Meet & Greet

Hey everyone - this is Heidi from tonebase!

I’m the content lead for voice and thrilled that you are here! tonebase voice is more than a library of resources, it’s a community. With that in mind, I want to take this opportunity to get to know you. Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

  • Where are you from, and what's your favorite food from there?
  • What are you currently working on?
  • What are you hoping to get out of this community?

I’ll go first:

  • Though I live in Southern California, I am an East Coast girl. Born in the Poconos (Pennsylvania) and lived all over the North East - from Manhattan to Boston. Once I came out to California, I was hooked on the Sunshine and lifestyle and have been in So Cal for decades! My favorite food in my adopted home? With so many cultures converging in Southern California, I have three! First, there is the healthy California fare - the amazing vegetables, fruits and juices are fantastic. You also really can’t go wrong with tacos - I like mine from my local taco stand (Al Pastor, please). Nothing fancy - just delicious. But my absolute favorite has to be Korean Food!! Hot Tofu Soup, Korean BBQ and pretty much anything that comes with kimchee is my go to 😊
  • I am the First Soprano for the classical vocal quartet, Seraphour. We just wrapped our second album and are looking forward to more touring next season. I also have a couple of recitals coming up for the 24-25 season and I have an Italy tour at the end of May (conducting that one).
  • I hope to get to know each and every one of you and help you achieve your musical goals! Let’s have some fun and get to work!

Now over to you!

62 replies

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    • Jenny_Tisi
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi All,

    I'm Jenny.  I am originally from Long Island, NY and currently live in Pasadena, California. My favorite food from Long Island? - Pizza and bagels, of course! From Pasadena? I'm a sucker for a good avocado toast. 

     

    What am I currently working on (vocally)? Honestly? Nothing. I haven't taken a voice lesson since October. But!!! I'm excited to start working on the first movement of How to Go On by Dale Trumbore for this Idyllwild retreat! 

     

    I'm in the conducting track for this retreat and will also be in the vocal track. For conducting, I'm working on whatever I'm preparing for my choirs to sing. We are on summer break right now after going on tour.  I'm looking forward to digging deep into Lauridsen's Sure on the Shining Night and all it has to teach me for this retreat. 

     

    As for what I'd like to get out of this community - just to meet more people that I wouldn't find in my little corner of the children's choir world, learn new things from new people and to continue to learn from my mentor, Don Brinegar. 

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       That sounds so fun and amazingly exhausting all at the same time 😂 .. can't wait to hear all about it! 

    • ana_badric_hr
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi from Croatia, I’m Ana.
    My favorite dish from my region is Zagorski štrukli (pastry filled with cheese).
    At the moment, I’m working on everything :) because I’m interested in so many things — and that includes returning to singing, since I stopped taking in-person lessons during the pandemic and life somehow pulled me in another direction.
    Here, I hope to find everything I need in order to enjoy singing and all the vocal and musical possibilities I’ve been given with this body.

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       Amazing! So glad to have you in this community :) that pastry sounds delicious!!  I do hope you will take full advantage of all that tonebase has to offer to support you on your journey. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to post them in the forum and be sure to join us in our monthly intensives. We'd love to cheer you on :) 

      • Jenny_Tisi
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       my brother just returned from a trip to Croatia and his pictures weee absolutely stunning. What a beautiful place!! 

      • ana_badric_hr
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

         Thank you for your support and warm welcome!

      • ana_badric_hr
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       So glad to hear that –Croatia really is full of hidden gems – and sometimes it takes a visitor’s perspective to remind even us locals of that.

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

       You are so welcome! I do hope I get to hear you sing soon! 

    • Professor Emeritus Nursing
    • emdnurse
    • 3 wk ago
    • Reported - view
    • Hi Everybody, I'm Ellie. I was born and raised in New Jersey (yep, once a Jersey girl, always.....), but I've lived in Southern California for a very long time. My favorite food is a garden salad with red onion, olives and artichoke hearts! 
    • I have no fancy aspirations. I just want to be able to sing alto parts accurately and on pitch in a good choir. 
    • I've been away from choral singing a long time, but I attended the retreat in Idyllwild and experienced a re-awakening. Had an absolute blast!
    • I need help with an "aging voice." I've watched the videos and they have been helpful. I am wondering - is there a video that will bring us through a warm-up (like the ones we did with you Heidi)? Us beginners need that kind of structure. 
    • I am definitely NOT soloist, but for fun, I'm working on "That's All" by Brandt and Haymes.
    • It seems to be in my range, and my goal is to sing it on pitch. Right now, it sounds a bit "croaky", so I'll be looking for other technique videos to try and improve that.
      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 3 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       There is no specific sing-a-long warm as of yet, though you can take a look at my "warming up the soprano voice." While the range may be a little too high, the structure can take you through it. That said, I do have a youTube video

       you can sing along to ;) It's certainly not the same level of production value that you get with tonebase, but it should give you a good start (I have a few of those on my personal YouTube channel). 

      tonebase is in the process of editing and building some AMAZING features that will help you create a personalized warm up. That full feature won't be out for a few months, but we are releasing the first installment this week on body mechanics and posture with foundational breathing. If you want to understand how to build a warm up, you're certainly welcome to jump in on the this month's challenge (building a personal warm up). If you start at week 1, you'll learn how to craft a personalized warm up that works specifically for you. If you go that route, you can absolutely reply to prompts, and I will be happy to offer feedback, personally.  
      So glad to hear that you are continuing to work on your voice and that the retreat was a meaningful musical experience. It was so fun working with you this Summer at Idyllwild :) 

      • Professor Emeritus Nursing
      • emdnurse
      • 3 wk ago
      • Reported - view

       This is just what I was thinking of! THANKS!

    • Professor Emeritus Nursing
    • emdnurse
    • 9 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Heidi, I am listening to the Ave Maria project. I play the flute and I LOVE the flute part for the Caccini version. Where can I get the music for the flute part?

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