Rehearsal Notes
April 30th Edition
Welcome to Rehearsal Notes, a 5-part weekly publication highlighting the things that have inspired me and the lessons I’ve learned on and off-stage. Each Rehearsal Notes edition has a creative challenge or experiment for you to try out during your week—find it in the Voice Note section. I hope it brings you joy and actionable tools for your own creativity!
What I’m Listening to
My partner, my dog Phoebe and I sat down to figure out our summer plans. Scheduling who flies where and when is basically a game of Tetris. I’ll be in Germany until the end of the season, with more Rosenkavalier performances, pre-rehearsals for a Rameau opera I’ll be remounting next season, and preparing a few big sings before the summer break begins.
From there, we’ll be hitting Texas, Florida, hopefully Virginia if we can swing it, Boston, and then South Korea. All within the span of two months.
Because being a professional opera singer also makes you very good at living on a budget, I’ve developed a side obsession with the concept of finding hidden value.
What do I mean by that? I’m talking about tapping into value that doesn’t come in the usual form - money - but instead shows up as points, perks, upgrades, or even time saved.
Lately, I’ve been diving into the world of Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy. He’s a guru when it comes to maximizing travel through points, cards, and hacks. He just released his first book, How to Win at Travel, and it even comes with a workbook to help you map everything out. I'm digging into both - highly recommend.
But if you want a faster, less-structured version of the same wisdom, this episode of Financial Feminist is full of practical, immediately actionable tips. Definitely worth a listen if you’re planning any travel this summer - especially if you’re doing it on a singer’s budget.
What's Itching My Brain - In-depth Resources
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how to give more value directly to this community — especially those of you trying to grow as singers, navigate the industry, or just feel more confident in your vocal or creative work.
Here’s the thing: I send out these Rehearsal Notes every week like the overachieving soprano I am, packed with real talk, rehearsal chaos, and tools that actually help singers.
It’s free because I believe in accessible info and because I’m still holding out hope that Lufthansa will sponsor me as their official coloratura-in-residence.
But if you find yourself forwarding these emails to your studio mates or treating it like your Wednesday vocal pep talk - becoming a paid subscriber is a low-key way to say: “keep going, we love this.”
It’s $5/month. Cheaper than a German train coffee-and much more emotionally stabilizing.
Plus: paid subscribers get a few extra posts each month — more personal, more behind-the-scenes, and the kind of brutally honest industry thoughts that definitely wouldn’t make it past my PR team (if I had one).
(And you can cancel whenever. No soprano drama required.)
Voice Notes- The Power of Small Wins
This week, I had a moment in rehearsal that reminded me: progress often comes from the smallest adjustments. While working on a particularly challenging passage, I focused on releasing my tongue a tiny bit more forward - a minor tweak, but it transformed the phrase's ease and resonance.
It struck me how these micro-adjustments - whether in technique, mindset, or routine - can lead to significant breakthroughs over time. It's not always about massive overhauls; sometimes, the key lies in the subtle shifts we make consistently.
Your Challenge:
Identify one small change you can implement this week to enhance your singing practice. It could be:
Incorporating a new warm-up exercise
Adjusting your posture during practice
Setting a specific intention before each session
Commit to this change for the week and observe its impact in your practice journal.
If you're looking for structured guidance, my 30-Day Vocal Exercise Challenge is designed to help you build sustainable habits through daily, manageable exercises. Sign up here to be notified when it's ready!
Remember, it's the accumulation of these small wins that propels us forward.
Upcoming Performances
My next performance will be April 12th, of Der Rosenkavalier. As always, I love singing Sophie so if you’re in the audience- let me know!
July 10th I am also incredibly excited to announce that I will be giving a song recital at the Badisches Staatstheater, along with tenor Brett Sprague. We are putting the final touches on the repertoire this week but I can say, the Hermit Songs will be included as well as a program full of Jake Heggie, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Libby Larsen.
My Resources for Singers
Career Coachings & Lessons
If you’re looking for guidance on career strategy, auditions, or just need a fresh perspective, let’s chat.
Book a session → Career Coachings & Lessons Calendar
That’s it for this week! Wishing you all inspiration, growth, and ease in your creative work.
Find more FREE resources and my online course Getting Started in Germany HERE. But the truly good stuff? It’s all here on my Substack.
Let that be your permission slip this week: to start small, to stay consistent, and to trust that the little things add up.
As always- Happy Singing!
