Name
Alyson Precie
Instrument or Instruments
Voice
How long have you taken music lessons?
Since June of 2014 – about 4 months now.
Who are your favorite music artists?
My favorite musicians (at the moment) are Ella Fitzgerald, Alison Krauss, Regina Spektor, and Zoe Keating (cellist). My favorite artist tends to change based on my mood, however I always love arias, musicals, and Disney songs.
What are your short and long term goals with music?
Vocally, my short term goals are to improve my breathing and the clarity of my tone; my long terms goals are to perform in front of an audience, and perhaps be part of an ensemble. I would also like to learn more Italian and begin learning French and German to improve my ability to sing songs in other languages. Overall, I would like to learn to play more instruments. I already play the flute and piccolo, but I’d like to learn oboe, violin, harp, mandolin – anything really!
What is favorite part about taking music lessons?
I’ve sung casually my whole life, but until now have never had any formal lessons. My favorite part is learning about the role anatomy plays in the production of sound, and learning to control the placement of my voice. There is so much to learn that I hadn’t even imagined when I began taking voice lessons, and I look forward to learning and refining more new skills in the future.
What are your hobbies?
I’m a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a medieval and Renaissance recreation group. I do archery and historical swordsmanship (pre-1600), I sew garments, and I dabble in medieval manuscript painting. There’s a little bit of everything and I try and experience it all. Outside of the SCA you can usually find me reading a book, singing or sewing.
What are some of your favorite foods?
My favorite cuisine is Indian food, and my favorite dish is palak paneer with boondi raita and garlic naan. Tied for second place are Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine. I also love finding food trucks around town – my favorite is Planet of the Crepes.
What is the coolest thing you’ve learned in your lessons recently?
I’ve been working continually on body posture, breathing, and jaw mechanics. It’s been so wonderful to see it all start to come together in the past few lessons. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve already noticed a marked improvement since I began.
Do you have any performances coming up?
Not yet, but I’d like to someday soon – maybe I’ll get my friends together and we can form an old-school jazz band. That would be so much fun!
Please tell us anything else you’d like us to know about you!
I work a lot – typically 50 hours per week – but I always make sure to set aside time for lessons and practice. I’m also working my way towards a business degree one class at a time as work permits – I’m taking Art 100 this semester, which I am really enjoying thus far. I love travel and experiencing new things, and I’m always looking forward to the next adventure.
