Just Sing Carol Service!

JCSS will be performing at local choir, JUST SING's Annual Xmas Concert, 'A Christmas Wish' tomorrow night! Come along and join in the fun if you are in the area and want to get into the festive spirit!!!!

TICKETS: £6.00 P/ADULT & £3.00 P/CHILD

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday 11th December '13 @ 8.00pm 

LOCATION: Poynton Methodist Church (www.poyntonmethodistchurch.co.uk) 

Singing Lesson Christmas Vouchers!!!!

Stuck on what to buy your loved ones for Xmas this year? Why not buy singing lessons @ JCSS as a unique gift? You can simply buy online at www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk by going to the PRICES PAGE, selecting how many lessons you would like to purchase and following the link where you can personalise the voucher and print it from the comfort of your own home!

Please feel free to LIKE or SHARE this link if you know anyone that would be interested!

Open Mic UK Semi Finals!

Had a great time judging @ the Open Mic UK Semi Finals at Dewsbury Town Hall on Sunday 1st December and saw some fantastic acts with great promise!

To find out more about this National Singing Competition, you can visit their website:

WWW.OPENMICUK.COM

Jennifer will be teaming up with their sister company and Kids Singing Competition, 'TeenStar' in January 2014. To find out more information on how to enter now, visit:

WWW.TEENSTARCOMPETITION.CO.UK

Singing Lesson Christmas Vouchers!!!

Stuck on what to buy your loved ones for Xmas this year? Why not buy singing lessons @ JCSS as a unique gift? You can simply buy online at www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk by going to the PRICES PAGE, selecting how many lessons you would like to purchase and following the link where you can personalise the voucher and print it from the comfort of your own home!

Please feel free to LIKE or SHARE this link if you know anyone that would be interested!

TheFunkyChoir.Com @ Crewe Lyceum!

Hi Guys, here you can catch a Youtube video of my lovely, wonderful and fantastic choir, TheFunkyChoir.Com, singing outside the Crewe Lyceum on Saturday 30th November '13, getting everyone into the Christmas spirit!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIm8jJ_RbJo

VERY, VERY SAD I couldn't be there but you can see us performing at the annual 'Tree Of Lights Ceremony' at Crewe Cemetery on Broad Street, Crewe, Cheshire @ 4.30pm in memory of loved ones who have sadly passed away….

We look forward to seeing you there!

Judging @ Open Mic UK SemiFinals - 01/12!

Really looking forward to judging at the Open Mic UK Semi Finals on Sunday 1st December '13! We'll be seeing finalists from Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool to name a few! 

My good friend and professional Swing singer, Alan Burton will be coming along with me to watch. You can check him out on his Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/alanburtonsinger!

For more info on this fantastic competition and how to get involved as a participant or audience member, simply visit the website - www.openmicuk.co.uk. 

Music Bringing People Together With Gareth Malone!

I absolutely love the impact that Gareth Malone is having on our society at the moment! He really uses Music as a tool to bring people closer together and I see this regularly with my own choir, www.thefunkychoir.com! 

If you want to learn more about how Gareth is reaching out to different communities across the country, you can catch up on his latest television programme, 'Sing While You Work', where he gets normal everyday people from well known companies like P & O and Birmingham City Council, to form choirs so that they can compete against each other in a final competition at the end of the series! 

To catchup on his latest programmes, simply click on the link below: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03j4ys2/The_Choir_Sing_While_You_Work_Series_2_Birmingham_City_Council/

To find out more about Gareth and his ongoing projects, visit his website @: 

http://www.garethmalone.com

Singing Lesson Christmas Vouchers!!!

Stuck on what to buy your loved ones for Xmas this year? Why not buy singing lessons @ JCSS as a unique gift? You can simply buy online at www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk by going to the PRICES PAGE, selecting how many lessons you would like to purchase and following the link where you can personalise the voucher and print it from the comfort of your own home!

Please feel free to LIKE or SHARE this link if you know anyone that would be interested!

Singer/Songwriter, Heidi Browne!

