Studio Class

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 info@meganihnen.com.

Episode 21: Figure Out Your Own Balance

July 1st, 2019  |  Season 3  |  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  |  Season 2  |  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.

Episode 12: Make It Rain: Your Network = Your Net Worth

April 2nd, 2017  |  25 mins 42 secs

classical singing, communications, diva, networking

In this 12th episode, we’re going back to my “Rainmaker’s Guide to Music Business” lecture and diving into the network portion.

Episode 11: Goal Setting for Your Diva Life

March 19th, 2017  |  16 mins 23 secs

classical singing, diva, goal-setting, metrics, opera

Goal setting is all about milestones. Let's discover where you are and what's left to tackle.

Episode 10: Leveling Up - Diva Style

March 12th, 2017  |  49 mins 36 secs

auditions, classical music, networking, opera singing, performing

This episode comes from a music business lecture I do called "Make It Rain" and it covers the different stages of your creative career.

Episode 9: Your Practice Plan

February 26th, 2017  |  34 mins 4 secs

classical singing, intrinsic motivation, memorization techniques, opera, setting intentions

In this 9th episode, I’m gonna take a little different path. I’m going to just talk about some things that I’ve been mentioning in the studio. I work with singers of all different ages and abilities and motivation and practicing are universal.

Episode 8: Kicking Perfectionism to the Curb

February 19th, 2017  |  17 mins

classical singing, opera, overpreparing, perfectionism, under-doing

In this episode, I want to talk about the dangers of perfectionism. Perfectionism can manifest in a couple of ways and we’re going to talk about over-doing and under-doing as a couple of things to watch out for as well as how to accept both failure and success as part of the path.

Episode 7: The Post-Show Schmooze

February 12th, 2017  |  19 mins 20 secs

audience development, classical singing, networking, opera, schmooze

Get your post-show schmooze on, divas, with this quick and fun punchlist! This Studio Class episode helps you decipher what an audience member or performer can do to up their schmoozing game directly after a performance.