AboutPenny Nichols Expertise I can answer all kinds of questions regarding singing techniques, practice, performance, vocal recording technique and harmony vocal arranging.
Experience I have been a professional singer/songwriter and vocal arranger and teacher in the music business since 1965.
Organizations BMI, Folk Alliance, SummerSongs, Inc. (I am the founding director)
Publications Singer Magazine
Education/Credentials I have a doctorate in Music Education from Harvard.
Awards and Honors Platinum record for my vocals on Jimmy Buffett's Son of a Son of a Sailor, 3 times nominated for a Grammy in the background singing category, MVP in the motivational singing category of the Assoc. of Multi-image Assoc. Annual awards two years in a row.
Past/Present Clients I have sung with, recorded with or opened shows for Mort Sahl, The Byrds, The Dillards, Dillard and Clark Expedition, John Kay
(Steppenwolf), The Association and Big Brother and the Holding Co. (Janis Joplin), Steve Miller, Quicksilver Messenger Service, 13th Floor Elevator, Chocolate Watchband, Jefferson Airplane, Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, Cream (the Santa Monica Civic auditorium 1968),
Little Feat in concert. I wrote and performed commercials for Toyota's campaign to plant a tree for every car bought, Carnation Dairies, and produced a public service announcement for the
Navajo Nation called "Black Mesa" to protest the misuse of the land around the Four Corners power stations in Arizona.
In 1977, while working with Emitt Rhodes on a record for Elektra, I joined Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefers. I appeared in the movie FM with the band, toured the U.S. and earned a Platinum Record for my singing on Son of a Son of a Sailor. Also, I've recorded with Art Garfunkle (Fate for Breakfast) Suzi Quatro, Danny O'Keefe, Yvonne Elliman, Jennifer Warnes, Albert Brooks, The Credibility Gap, Steve Gillette and earned a Grammy nomination for my work on Arlo Guthrie's album The Power of Love. In addition, I have recorded a series of singing lessons which have been sold world-wide by Homespun Tapes since 1985.
Question My daughter, a sophomore in high school was told by her choral teacher that next year she should sing soprano 2 in her advanced chorus instead of her usual soprano 1 in order to improve her sight singing skills. Although she can handle both ranges I can imagine better ways to improve sight singing abilities than to devote an entire year to being a soprano 2 under duress, since she really likes the soprano 1 range. Her voice teacher has determined that she can go up to a high E-flat. Being unfamiliar with voice pedagogy, is this chorus teacher's advice valid? I'm concerned that if she does go this route she won't get the daily practice in using the higher notes of her range, plus she may be stuck as a soprano 2 for the duration of her high school years.
Answer Hi Caren:
Your daughter is growing and she can continue to sing in the soprano 1 range just by continuing to practice her scales in that range on her own. I agree with her teacher at school that singing the Soprano 2 range will improve her sight reading ability as well as improving her vocal range all across the pitch continuum. When your daughter reaches the age of 18, if she is still interested in studying voice, you might want to look for a private voice instructor for her.