I was working with singer/songwriter, Heidi Browne last week and just had to share her song, 'Boy Who Doesn't Care' with you all. She's a really talented woman with a lot of promise. To check out her song along with more of her work on Youtube, click on the link below: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9NoSM799V4

Give her a 'like' if you enjoy her songs! 

Vital Signs….

I'm back in the studio this week, recording backing vocals for Message Trust band Vital Signs  for their powerful upcoming single! I will post it on here when it's released so keep your eyes peeled!

New Bands - Brightline and Vital Signs!

Congratulations to new missions bands Brightline and Vital Signs who have been working with JCSS over the last few months in preparation for their first live performances at Vision Night held by the Message Trust on Saturday 9th November 2013!

The Vision night was held at Audacious Church Manchester, with live performances from Twelve24, Lz7 and In Yer Face, additional new mission team Square 1and a special guest appearance from premiership footballer Fabrice Muamba.

There were amazing testimonies from some of the young people who the Message Trust have been working with over the last year in schools, communities, prisons and the MEC along with worship led by Jamie Hill and The Message worship team.

Watch this space for more of their upcoming events! You can also find out more about the Message Trust's work by visiting their website - www.messagetrust.org.uk

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory!!!

My friends and I went down to London this weekend to watch the new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. If you're looking for an exciting show to go and watch, then this is the one to see! The visuals are absolutely amazing and the cast were second to none!

To buy tickets, visit the website @ www.theatrepeople.com!!

Singing Lesson Christmas Vouchers!!!

Stuck on what to buy your loved ones for Xmas this year? Why not buy singing lessons @ JCSS as a unique gift? You can simply buy online at www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk by going to the PRICES PAGE, selecting how many lessons you would like to purchase and following the link where you can personalise the voucher and print it from the comfort of your own home!

Please feel free to LIKE or SHARE this link if you know anyone that would be interested!

IVA Webinars!

Jennifer has just completed 3 Webinars (workshops) where IVA Instructors from all over the World get together to study the voice with TOP VOCAL COACHES to the stars! Most recently, we have completed: 

• 'Teaching Application To Song' with Kathy Kennedy -  http://www.thevoicestudio.org/kk.html
• 'Assessing The Voice' with Guy Babusek - http://www.voice-lessons.com
• 'Basics' with Spencer Welch - http://spencerwelch.com

Jennifer and all the other IVA coaches train continually to make sure the service we provide for you is second to none!!!

IVA Mock Test!

About to do a mock test in preparation for qualifying as a level 3 year 2 IVA instructor later this year! Wish me luck! — with Heather Baker SingingStudios.

IVA's First Ever Webinar!

We did our first ever Webinar this weekend with exciting, new Teacher Training Vocal Programme 'Institute For Vocal Advancement' with Spencer Welch Vocal Studio! 50 voice coaches Worldwide, learning about voice over the Internet, exciting times!

Even Voice Teachers Need Lessons...

Just had a great lesson with Heather Baker Singing Studio...we never stop learning!:0)

JCSS @ Open Mic UK Regional Semi Finals!

Jennifer judged at the Regional Semi-Finals for Open Mic UK yesterday (Sunday 6th October) at The Royal Northern College Of Music, along with Actor - Bob Young, Music Journalist - Simon Keegan and Session Musician for Simply Red and Stone Roses - Aziz Ibrahim. Young X Factor contestant, Giles Potter also wowed us with some impressive vocals! We saw a variety of different acts of different ages and genres and the standard this year was incredibly high! 

If you're a singer/performer and interested in winning your very own recording contract courtesy of Open Mic UK, visit the website -  WWW.OPENMICUK.CO.UK 

Jennifer - Level 3 Instructor @ Institute of Vocal Advancement!

Jennifer has recently joined this exciting new company which is focused on quality teacher training for Singing Instructors Worldwide and has been appointed Level 3 status!

To learn more about this exciting new organisation, you can visit their website - www.vocaladvancement.com! 

New Singing Partner for Open Mic UK!

Exciting news, JCSS is now the official North West Singing Partner for National Singing Competition, Open Mic UK! 

We will be on the judging panel at the INITIAL AUDITIONS in Manchester on SUNDAY 18TH AUGUST '13 and look forward to seeing you there! 

