Discover the instrument everyone owns: the voice, with Olivia Foschi
For vocalists who have tackled other styles of music, they may wonder where they can learn jazz vocals to broaden their horizons and take the vocal workshop with the renowned Olivia Foschi. The New York Jazz Workshop , conveniently located at 265 W. 37th between 8th avenue in the heart of Downtown Manhattan features some of the best instructors in the metro NYC area. Being just steps away from Penn Station and multiple subway stops makes the choice to take the workshop a simple one.
Ms. Foschi’s class is taught in a warm and nurturing environment where she will help develop enrollees’ voices with the use of the jazz standard repertoire and focus on breathing and vocal techniques to aide students in developing an infallible set of pipes that will allow them to be an asset in their own bands, or as part as an ensemble. Singing jazz is such an important skill because it lays a foundation for superior musicianship without borders.
Today’s musicians require a diverse skill set for multiple genres. The New York Jazz Workshop offers many classes, intensives, private lessons in several boroughs: Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as Europe. Great musicianship knows no borders or genre.
I have been the staff writer for the New York Jazz Workshop School of Music blog in midtown Manhattan since 2014, and that has broadened my freelance writing skills considerably. In addition to writing artist bios, and articles of interest that pertain to the mission of the school, I have interviewed (in print on the site) legendary guitarist and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny, trumpeter Cuong Vu, and in 2015 embarked on producing a podcast for the school where I have achieved my dream and interviewed jazz giants such as Dave Liebman, Lenny White, rising talents like Thana Alexa, Logan Richardson, guitarist and bassist Brian Kastan, among others. I also work on SEO optimization for the blog. In 2015 I started my blog Jazz Views with CJ Shearn, and have written liner notes for 5 time Grammy winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, Antonio Sanchez (for his latest recording “Channels of Energy”) and guitarist Gene Ess for his latest recording, scheduled to be released in November 2018.
My passion for jazz music is what drives me, which is an interest I’ve had since I can remember. I initially began writing about jazz at the age of 13 for my high school newspaper, and in my late teens contributed occasionally to jazzreview.com. In college I was member of the Harpur Jazz Project which brought jazz acts to campus. I’ve also contributed in the past to AllAboutJazz where I was mentored by John Kelman. I decided to focus on my passion for jazz music journalism after a job in the social services field as a caseworker went south, and as a person with a physical disability I work on going against the odds, living independently and having accomplished things people had said I’d never do.