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Don't Sweat the Technique

A Performer's Guide to Hip-Hop and Rap

Join Melissa's L. Foster for a discussion of her book "Don't Sweat the Technique: A Performer's Guide to Hip-Hop and Rap"

About the Book:

Don't Sweat The Technique: A Performer’s Guide to Hip-hop and Rap equips aspiring performers with the tools and knowledge needed to become a better rapper. Purposefully written in easy-to-understand language, this book helps build techniques and unlocks solutions to common stumbling blocks. It includes exclusive advice from dozens of MCs. Part one provides an introduction—the birth of the genre, how it reflects African American experience and culture, major influencers, subgenres, and styles. Part two provides a tapestry of exercises, methods and tips that help with breath support, posture, diction, rhythm, flow, mic techniques, vocal health, and more. You'll not only improve your rapping, but you'll also have something to say that will make people want to listen.

Bio:

Melissa L. Foster is a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University, specifically teaching voice and topics in musical theatre such as Pop/Rock Vocal Style, and Pop Rock Musical Theatre. At Northwestern, she is the recipient of both the 2021 Galbut Outstanding Faculty Award and the 2022 Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction Award. She values her time inside the classroom just as much as she does outside, and simultaneously serves as 1 of 5 Faculty in Residence on Northwestern’s campus, mentoring students via their residential experience. When not at Northwestern, Melissa has been a Resident Vocal Consultant for LYRIC UNLIMITED (a division of the Lyric Opera of Chicago), and teaches for the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. She has been guest faculty for Broadway Evolved, Artsbridge, Broadway Breakthru, IHSTA, and ArtsLink. She has also taught countless masterclasses around the world. Highlights include: co-teaching a live-streamed, sold out masterclass with world renowned opera legend Renee Fleming and recent talks at schools and conferences in  San Diego, San Francisco, New York City, Ithaca, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Madison, South Bend, Goshen, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, Birmingham, Palo Alto, Xi’an, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Foster has consulted for the companies of numerous National Tours, including Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, and A Bronx Tale, and has recently enjoyed consulting for pop/rock projects like working with the NPR Tiny Desk series and for the multi-Grammy winning band Coldplay. Her book, “Don’t Sweat the Technique; A Performers Guide to Hip-Hop and Rap” (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers) will be released in November 2023. Foster currently lives in Evanston, IL, with her husband Matt Boresi, their daughter Vivian, and their 2 adorable bunnies, Cinna and Rue.

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