To find out more about how to enter this National Music Competition For Singers and Solo Artists, you can visit the website - www.openmicuk.co.uk!

Feel free to SHARE this with anyone you think may be interested! 

Student Review

"The last time I had sung was in my primary school choir, I am now in my mid 30s. I had decided to join a competitive Barbershop chorus but there was a very stringent three month audition process. My background is as a classically trained musician but singing wasn't one of my core skills. Jenny introduced me to different techniques to blend my voice over my breaking points, increase my range, enrich my tone and improve my diction. The lessons were very enjoyable and I feel that I am much better singer than I was to start with. I passed the audtion! Debbie, Bramhall 

Yellobric

My friend Gavin Paterson is doing some really interesting charity work over in Africa, it really helps to hit home how much we take our education and resources in the UK for granted....

ABOUT

'Yellobric was set up in 2011 with the motive of enabling sustainable, longterm economic growth through the use of modern technology in education in the developing World. Their main objective is to enrich the lives of thousands of school children in sub-Saharan Africa, many of whom have never had the educational materials to achieve literacy. Leveraging modern technology, they deliver educational texts in a low-cost and sustainable manner to where they are needed most....'

To read more about Yellobric, click on the link below:

http://www.yellobric.com

You can also hear Gavin being interviewed via the Guardian podcast along with several other philanthropists who are all working towards the same goals: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/technology-digital-empower-children-developing-world-podcast

Amazing!

I was catching up on BBC talent show The Voice last night and was completely blown away by this amazing performance! Leah is a 100% natural performer who knows how to command the stage! She made the song her own and left Jessie J speechless, most talented reality TV artist I've seen in a LONG time! To check out her latest performance, click on the below link:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AimnD68l-w

Sean McHale Gets Place On 'Access To Music Course' Manchester

The course is an "Artist Development Course" which caters to:

• Singer/songwriters
• Digital musicians (producers)
• Session musicians
• Vocalists
• Bands

The 'Artist Development Course' works towards the student producing original material that is of a standard fit for the Music industry, with the opportunity to collaborate with musicians who are equally talented and tutors. The influences of the student will be explored as to hone the style that the student is after.

If this interests you, check it out online via the link below! 

www.accesstomusic.co.uk

Audition Process

'In the audition I presented 2 songs/tracks of my own work. One of which had vocals which Jennifer gave me some advice to up the level of the vocals on that track. Before playing them I was asked to explain the influences of each piece of work and explain the imagery I wanted the music to envoke. 

I mentioned how I had started taking singing lessons at the end of 2012,  as this allowed me to be more diverse in the approach to making music and collaboration. We also discussed my career goals, and the style of branding I saw myself having as an artist and general Musical influences.' - Sean Mchale 

Performance/Life Coach - Carol Baldwin!

Carol Baldwin is trained in Performance coaching, Life coaching and Facility coaching and is able to help performers push through the mental block that we can often experience when up on stage! 

Reference: 

"Carol has shown me different ways of overcoming the barriers that have been stopping me from reaching my potential in rehearsals and performances. Because of her I am now moving forwards instead of standing still! I have found I can apply the tools she has given me to different areas of my life and different situations. I am grateful for her help and will continue to turn to her when I need advice."

If you feel that you could benefit from Carol's services, please contact her either via mobile or email: 

Mobile: 0777962189

Email: carol@amazedcic.com 

YOU WON'T REGRET IT! 

Calling Musicians!

Amazing Rock/Pop singer Zeta Zee is looking for fellow Musicians i.e. guitarist, drummer and bassist with similar Music taste to play her songs, write new Music and perform in the Manchester area!

You can find Zeta on Facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zee/432998156786000?ref=hl

....Or visit her Youtube channel: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/ZeeSinging

If you're interested, contact Zeta via mobile or email provide below: 

MOBILE: 07428583238

EMAIL: zeta_ts@hotmail.com

THANKS! 

Evolution Of Music - Pentatonix!

This is literally the cleverist vocal arrangement I have seen in a while! If you're a Music buff, you'll appreciate the complexity of the key changes! Click on the link below to check it out, regardless of your singing experience I'm sure you'll appreciate it!:0) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lExW80sXsHs

Do You Know A Child Who Can Sing?

