Homer's Coffee House

Homer's Coffee House
Theresa and the "Theresa Fan Club" with Pickin' on the Patio T-shirts
For 2014, Homer's Coffee House has decided to discontinue Pickin' on the Patio. It has been a great ten years. A big thanks to everyone who has been involved.

Pickin' on the Patio was a weekly open-mic jam session hosted by Homer's Coffee House, 80th & Metcalf in Overland Park, Kansas.

The group met every Monday night between Memorial Day and Labor day at 7:30. We began in 2003, so we are into our eighth season.

The hostess was Theresa Kaat-Wohlert who did a great job of keeping things moving and assuring that everyone who wants to play had a chance. Her husband Bob, is a musical giant who will gladly give a free music lesson when asked, and helps keep everybody in time and on key. Jim Mathis plays the dobro and was the initiator of this summer event.

Jim founded Homer’s in 2001 and patterned Pickin' on the Patio after an event his father hosted in the 1950’s. Jim is no longer involved with managing Homer’s and volunteers his time with two of his band mates on Monday nights to make a successful event happen. The band members of Sky Blue consist of Jim Mathis, Theresa Kaat-Wohlert, Bob Kaat-Wohlert and Wes Burrows.

The puprose of Pickin' on the Patio was first, to have a good time; and then to develop friendships and relationships to encourage one another and build one another up. In the process we hoped to encourage talent and build musical skills.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Singing Lessons

All my life I wanted to be a singer, but I was never very good. One day I decided I would get out a tape recorder, record myself, and try to figure out how to improve. As I got better, I tried singing in public with some success.

Before long my wife suggested that if I was a going to sing I should take some voice lessons. Rather that take that as a criticism, I decided she was right.

I signed up with a voice coach named Ronni Ward. mailto:rwsings@att.net Ronni helped me learn to breathe, to get more sound out. She helped me with phrasing and getting more emotion and energy into my voice. With her help I was able to expand my range by several octaves.

In short, spending three years with Ronni was one of the best things I ever did. I still have a long way to go, and I practice everyday, but I am now confident of my singing, I've been able to develop my own style, and I am not afraid to sing any place.

I regularly hear people who could be very good singers with a little bit of training and coaching. The most common problem is weak sound and wimpy tone due to poor breathing techinique.

Ronni says that singing is about energy and communicating emotion. If people start yawning or head for the door when you start to sing, you are ready for voice lessons.

Singing is learned skill just like playing an instrument. If you want to be a better singing, I would strongly encourage you to enlist a voice coach, sing everyday, and come to Pickin on the Patio to practice in front of an audience. Jim Mathis
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)