Do you welcome change or run from it?  There’s always a choice to make.  We can see change as something entering our lives to take away all we’ve worked for or we can have the perspective that God is up to something great!  After all, take a caterpillar who seems very peaceful crawling about the ground eating leaves, enjoying that slow life on the ground.  He has no idea what freedom and aerial beauty awaits him if he just flows with the process, or progress, of change.

No one of us is exempt from seasons of change in life.  Change is a necessary part of living. It represents growth.  My husband, Gregory, says “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”  I couldn’t agree more.  In fact, look at the diagram to the left demonstrating the process of change.  Think about it.  Anything new in our lives has us go through these stages.  The thought of what could be is the pre-contemplation stage.  Then, as we more fully consider and reason toward the new thing, we enter the contemplation, or the ‘what if’ stage.  From there, we make a decision and prepare ourselves to act on what we’ve decided.  Action is the result that ushers us into the new place we have been destined to enjoy.  After that, there is only one other thing to do…maintain.

What position are you in?  Maybe you wonder each week what it would be like to act in a sitcom as you watch your favorite actress on your favorite tv show.  Perhaps you met someone who produces music and as you’re reminded of how much you enjoyed singing as a young child, you contemplate getting in the studio.  Or you move into taking advantage of that relationship by preparing your talent to be laid on the trak.  You might even be walking that road of pre-contemplation through contemplation and preparation and are ready to take action as you read this! Wherever you are on the continuum, these items indicate your inevitable growth.  In order for our dreams to come true, we have to be processed by change.  We become people of greater character as we are shaped by God’s tools of construction – rejection, abandonment, lack, offense, etc. – things that make us consider doubting our calling, destiny and purpose as we feel like we’re grabbing at straws.

There is something great ahead when you put feet to your faith planning, preparing and taking action toward what you believe God has for you!  Then don’t forget the last step before going through the whole process again…be a good steward to maintain what you’re blessed with!  We’re excited for you and look forward to all of the great reports to come!

Beautiful Insight…

The Miracle of Transformation

 Metamorphosis – Caterpillar into a Butterfly

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Considering this, let’s take a look at how poor quality can affect a performer.

How you’re able to use your voice to produce the right expression or not causes those experiencing your work to create first impressions.  It speaks loudly to how they see you and your ability as an artist and, in turn, their response shapes your self image or esteem as well as your artistic identity.  Now it may not be ‘fair’ that you’re suffering with 100 degree weather, feel both dry and short of breath and seem a bit hoarse when belting out that audition piece and the auditor frowns his/her brow in distaste for what he/she hears.  However, their job is to find the best talent for the project they’re working on, not to understand why your voice is not where they don’t even know it should be.    Getting there early, taking time to breathe the better air indoors and taking time to drink more water before beginning would be helpful.  Whether you use your artistic expression for the fun of it or to earn your livelihood, you want to do well for those who you present your work to.  When you don’t perform well, it’s a blow to your self-esteem and very well may affect you getting a second chance to prove your worth.

If you depend on your voice or value it at all, it behooves you to do what it takes to take care of it, especially in extreme circumstances.  That’s why we’re always barking at you about how to do that.  With severe summer heat, for example, hydrate yourself by drinking more water.  The general rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces and at the very least 64 oz. daily.  You will find that mucous will be less gelatinous, thus, your sinuses will stay clearer, and your skin and hair won’t be as dry or brittle.  The result is that your voice will “work” more freely to produce the sound quality you’d like to hear.  It also helps to reduce the dairy you consume and cut down on caffeine.  The former produces additional mucous that throws the body into overdrive and the latter dries us out even further.

When evaluating a new student who performs or wishes to perform, we consider the vocal demands the performer is under, his/her current vocal habits, any technical training, current and upcoming performances, performance environments including acoustics, air quality, sound aids available, patterns of the speaking voice, such as regionalisms and other habitual traits and, of course, any medical conditions or traumas that may impact vocal production.  These considerations are important to evaluate in order to chart the journey to vocal freedom and comfortable execution.  My constant plea to students is to use what I call good vocal hygiene.  Care for the instrument that you’ve been blessed to share as a gift.  Our voices happen to be instruments housed on the shelves of our bodies and not on a shelf in our basement.  Therefore, it becomes even more pertinent that we realize the additional stress and strain our instrument endures above and beyond that of a trumpet or violin.  The elements are with us always so we have to pay attention to how they’re affecting us overall as performers.