ARE THEY AGED 9 - 16 YEARS OLD?

WITH A PARENT OR SIBLING CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES?

There is a fantastic opportunity to perform a new song at this year's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Queen, on behalf of The Royal British Legion and Decca Records! 

For more information, click on the link below:

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/the-nation-remembers/can-you-sing

JCSS Student Given Rave Review By Kerry Ellis!

So it turns out JCSS student Ella Bond (silver medalist in the Inter Novice Cabaret Section @ The North Cheshire Festival Of Stage Dance) forgot to mention that the judge who said she did 'a great performance which was well characterised' was none other than: 

MUSICAL THEATRE STAR, KERRY ELLIS!!! 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with her work, she was recently on BBC TV Show, The Voice and has starred in West End Musicals such as We Will Rock You, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Oliver! 

Click on the link below to see her performance:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOc1vo0j__o

Jenny Completes Wilmslow Half Marathon!

On Sunday 24th March '13 I completed the Wilmslow Half Marathon along with my sister Joanna, raising funds on behalf of community choir - TheFunkyChoir.Com. I managed to complete the course in 2 hours and 14 minutes, not the best time but considering a knee injury which developed within the 2nd mile, a good effort either way.:0) Despite the freezing weather and winds as cold as -4oC, a small group of FunkyChoir supporters stood by pushing us on for the entirety of the race! 

A lot of great people donated to our cause and we would like to say a very big THANK YOU!

Watch this space for an update on our the total amount that we raised! 

Great Night @ TheFunkyChoir.Com - 23/05/2013!

We had a great time @ TheFunkyChoir.Com on 23/05/2013, enjoying a slightly different format of singing before we broke up for half term! We did a mini concert style night, teaming up into smaller groups of 10 and testing out some of our more familiar repertoire i.e. I Believe I Can Fly (R Kelly), To Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Put A Little Love In Your Heart (Annie Lennox and Al Green), Lean On Me (Bill Withers) and I Can't Help Falling In Love With You (UB40).

We went one further with a select group of our more complex songs i.e. Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston) and Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson), reassigning familiar harmony parts to different groups i.e. the Sopranos and Altos swapped with the Tenors or the Altos took the Soprano part, the Sopranos took the Tenor part and the Tenors took the Alto part (OBVIOUSLY IN THE LOWER OCTAVE)! The difference to the overall sound was sometimes amazing and sometimes hit and miss but, in general, a lot of fun!

To find out more about TheFunkyChoir.Com, please visit our website:

WWW.THEFUNKYCHOIR.COM

If you are interested in joining our choir or would like further details, you can contact us on:

Mobile (Brent Robinson): 07944 953243

Email: thefunkychoir.com@gmail.com

Ella Bond Wins Silver Medal @ North Cheshire Festival Of Stage Dance!

Congratulations to JCSS student Ella Bond who won 2nd place in the Inter Novice Cabaret section @ The North Cheshire Festival Of Stage Dance over the bank holiday weekend! Ella was competing against 30 contestants aged between 10 & 13 and wowed crowds with her rendition of 'Naughty' from Matilda The Musical. The judge said that Ella had a sweet voice and did some great characterisation! Well done, Ella! 

JCSS Moves To Broad Street, Crewe!

We are pleased to announce that we are now providing singing lessons at a newly refurbished establishment: 

CHESHIRE ACADEMY OF INTEGRATED SPORTS AND ARTS,

BROAD STREET,

CREWE,

CHESHIRE,

CW1 3UG

See images below! 

For more information about the studio and how to book singing lessons, please visit our website:

www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk 

Alternatively you can CALL or EMAIL us on: 

MOBILE: 07764 404505

EMAIL: JENCASBYSINGINGSTUDIO@HOTMAIL.COM

Buy Singing Lesson Gift Vouchers Via Our Website!

You can now buy printable gift vouchers via our website! Simply go to the PRICES page of the website - www.singingteachercheshire.co.uk, select whichever amount of lessons you would like to purchase and follow the link to make your payment. You can then personalise the gift voucher with your own message and give it to a friend or family member as a simple gift or birthday present!:0) 

Open Mic UK Audition Applications Now Open!

