Easy Street offers vocal workshop for adults

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Easy Street Productions will present Belt It Out, a vocal workshop designed for adults.

Area music and theater professionals Rick Blackson, Mary Jo Maluso, Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock will teach the workshops, which will be a series of master classes. Participants must be at least 16 years old and will have the opportunity to be featured in a Studio Sessions series concert at Easy Street headquarters, 865 Mahoning Ave.

There will actually be two workshops to choose from, each consisting of three two-hour classes: 3 p.m. July 20, July 27 and Aug. 3; and 2 p.m. July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4.

The fee is $90. To register, call 330-743-8555.

Blackson will lead participants in fun exercises, sound technical advice, and numerous performance hints, in addition to serving as accompanist and musical director for the Studio Sessions show.

Joining Blackson will be Maluso, his musical partner and wife, and Easy Street’s Maureen Collins. The ladies will offer helpful demonstrations and insights into performing and interpreting songs.

Participants will be encouraged to sing in front of the class and learn from constructive critiques, and the atmosphere will be positive and upbeat.

Participants can bring a recording device for note-taking and for rehearsing, as well as CD accompaniment or sheet music of the selected song.