Studio Class

The Sybaritic Singer

About the show

Let me be your diva sidekick when it comes to staying focused and extra sparkly in your singing career.

Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives.

Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer blog. Did you feel like you simply ran out of time during studio class to talk about some of the necessary business elements of your career? Do not despair, divas! This podcast is meant for you!

Studio Class on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 27: Micro Action Monday - Read competitively

    October 19th, 2020  |  7 mins 4 secs
    classical singing, community-building, music business, networking

    "I read for growth, firmly believing the what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read." - Twyla Tharp - The Creative Habit

  • Episode 37: Fri-YAY - Applied Business Lessons

    October 14th, 2020  |  12 mins 28 secs
    arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

    Megan shares the audio from a recent Fri-YAY video all about the importance of "applied business lessons." You might have spent upwards of $20,000 in applied lessons in voice, composition, or on your instrument. How much have you invested in your business knowledge?

  • Episode 26: Micro Action Monday - Meet someone new

    October 5th, 2020  |  16 mins 6 secs
    classical singing, community-building, music business, networking

    Put yourself out there and deepen your community ties. Make plans to meet someone new at a virtual (or in person) concert!

  • Episode 25: Micro Action Monday - Write your singing bio

    September 28th, 2020  |  21 mins 19 secs
    bios, classical singing, music business

    Your bio is a music business document designed to inspire interest in your product/service. Focus on writing your bios for the decision makers you are trying to collaborate with and impress. The bio is an exercise in writing a beautifully balanced portrait of yourself as a musician.

  • Episode 24: Micro Action Monday - Polish your resume

    September 21st, 2020  |  15 mins 31 secs
    classical singing, music business, resumes

    Your goal is to make your résumé be the best first impression of your skill, training, and your professionalism.

  • Episode 23: Micro Action Monday - Practice Style

    September 14th, 2020  |  12 mins 58 secs
    micro-actions, practice

    Determine your best practice style and then make time for it in your schedule.

  • Episode 22: Teach a Voice Studio

    August 1st, 2019  |  1 hr 17 mins
    teaching, voice lessons, voice studio

    Megan Ihnen visited Hillary LaBonte's vocal pedagogy class at Bowling Green State University in Fall 2018 to discuss running a private voice studio. Thank you to Dr. LaBonte for the invitation and to her students for their excellent questions.
    If you're interested in inviting Megan to record an episode with your studio, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].

  • Episode 21: Figure Out Your Own Balance

    July 1st, 2019  |  30 mins 16 secs
    guests, residency

    Sybaritic Singer & Studio Class founder, Megan Ihnen, talks with students from UNLV's voice department about figuring out the balance of singer life.

  • Episode 20: Outcomes, Not (Mindless) Activities

    May 13th, 2018  |  47 mins 59 secs
    achievement, arts entrepreneurship, classical singing, new music, opera, setting goals, success metrics, success workbook

    "Performance begins with focusing on outcomes instead of activities. In my experience, most people do the reverse. They concentrate their efforts on the pursuit of activities instead of outcomes." Tired of the relentless busy-ness of being a musician? Let's re-focus on outcomes and avoid the temptation of mindless activity, divas, with the help of Douglas K. Smith's book "Make Success Measurable! A Mindbook-Workbook for Setting Goals and Taking Action."

  • Episode 19: Everyone Performs

    May 6th, 2018  |  38 mins 6 secs
    audience building, creative placemaking, new music, opera

    Today, we’re relying on the wisdom of Barbara Townley and Nic Beech in their book “Managing Creativity: Exploring the Paradox.” This episode covers topics such as audience building in opera and new music, collaborative creativity, creative placemaking, and how user-generated content means that audiences have different expectations of artistic experiences.

  • Episode 18: Get a lay of the land

    April 29th, 2018  |  42 mins 29 secs
    classical singing, composers, music business, new music, opera

    In this we’re taking a different approach. It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a new episode and I want to tell you about that. Then, we’re going to rely on the wisdom of Ellen Highstein and her book “Making Music in Looking Glass Land” to help us get “a lay of the land” for us that are out there performing and composing our little hearts out.

    BURNOUT IS A B****. LET’S AVOID IT. article for NewMusicBox - https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/burnout-is-a-b-lets-avoid-it/

  • Episode 17: How To Change The World Through Classical Music - Part II

    August 27th, 2017  |  25 mins 23 secs
    change the world, classical music, new music, opera, singing, social justice, voice

    I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?” Yes. It’s a hefty topic. I have had this nagging feeling that I need to devote some of my attention to how my art can be a force for good and world events don’t seem to be slowing that need or quieting that internal voice at all. It’s getting louder and more insistent. Divas, not only do I want to help you make it rain in your business but I want to help you change the world while you’re at it.

  • Episode 16: How To Change The World Through Classical Music

    August 20th, 2017  |  19 mins 51 secs
    change the world, classical music, diva, music education, music therapy, opera, voice

    In this episode, I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?”

  • Episode 15: What Are Your Diva Metrics?

    August 13th, 2017  |  25 mins 17 secs
    choosing goals, classical singing, micro actions, new music, opera, singer goals, singer metrics

    In this 15th episode, I’m answering a listener question! Mary, who goes by the artist name Alarke, asked me, “What metrics do you use to monitor your growth and how often do you check them? Do you outsource help?"

  • Episode 14: Brand Yourself - Personal Branding for Divas

    August 6th, 2017  |  27 mins 16 secs
    branding, classical singing, opera, personal brand, singer

    Personal branding is important for singers because you are your own business. In this episode, we'll go over some activities that you can do to understand your personal brand better.

  • Episode 13: Build A Diva

    July 30th, 2017  |  27 mins 10 secs
    bio, classical singing, epk, press kit, resume, singer

    Your digital press kit (often also called an electronic press kit or EPK) is meant to collate important information about you as a singer for presenters, applications, and media professionals.