Studio Class

Episode 87: Masterclass - Megan Ihnen on Being a Whole Person with Rebecca Hass (Crossover Episode)

October 31st, 2022  |  59 mins 48 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, crossover episode, micro actions, music business

Megan does a crossover episode with Rebecca Hass of "Being a Whole Person" podcast!

Here's what Rebecca wrote about our chat... "I had a delightful conversation with Megan Ihnen, a mezzo-soprano and “new music force of nature” who wears many hats as a performer, educator, coach/consultant for musicians, and also in arts admin. With these many roles, she is an amazing connector and natural community builder.

Tune in to hear us chat about creative placemaking, authentic community building, balancing many roles and having lots of work variety, burnout, being a musician during the pandemic, routines, harmful ideas around “hard work”, and how we can bring our very favorite selves to our creative work."

Episode 86: Masterclass - Kelly Corcoran

October 24th, 2022  |  46 mins 53 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

Named “Best Classical Conductor” by the Nashville Scene, Kelly Corcoran is Artistic Director & Conductor of Intersection, a contemporary music ensemble now in its 9th season in Nashville. Corcoran founded the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted the Nashville Symphony in hundreds of performances for nine seasons as Associate Conductor and Director of the Symphony Chorus.

Join us in this Masterclass episode featuring Kelly Corcoran!

Episode 85: Micro Action Monday - Work with a new collaborator

October 17th, 2022  |  14 mins 43 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

Ask yourself, "Am I bringing my best self to each collaboration?" In any collaboration when you start working with somebody new, I want you to think, "Wow, it's really an honor to get to work with this person. How can we both achieve our goals together through this piece, through this music, and then also honor the composer's intentions, the composer's creativity, and our shared musical imagination?"

Megan shares her thoughts on working with new collaborators in this Micro Action Monday episode on Studio Class.

Episode 84: Masterclass - Ah Young Hong

September 26th, 2022  |  1 hr 30 mins

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

A soprano of "fearlessness and consummate artistry" (Opera News), Ah Young Hong has interpreted a vast array of repertoire, ranging from the music of Monteverdi to Georg Friedrich Haas. Widely recognized for her work in Michael Hersch's monodrama, On the Threshold of Winter, The New York Times praised Ms. Hong’s performance in the world premiere as "the opera's blazing, lone star." Recent performances include solo appearances with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Bern, and at both the Aldeburgh and Ojai Music Festivals. Highlight concerts of 2021-2022 include the premiere performances in the title role of Hersch’s POPPAEA at the Wien Modern and ZeitRäume Basel Festivals. Anticipated this fall is the recording of Hersch's the script of storms with BBC Symphony Orchestra under the New Focus label. Ms. Hong is an associate professor in the Vocal Studies Department of The Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University.

Episode 83: Micro Action Monday - Invoice like a pro

September 19th, 2022  |  11 mins 11 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

"If you have done any freelance music work or any kind of freelance creative work, at some point you will need to invoice someone. And now's the time to figure out what you're going to do."

In this Micro Action Monday, Megan talks about how to set yourself up for invoice success.

Episode 82: Micro Action Monday - Interview your prospective teacher

September 12th, 2022  |  11 mins 24 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

“So asking about logistics and style really help you know whether this is the right situation or if you’re just going to be studying with someone who might be fantastic at what they do… but the ‘what they do’ is not the right thing for you. And, vice verse. You’re not going to be a great student in their studio if you’re expecting different things but you haven’t communicated about what those expectations are. This is an important time to communicate together clearly and effectively about ‘what are our shared expectations?’”

In this Micro Action Monday episode, Megan discusses the types of questions to ask before beginning a relationship with a voice teacher.

Episode 80: Micro Action Monday - Set your own prices

May 30th, 2022  |  17 mins 9 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

“I want you to know that you have way more control over your financial life in the arts than you might have been led to believe. I love helping people figure out how to live sustainable lives in the arts. That’s what I want for you. I want you to be sustainable. I want you to be the artist you want to be. If you have questions about setting your own fees/prices, hit me up. It’s my pleasure to help!”

In this Micro Action Monday episode, Megan shares the formula she teaches her clients to set their OWN prices. You don’t want to miss this one.

Episode 79: Micro Action Monday - Beat practice procrastination

May 23rd, 2022  |  17 mins 5 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

“I can’t be the only one who feels this way… Do you sometimes procrastinate practicing? Practice really is the number one anxiety killer, the number one performance anxiety killer, so have a great time. Be joyful in your practicing because you’ve built in all of these ways to get better at it and to not procrastinate. Enjoy what you’re doing. This helps you grow and challenge yourself!” Join Megan for 8 tips and recommendations for getting your practice motivation in gear.

Episode 78: Micro Action Monday - Generate better dramatic choices

May 16th, 2022  |  12 mins 10 secs

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

“Ask yourself to go much deeper with what you’re performing. Show me both the internal and the external so that I can just lose myself in the performance that you’re giving!” In this Micro Action Monday episode, Megan talks about tools, tips, and strategies to help you make better dramatic choices in auditions and performances.

Episode 77: Micro Action Monday - Break the rules

May 9th, 2022  |  7 mins

arts coaching, classical singing, micro actions, music business

“You are inhabiting information that may or may not be useful to you anymore. I want you to interrogate what you think the rules of the game are. That you can only “make it’ if you follow these rules, if you do all of the things on this checklist, then you’ll get what you want. I would love for you to dig into that and ask yourself, ‘Is that true?’ As your micro action today, I want you to identify all of the rules that you have come into contact with over time. Then, I want you to take the fattest red marker you can find and cross them out. Ask yourself, ‘What would my life look like, what would my creativity look like, what would my music sound like, what would my field and industry look like if I stopped believing this rule existed and I pursued what I really wanted it to look like?’ Because that’s it, divas, your creativity, your life force, depends on you knowing when to stop believing in the ‘rules’.”