Open Mic UK 2013 audition applications are officially open! We hope you'll be excited to get involved as this year is going to be the biggest year yet! Follow the steps of Jahmene Douglas, Lucy Spraggan, Hatty Keane, Siana and Birdy and click here to check out the promo video for Open Mic UK 2013 to get an idea of the fun nature of what we do!
Play within The O2 Open Mic offers finalists the chance to play within the indigO2 at The O2 in London and showcase to industry with the Grand Final at The Indigo.  Showcase to industry and National Radio Judges Acts that make it through the audition stage will get to perform to industry judges, A & R associates and celebrity guests. Judging last year’s competition and hopefully set to join the panel again in 2013 include BBC Radio’s Annie Nightingale, Choice FM’s Ras Kwame, Kiss FM, plus major record label reps and celebrity judges, with judges getting more prestigious as the competition progresses. Prizes There will be thousands of pounds worth of competition prizes up for grabs along the way including recording studio time and music development classes. The overall winner will receive a comprehensive winner’s package as well as a main prize of £5,000 in cash to spend as you wish on the development of your act! Audition dates and information can be seen on the web site NOW at www.OpenmicUK.co.uk Check out the auditions coming to a city near you in 2013!!

Congratulations to JCSS student, Natalie Clark!

Congratulations to 17 year old JCSS student, Natalie Clark who has been offered a place on the Music course at The Royal College Of Music, London for September 2013!

Natalie has been having lessons with us for 5 years now and during that time has performed at many of our events, played the role of Nancy in Oliver! and most recently sung the new bond theme song 'Skyfall' with a full scale orchestra for the Stockport Grammar leavers concert. 

We could not be prouder of her! Well done, Natalie! 

Wicked! Coming To Manchester!!!!!

Stupidly excited that the Musical Theatre show Wicked! is coming to Manchester! We've already seen a surge of shows coming to the North West including Dirty Dancing, Lion King, Hairspray, Cats and Rent but this show really is brilliant! 

Wicked! will be showing at the Palace Theatre from Sept - Nov '13! To book your tickets now, go to the below link: 

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/wicked/palace-theatre-manchester/

See you there!!!! 

Congratulations To 'A Fabulous Friday For Oxfam!'

On May 10th 2013, Kerrie Leyland hosted an evening of fun and frolics to raise £1400.00 for Oxfam! The night was a fantastic success with guest performers including singer Alan Burton, drag act Matthew Gratton aka 'Sugar' and Manchester based Lindy hop dancers! 

The night raised £1095.22 and Kerrie is now well on her way to raising the full amount with only £304.78 to go! She is hoping to achieve this by walking 100km within a 30 hour time limit but needs YOUR HELP to reach her target of £1400.00!  

There's no-one more determined than Kerrie so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE sponsor her as she will see it through to the end! 

You can donate to her cause by following the below link:

www.justgiving.com/Hopland-Greenwick

Give to a great cause today, your donation will make a massive difference to people's lives!!! 

Jesus Christ Superstar - Looking for Jesus and Chorus Parts!

The production is taking place in Burnage (Near Didsbury) in April of this year. The performance dates are Thursday 11th and Friday 12th and the venue and host is St. Nicholas Church.

The first meeting/rehearsal is on Saturday February 16th where the cast can meet each other and we'll have the first big sing of the chorus numbers. After this, people will be required to learn lyrics and familiarise themselves with the show. Following a few rehearsals in the evenings in March, we have an intense two-week rehearsal period beginning 1st April (Monday) and ending with the Second Performance on the following Friday. During this time, there will be a collection of full and half day rehearsals to polish everything off and run the show sufficient times. Given the commitments of some cast in performance week (college, work etc.), the most important rehearsals will be confined to the evenings. There are many lead roles still available and many solo parts within the chorus to be distributed following informal auditions at one of the rehearsals.

To participate you need only be 16+ and have performance/singing experience.

Please contact Ollie Mills on oliver@glensidemills.co.uk for full details if you're interested!