Interesting footage of the Voice in Action:

Vocal Stroboscopy of the Vocal Cords

“I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will…”                     ~  Sam Cooke

Ever see the signs of change and want to keep driving the same course you’ve been on doing without it?  Change is something many run from, as Sam Cooke’s infamous song chronicles.  The question is why?   Is change so terrible that we can’t bear to embrace it.  So scary that we have to run in the opposite direction?  No, to the contrary.  We have to embrace it to find our promotion into the ‘better’ in life.  Change often creates fear because it represents the unknown.  When we’re not familiar with something, our human tendency is to move away or run from it, not go toward to discover more about it.  Change challenges us to face the reality of the present moment as compared to the uncertainty of what’s to come.  We may not know what’s gon’ come; however, we must hold fast to our faith and know that the change we’ve been hoping and praying for, the change for the better, will come as long as we’re led by God.  Many times, what we’ve prayed and believed God for is just on the other side of that fear to accept change and it’s our faith that gets us to the other side.  We have to press toward the mark of the high calling.  When we press through the fear, our efforts of diligence are rewarded.

Have you been waiting for the right opportunity to come along?   Has it been a long, long time comin’?Well, one thing’s for sure…change is gon’ come!  It’s a timing thing.  The formula for success = preparation + opportunity!  In other words, while you wait, prepare for the opportunity that lies ahead!  When it comes, you’ll recognize it and be able to take full advantage of it.  Consider God’s principle ~ seed – time – and harvest.  You sow seed, time goes by and then you experience the harvest.  It’s important that you know that you will receive your harvest in due season, when your promise is ripe and ready for picking.  Don’t frustrate yourself pressing to make it happen sooner.  You’ll just wind up with unripened fruit no good to anyone for anything.  Instead, rely on the divine timing of God to bring about the manifestation of your blessing when He sees fit.  Which do you want…His good, His better or His best?  The only way to experience His absolute best is by choosing His perfect will.  Meditate on the following directives of God.  Don’t run from change; run toward it.  And remember, the key is NOT to give up, cave in or quit.  You deserve to receive all of what you’ve waited for.  Congratulations!

Internal Insights ~

Galatians 6:9 ~ And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Sam Cooke ~ \”A Change Gon\’ Come\”

2011 Prophecy ~ Kenneth Copeland

Take some time to evaluate what your goals and dreams are, how realistically you can achieve them AND, most importantly, what steps you’re going to take in order to bring them to fruition.  We, at viaJ, can encourage you and even walk through the process with you as you give us your goal sheet with estimated times of arrival and obstacles.  However, it’s ultimately up to you to walk it out.  Like salvation, you have to walk it out for yourself.  We’re here for you and wish you well in all your endeavors, artistic and beyond!  We believe in you!  So you believe in you too!

As an artist, you’re your own boss, right?  You’re also everything else – the artist, the manager, the travel consultant, the booking agent, the marketing professional, the public relations director, the life coach, the fitness and nutrition expert – and let’s not forget the funding source for all of it!  It’s critical that you manage not only your time but your money with the utmost standards of excellence.  Speaking of time, how much time do you take PLANNING for your future success and you and/or your family’s well being along the way?  It’s been said that people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.  Are you being strategic in that planning by taking advantage of being an independent contractor with business expenses reporting costs for your weekly lessons, travel to and from those lessons, conference fees, photo sessions, business cards, graphic design services, equipment you need to run your career, etc. at tax time?  Are you even in a position to have all of that going on?  Here’s another question, have you considered planning toward retirement early so you can take advantage of lower out-of-pocket costs overall while setting yourself up to reap larger living benefits later in life?

I bring this up because several students have expressed their challenges in fully funding their dreams lately.  Though most are working on a piece of their dream at a time, it’s hard to see how the full puzzle will come together.  For example, a vocalist working on a 3-song demo has to consider studio time, marketing and promotions, preparing press kits and maintaining websites while an actor is interested in getting professional headshots taken and a professional resume drafted for marketing to casting professionals and to take to auditions they land.  These items skim the surface of expenses involved in the process.  We haven’t even mentioned the preparation in getting ready to actually do a marketing campaign.  There is training, conferences, workshops, networking events, etc.  When you think of it taking at least 10-15 hours per song to record vocals and music and an additional 5-10 hours to master the session properly, one could spend at the very least $1000-$1675 per song (I’m being modest) just on the studio time alone, not to mention getting the project packaged and distributed and the time poured in to follow up.

