Music
Before the novels, before the paintings, before the realms of story — there was music.
Music was my first language of storytelling, and for nearly four decades it shaped both my career and my understanding of the human voice.
Beginning at sixteen, I worked as a performer, teacher, and collaborator with musicians and students from many walks of life. Over time those experiences led me to develop a teaching approach that focused on the body itself as the instrument — a method I called SingSmart, Not HardTM.
Rather than forcing the voice, the method emphasized awareness: breathing, posture, resonance, and learning how to allow the body to work with the music instead of against it.
That philosophy became the foundation for a series of teaching books and lessons used by singers, teachers, and schools.
Today my creative focus lives primarily in writing and art, but the lessons music taught me never left. Listening deeply. Expressing honestly. Finding the resonance that makes something feel real.
Those same principles still guide everything I create.
SingSmart, Not Hard
The SingSmart, Not Hard approach was developed to help singers understand their voices in a practical, body-centered way – “Ten Steps to Singing Success“.
Instead of focusing only on technique or imitation, the method teaches singers how to tune the instrument they already carry — their breath, posture, and natural resonance.
Over the years the approach became the foundation for a series of instructional books and lessons used by independent students, voice teachers, and many music programs.
Although the materials were written before online video lessons became common, singers and teachers still reach out looking for them today. For that reason, the books remain available.
SingSmart Teaching Series
- Singing Is Easy
- You Can Sing with Impact
- Affordable Singing Lessons
- SingSmart Quick Start
- Individually Focused Lessons
These materials focus on practical techniques for breathing, resonance, and vocal efficiency — helping singers develop strength and clarity without strain.
For those interested in exploring the method or using the books for teaching, they will be made available here soon. If you need them before the link is available, contact me here.
A Few Musical Moments
Music remains one of the most powerful ways to tell a story.
For those wonderful people who still reach out about singing and performing—thank you. Your messages always bring a smile.
You can still catch my first character, “SingerGirl,” in live performance clips on YouTube.
Watch the playlist here.
While I have no plans to return to the live stage (aside from the occasional rare popup), music has never truly left my life. These days it has simply taken a different form.
I now explore music the same way I explore stories—by producing songs and videos for the characters themselves and the journeys they experience.
You can hear the first of these character-inspired originals here.
The First Door
Music was the first door that opened for me creatively.
It taught me how breath shapes sound, how emotion shapes expression, and how the smallest shift in awareness can change everything.
Those lessons eventually found their way into novels, paintings, and even the quiet work of building sanctuaries and stories.
Different mediums.
The same search for resonance.
Music was the first doorway.
Writing and art simply led to different rooms.