Modern Singer Book Club: August
Great to see you again, book clubber! With a newfound amount of free time, 2020 is the year to read more books. We've been on the lookout for the best of the best to help you thrive and learn something new. We've cultivated a list of books in three categories: For Thought— books that have been turned into operas, For Growth— books about music and the industry, and For Learning— to learn something outside of the music industry. We have also added a new category to book club: For the Betterment of Humanity— books that are relevant to growing our knowledge of the people around us. This month, we're focusing on cultivating your personal brand as a singer. Whether you're a student getting back to class or a teacher excited to spark new ideas with your students, dive in and learn something new! If you're looking to shop these books and support BIPOC-owned small businesses, click here. Looking to support local bookstores online? Click here.
For The Betterment of Humanity
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Racism is a difficult thing to understand for those who have not experienced its effects directly. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about the issue of racial justice in America. Even more importantly, he points us toward new and liberating ways of thinking about ourselves and one another. One of the most important questions this book raises is what an antiracist society looks like and how we can move forward in helping reach that goal ourselves. The music industry has been known to have unsavory characters and it's time for us all to make a change. Dr. Kendi's book explains the tools we all need to use to guide helpful conversations to bring ourselves to a higher level.
For Thought
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Looking to jazz up your audition package for next season? From John Harbison's operatic adaptation to Evan Mack's The Ghosts of Gatsby, now is the perfect time to do some in-depth character study! As one of the classics of 20th-century literature, this exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. In this classic story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, Fitzgerald will amaze you with his tales of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted that "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession."
For Growth
The One Hour Content Plan by Meera Kothand
Your singing career is the business of YOU, but figuring out how to sell yourself online can be difficult on your own. Do you struggle to find the right thing to say when promoting yourself online? Kothand walks the "solopreneur" through all the steps it takes to define your brand in a way that makes you something that people want more of! Ditch the overwhelming amount of content and never struggle with what to write again. Learn the five types of content that will inch your subscriber towards becoming a constant in your online presence. What do consistent followers become? Supporters and audience members! Figure out the fastest way to determine your brand's voice so that you create content that fits you like a glove. No “wishy-washy” ideas. No guessing.
For Learning
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do you still find countless copies of the same aria you learned six years ago? Is that old gown still hanging around the back of your closet gathering dust? Are your clothes piling up like a tangled mess of confusion? Cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Whether you've watched the Netflix series or not, Kondo is getting rid of the room-by-room and little-by-little methods that seem to lead to disaster and holding on to the past for far too long. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to long-lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed, and she still has a lengthy waiting list for her help! With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" and which don't, this international bestseller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire! If you want to let what you're saying "thank you, next" to make a difference, think about making a donation to your local homeless shelter or women's shelter. They are always looking for day-to-day clothes as well as work-appropriate attire.
