it's crucial to redefine what true productivity means. Productivity isn't just about ticking off items; it's about efficiently achieving desired outcomes. It's measured not only by the quantity of work completed but also by its quality and the effectiveness of achieving goals within a given timeframe.

Some may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to be productive, while others excel effortlessly in all aspects of life. Time management plays a pivotal role in productivity and success across personal and professional spheres. Effective time management brings order, control, and reduces stress, ultimately enhancing our overall sense of well-being.

Considering time as a finite resource, it's essential to distinguish between spending and investing it. Unlike spending, which yields no future value, investing time in meaningful pursuits creates long-term benefits. Shockingly, the average person spends significant portions of their life pursuing meaningless activities, leaving only a fraction of time for personal growth and fulfilment.

To maximize the limited time available, it's important to invest it wisely. This involves adopting effective time management strategies to prioritize essential tasks and activities aligned with personal goals. By doing so, we can create the life we desire and make the most of our time. Throughout this episode, five key time management skills, tips, tricks, and hacks will be shared to empower you to invest your time wisely so you too can achieve your dreams and aspirations.

This episode is proudly sponsored by The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, offering comprehensive training for singing teachers and voice specialists. Dive deeper into the science and art of voice pedagogy with their unique programs. Visit www.ccminstitute.com to learn more.

In this Episode00:00 - Sponsored Ad: The CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute02:54 - The True Essence of Productivity09:12 - Investing Time Wisely10:27 - Energy vs. Time Management21:56 - Handling Time Bullies and Self-Care27:37 - Maximizing Gap Time32:37 - Removing Distractions for Better Focus
For more, go to drmarisaleenaismith.com/157. Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! Follow me on Instagram.

#157. 5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time

This week on A Voice and Beyond, I am very excited to introduce this week’s very special guest, Jeannette LoVetri, who, by the way, needs little introduction as she is one of the most recognised and highly acclaimed voice teachers from around the world. Jeanie is my CCM inspiration, and I wanted to honour her and the work that she continues to do, not only in sharing her knowledge and skills in the CCM sector but also in legitimising CCM from a pedagogical standpoint in our teaching community. Jeanie is a true pioneer, and her success has come about because of her remarkable resilience, curiosity for learning, and sheer tenacity. Jeanie has certainly paved the way for the rest of us who teach singers across the broad range of CCM styles, so we too can be respected and acknowledged alongside our classical colleagues for the work that we do in the singing voice field. 
 This episode is a recap of sections of a two-part interview I did with Jeanie in 2022, and I wanted to replay this interview as I feel it is important right now, more than ever, to be advocating for the training of CCM singers. Let’s create a movement and see if we can create change in academic music programs to accommodate singers who want to pursue a career in the CCM music market. To listen to the full interview, please refer to episodes 66 and 67.


In this Episode00:00 - Introduction02:35 - Jeannette LoVetri's Introduction and CCM Advocacy24:46 - Reflecting on Personal Experience and Vocal Health33:33 - A Transformative Gala Performance45:56 - Expanding the Teaching Program and Faculty52:37 - The Importance of Somatic Awareness in Singing1:06:39 - Upcoming Plans and Reflections on Legacy
Find Jeannette OnlineWebsiteInstagram
 For more, go to drmarisaleenaismith.com/156. Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! Follow me on Instagram.



#156. Time to Legitimise Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) with Jeannette LoVetri

This week on A Voice and Beyond our very special guest is Cristina Ramirez, a serial entrepreneur who brings her empowerment curricula to audiences everywhere across the United States. Her programs have been implemented across 41 states to over 10,000 individuals, ranging from children to executives. A veteran of Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Cristina is an award-winning coach, the best-selling author of the book Empowered by Discomfort, an Ironman triathlete, and a US Snowboard National Silver Medalist. Cristina begins by talking about her own personal battles and the journey that ultimately led her to create her brilliant coaching program, which focuses on discomfort as a pathway to confidence. Cristina believes that our words serve as the expression of our inner dialogue, and the stories we consistently tell ourselves become our beliefs, acting as gatekeepers to our actions. She tells us that by recognizing and acknowledging our fears, we can ultimately control our thoughts and responses to life's challenges, leading us to an empowered life. Cristina explains to us that in life, progress often demands incremental steps forward, emphasizing that we should honor and acknowledge each stage of our journeys, rather than fixate on future achievements for happiness. Christina shares many of the coaching strategies she uses with her clients to help them overcome the various obstacles that are standing in their way of success and how they can be applied to performing artists whose limiting beliefs are holding them back in their careers. This is truly a beautiful and uplifting interview with Cristina Ramirez, one that I learned so much from, and I’m sure you will too.

 In this Episode00:00 - Introduction and Overview02:35 - Cristina Ramirez: From Wall Street to Empowerment Coach07:07 - Battling Inner Demons and The Path to Recovery17:20 - Empowerment Strategies and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs46:03 - Redefining Success and Navigating Life's Challenges57:42 - Embracing Discomfort for Empowerment

Find Cristina OnlineWebsiteInstagramLinkedIn
For more, go to drmarisaleenaismith.com/155. Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! Follow me on Instagram.



#50. My Versatile Career & How I Figured it Out with Brenda Earle Stokes

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