So I pose the question in expectation of your responses — What means do you currently use for reaching your  financial goals when it comes to funding your dreams and taking care of you and your future?  Please share your responses so others are aware of the creative ways you’ve managed to get the job done, should that be the case.  Start a dialogue to share in someone else’s growth.  What you sow you will surely reap.  Thank you in advance for your selflessness.

There’s one thing for certain.  There is a difference between a talent and a gift and those that stand out stand out for a reason.  There’s much to be debated along these lines.  Some feel that the two are exactly the same. Others believe they are distinctly different.  Google it and see just how many perspectives are out there concerning the subject.  The clearer you are on what you believe and identify for yourself what your talent and/or gift is, the sooner you can have it working for you and the more focused and effective your journey toward your goal becomes.  Once you can put your finger on it, you can take what you’ve got and put it to use effectively.  We’re excited as we work with you to help you see and hone in on what your talents and gifts are and how they can be uniquely applied to help you reach your dreams.  This way you can use them and what makes you uniquely talented and/or gifted more to your advantage for there is much more to a talent or a gift than just an ability to sing, act, dance, model or play.

Despite the side of the pendulum you fall on, one thing sets you apart from others – your light.  When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit, or presence, is invited to live on the inside of us.  If we listen to His voice and obey His leading we will find ourselves good stewards perfecting the talents and/or gifts we’ve been given and along the way doors will open for us that make it possible to explore how to apply His light and receive His favor.  This very thing happened to a student attending a conference in LA recently. Not only had she prepared from a talent/gift standpoint by consistently making her lessons and applying the homework given but she also prepared by working on identifying how to use His light within her to make things happen.  And things did just that – happened.  God even made it possible for time to work out in her favor so she was able to have a dedicated meeting and exchange information with a major player in the music industry who can make things happen for her.  Not only that but she found others, both peers and professionals attending the conference, approaching her asking questions like, “you’re a singer, right?” and making comments such as, “I don’t know who you are but I’d like to give you my contact information.  I’d like to work on your project.”  We agreed at her lesson this week that it was the light of God in her that drew those people to her.  Following, her talent and gifts made and will make room for her.  She was focused, determined and went with a spirit of expectation that things would work in her favor and they did.  God used His light to highlight the talent and gifts He gave her to use for her increase.

Be encouraged and keep working to identify and hone in on what talent, gift or both you possess and how to effectively go for those opportunities with your name on them.  We believe in you!  You can do it!

Insight…

Wisdom and a promise from God in Proverbs 18:16

Read biblical commentaries … http://bible.cc/proverbs/18-16.htm

Technically speaking, all of us have a tendency, once steady in progress, to let the basics slip by the wayside while concentrating on what we find to be more important.  How often do you practice your physical warm ups, including stretching before and after that warm up?  What about your mental warm ups?  If we should put you on the spot to give us a little “This color leather, that color leather” would you be competent or would you perform as if this was your first month of lessons?  Your scales.  How precise are you at ascending and descending?  And the relaxation exercises?  Do you offset your day exercising your relaxation breathing and meditation?

If not, let me encourage you to get back on track.  There’s no better time than the present!  Take the time to write regularly in your journals about your observations and discoveries.  Take a power walk first thing in the morning to think through your day and prioritize the happenings.  Practice your diaphragmatic breathing using the “S” exercises or go over your monologue recalling the transitions that move you from one beat to another.  Sing softly in the shower concentrating on the four steps of breathing or practice your fingering on your thigh while riding the bus.    When you make even what you may consider a small investment in YOURSELF and YOUR growth as an artist, you’ll feel better knowing you are contributing to the progress of your goals by putting feet to your faith.  You’re making it happen.  When you don’t spend the time on it you tend to get discouraged because you know deep down you are not acting like you believe in yourself.  Make YOU your business and respect the art in you!  Make the difference!  Become the change you wish to see!

