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MAY 31 PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP / MASTERCLASS WITH SINGER SONGWRITER JOY ASKEW

Background

After graduating from Newcastle School of Jazz and Commercial Music in the late 1970’s, Joy Askew went on to perform concert tours all over the world with such luminary artists as Peter Gabriel, Joe Jackson, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne and Nashville's Rodney Crowell. She toured with these artists as a keyboard player and background singer and also was featured on solo singing spots.

Faced with the challenge of so much diversity, Joy studied voice throughout these years with New York teacher David Jones. She practiced and created vocal exercises, developing a technique that rose to all the challenges of performing on big stages and being part of a heavy touring schedule, often performing on live TV in between shows.

Coming off the road, having played Madison Square Garden and other large venues, Joy began to release her own CD's (6 to date) and perform in smaller venues and clubs around the USA. While in New York, Joy began to teach others the voice technique she learned from her teacher and from her own experiences of the last twenty-five years. Some of Joy's students have included:

Peter Gabriel
Melanie Gabriel
Ben Lee
Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes)
Tim Finn (Crowded House, Split Ends)
Angelina Jolie
Claire Danes

The Performance Workshop is on Sunday, May 31 from 2 – 5 pm. The class is 3 hours in length, and spotlights 10 singers who will perform 1 song each, either accompanying themselves or with added accompaniment.

Joy will coach each participant on their performance, songwriting (if applicable), vocal technique and accompaniment as well as leading the whole class through some pivotal exercises. Some of the general subjects covered will be: Preparation for a performance – mental and physical, voice projection, voice maintenance, connecting with the audience, how to help a sudden attack of nerves, dealing with monitors and sound systems, how to balance voice with accompaniment and more.

Requirements for the workshop: Students are not required to read music, play an instrument, or be the writer of the songs they perform. Students need to submit a simple chord chart one week prior to the class to perform their material.

All the performers are encouraged to pitch in with positive critiquing only.

May 31 Performance Workshop: $100.00 per student - Sign up now!