Meet Marlayna Maynard!
Folks, meet Marlayna, one of the amazing vocal coaches in M.E.T. Studio of Voice. Her sensitivity and thoroughness are bar none, and we're lucky to have her. Learn more about here below!
What is your favorite song?
I could never choose one favorite song. Today, I will say “Morgen” by Richard Strauss, but if you ask me tomorrow, I’ll probably give you a different answer. I need different music for different situations.
What is your favorite part of singing to teach?
I like teaching singers how to practice. In doing so, I hope to empower them to solve problems and improve their singing when I’m not there.
Who is your favorite artist?
I’m not very good at choosing favorites because I love so many different kinds of music for different reasons. For sheer beauty and mastery of the vocal instrument, I would say Leontyne Price. I’m also a huge fan of k.d. lang because of the emotional range of her songs and the clean, balanced sound that she uses with such nuance. I could name dozens of others whom I admire, but those are two artists whose voices are really special to me. I’m always moved when I hear them sing. As with the “favorite song” question, ask me tomorrow, and you’ll get a different answer.
When did you know you wanted to teach voice?
I first became interested in teaching music in elementary school. I loved music, and I wanted to be like my music teacher. When I was in college at Marshall University, my voice teacher, Professor Linda Dobbs, encouraged me to start teaching voice by helping students who were interested in auditioning for the music department. I really enjoyed working with singers one-on-one and helping them meet their goals, and I’ve been teaching voice most of my life since then.
What is your favorite food?
Lemon bars from the coffee shop up the street; ask me tomorrow, and I’ll give you a different answer.
What is your favorite season? Why?
Fall is my favorite season because it’s a comfortable temperature outside and the leaves are beautiful. I also feel nostalgic during the fall; it brings back fun memories of high school and college band.
What is your favorite tv show OF ALL TIME?
Six Feet Under
If you could sing with any artist for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which artist would you choose?
Brandi Carlile; I really admire her, and I think I could blend and harmonize well with her.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I’ve always been a night owl.
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of singing these days? I think social media can be a great tool, but that it’s challenging for a lot of singers to put it in perspective. I’ve noticed that singers get discouraged if they don’t get “likes” or if they get negative comments. Also, there are so many singers on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms that it’s easy to get lost in the crowd! I would just encourage everyone not to put too much emotional energy into social media because the reactions you get are affected by so many factors beyond your control that may have nothing to do with your voice.
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