Interesting Point…

There was a wonderful word given this past Sunday.  The illustrations were right on point for this discussion.   God’s mouthpiece, Dr. Sam Chand, took his passage from Genesis 38:27-30, verses illustrating the birth of twin brothers.  Back in that day, the midwives named the children and for twins, tied a ribbon on the wrist of the firstborn to denote his first coming.  When these twins were born, the first made his way out but drew back and his brother pushed his way to the forefront.  For this, the midwife named that child Perez, meaning ‘breakthrough’.  He made his way to the front.  That’s just what we need to do, not at the expense of others but in recognition of the purpose of our gifting to be shared with the world.  The illustrations?  Take a carrot and drop it in a pot of boiling water for a while and what happens?  The carrot, once hard, becomes soft.  How about an egg?  It starts off soft and becomes hard. The water affects them.  Now take a tea bag and drop it into the boiling water.  What happens?  The water is changed.  It will never be the same.  It looks different and even tastes different.  It will never be plain water again.  We must be like the tea bag. We must be strong enough in our own identity and artistic aptitude to affect things we find around us – people, places and things!

Be encouraged ~ You’re not waiting for a breakthrough…You ARE the breakthrough. So get to breakin’!

Why People Fail ~ Les Brown

Earlier this week, Chris Rock appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.  He talked about experiencing “Fences”, the Broadway blockbuster by August Wilson starring Tony-award winner Denzel Washington.  After having seen this, he expresses having a great desire to be a leading man on Broadway and is led him to approach the producer of the play with this epiphany.  This event led to another and, needless to say, he’s currently on Broadway starring in “The Motherf**ker with the Hat”.  The interview goes on with Chris Rock encouraging Oprah, who shared with the audience her dream of acting on Broadway, “You’re going to grow as an actress because you’re going to play with these emotions. You’re going to do it in so many different ways.  Almost every night, you’re going to be another person.”  How did this happen?  Simple.  He recognized then took advantage of the opportunity presented to him to approach the producer and communicate his wish to which the producer found him a script.  Rock, in the interview, shares that what makes one really rich is not money but the opportunities presented to a person that he takes advantage of.   It’s as simple as identifying the opportunity at hand and acting on it.

The difference between those who are successful and those who are not is their willingness to maximize every opportunity they are blessed to have presented to them.  It’s all in perspective.  Successful people know that every problem is an opportunity in disguise.  James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead.  In other words, you can believe something all day long but it will be only that, a belief, unless you act on it.  Imagination is only the seed to fruition.  Action brings about the harvest.   So the question is, when you stand at the door of opportunity, will you walk in?  It will come down to whether you believe the door is your door of opportunity and you believe enough to act on what you believe by walking in.  The Chinese have no word in their language that translates into ‘crisis’.  The word that describes what we know as ’crisis’ in their language is ‘opportunity’.  This very well may be how they are so resilient.  What are the opportunities available to you?  Are you taking advantage of them?  Are you maximizing them?  Start a list of all of the opportunities you’ve been blessed to encounter then act on them.  The only person who can stop you from becoming rich is you!

Interesting Points…

I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.  ~Mark Twain

Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken.  ~Robert Brault

Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the one you miss.  ~Author Unknown

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.  ~Harry Truman

Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them.  ~Hugh Miller, Snow on the Wind

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.  ~Thomas Edison

And my personal favorite…

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.  ~Milton Berle

Stay blessed.

How many times have you attended an audition and not gotten the gig or sent your demo not to be hear from the A&R who promised to hit you back?  If there’s one thing you need in the world of entertainment, it’s determination!  Persistence, drive, get-up-and-go!  In this field, those who find success have an ambition to reach their goals, to see the fulfillment of their dreams no matter what.  There’s no time for your direct adversaries, lethargy and procrastination.   The discipline it takes to operate at your top level consistently may be challenging but somewhere along the line, it will be notable to just the right person.  With the right team of people supporting you and working with you to achieve, your vision will come to pass if you faint not.  Joe Paterno, head football coach at Penn State holding the record for the most college football victories, admonishes, “You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That’s the mark of a true professional.” And yes, there will be times when we miss the mark.  It’s then that baseball legend, Yogi Berra, would advise, if you know you’re gonna get on the wrong train, leave early!  Leave no room for error.  You have to ask yourself and be honest with the answer, ‘is my dream worth all of the hard work and suffering I may have to endure before reaching my goal?  Am I ready for the success that a diligent hand will bring?’

