Calling all singers. If you're looking to improve your skills, WAMI is sponsoring Tamara Anderson's Progressive Singers Workshop "Masters Class" on Sunday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Papa's SocialClub, 7718 W. Burleigh St.
Anderson -- who has worked with, among others, The Academy Is ..., The Hush Sound and Janus, as well as finalists on "American Idol," "America’s Next Big Band" and "Rockstar" -- will discuss skills like control, breath support, pitch, range, connecting high and low notes, but also things like stage presence, emotion, confidence and performance anxiety.
"I've been involved with Tamara's workshops in the past," WAMI's Barbara Wagner told me, "and when she says 'Grammy award-winning' vocal techniques, she is serious. Tamara knows what works and knows how to instruct anyone who sings, to use her proven techniques, to improve their singing.
"Tamara covers topics like projection, pitchy-ness, stage fright, phrasing, vocal range, taking care of your voice, and so much more. I cannot emphasize enough how valuable this workshop can be for anyone who sings!"
To register, please send Anderson an e-mail in advance of the workshop.
There will be door prizes -- including free recording time and a Shure SM58 microphone -- for some lucky attendees and a free lunch buffet provided by Papa's.
There will also be a visit from a Shure microphones representative, who will discuss microphone techniques and choosing the right mic.
Admission is $10, but WAMI members get a 25 percent discount.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