Interesting Point…

I’m always encouraged to know that God sees our sacrifice and rewards our diligence.  No one can keep us from our destiny but us not progressing toward it!  Isn’t it amazing that we could walk crooked, backwards and sideways and God will still get us to where He’s intended for us to be if we just keep pressing toward that mark of His calling?  Jesus is our perfect example.   As we remember His ultimate sacrifice for our salvation this holy week and Resurrection/Easter season, we can take note that He had a purpose – to come that we may all have the opportunity to be saved – and He was obedient to that calling even unto His death.  We were the reward that cost Him all He had.  People knocked Him down, beat Him down and death tried to hold Him down and couldn’t!  He rose!  His resurrection represents our victory in all things!  If He could endure the stench of the cross, we can surely press through our challenges.  It doesn’t matter that you grew up on the wrong side of the tracks or don’t know a certain group of people or have ties to “the powers that be”.  It doesn’t even matter that the money you need is not there.  God enabled you at birth with something that goes far beyond your talent.  He placed in you a gift ~ a gift that makes room for you!  Once you discover that God-given gift and add it to your natural talent, no one will be able to resist your exceptionality.  Share that with the world.  It’s through your sharing of your gift that He’s granted the opportunity to touch the heart of His people.  Keep plugging no matter what!  You win in the end!

“The Resurrection” Arthello Beck, www.blackartdepot.com

“He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

(Ephesians 1:20-21)

“Remind them to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”(Titus 3:1-2)

“Seed, time & harvest…Imagination is the seed that grows into our dreams.  Success is the harvest that comes when we’ve used the time in between to prepare.” ~ Carlyncia

If you’ve been with viaJ for any length of time, you’ve heard the phrase, “It’s all in the form” all too often.  “It’s not the result we’re after,” we tell you, “but the technique.”  We teach this because if your technique is where it needs to be then your desired result – sound quality as a vocalist, great transitions as an actor or perfect blend in dynamics as a pianist – will follow suit.  It’s interesting how form is the basis of skill in many areas of study.  Take bowling for instance.  Not only do you have to choose the right ball and the right shoes, you must also focus your attention on how you bowl.  The desired result of using the correct bowling form is a high score, a perfect 300.  The key here is consistency and technique.  Sound familiar?  What does that look like when it comes to bowling?  Check this out…

There are a lot of steps in getting that just right!  How do you think of all that while performing the action seamlessly!  You will likely not be able to the first couple times; however, taking it slow and repeating the steps several times will inevitably give you a better and better result each time.  After all, it’s muscle memory and anything you do (or, in this case, your body does) 21 times or more becomes habitual.  So it is with your artistic results.  You may have to walk your way through the steps of your technique a number of times slowly and in good order and form to achieve better results.  I promise you, though, focusing on maximizing your potential will get you the results you want to experience.  Furthermore, they’ll stick!

“It’s a pain thinking through all that every time,” you may say.  Well, think of it like this.  Once ‘your body learns it’ you will only have to focus on it when something’s not in place.  That’s the beauty of it!  You work harder on the front end not to have to worry about it on the back end.  This is also very helpful when, for example, you are not in your best form but can accommodate what you need for the right result because you’ve made so many discoveries about performing your technique through the grooming process.  Give it a try.  You’re sure to like it!  Your audience will too!

Interesting Point…

How’s your form in life?  Are you progressively perfecting it?  Nothing could be more perfect than God forming us into His own image!  (Genesis 1 & 2)  David remarked, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb,” in Psalm 139:13 (New American Standard Bible).  We are the Master(‘s)piece!  As artists, career changes or luls can often bring discouragement.  We may find ourselves questioning why we are the way we are and if we shouldn’t be something else.  I would offer you Romans 9:20 which asks, “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the One who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”  Truth is, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” What a promise to rest on.  We must know that because God formed us personally and perfected us in grace that we are a treasured gift to the world around us because, “God don’t make no junk!”

Talk about form!  Watch this…You’re sure to add moments to your life in laughter.  Take your pick; none of these folks were in good form… Enjoy!

Famous Falls –

Free Falls-

“We Fall Down” by Donnie McClurkin

Romans 3:22-24 (New International Version, ©2011)

…All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,”

Proverbs 24:15-17 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹⁵ Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,

do not plunder their dwelling place;

¹⁶ for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,

but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁹ Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰ If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.