The POWER OF SINGING podcast is lovingly offered to you by the five VOICES of the Santosha Voice Group. Susan Mohini Kane, founding director, is a former opera singer and college professor turned Indie artist and teacher, both online and in the Los Angeles area. Rich McKinney, a composer, pianist, and choral conductor from Missouri who used to be a beautiful singer before he lost his vocal cords to agent orange exposure in Vietnam. Rich has a YouTube channel and has posted over 1000 piano pieces and is currently teaching composition and composing for local choirs. Heather Fetrow, is a professional classical soprano and teacher from the Washington DC area who specializes in music by women composers and who is an active freelance soprano in the classical world. Joyce Wells is a beautiful singer-songwriter and vocal coach from upstate New York. After teaching elementary school for many years as well, she has turned her focus now to her program that she calls “Enjoy Your Sound”; through this she guides people to discover and connect with their unique voice for speaking or singing. Joseph Gárate, an excellent tenor and teacher who does many classical gigs all over southern California and who is the lead singer and writer for the band: Diamonds. Joseph writes deeply personal songs. Joseph is passionate about music for folks with special needs and is also a DJ!
The five of us believe in the Power of Singing to uplift the spirit, bring people together, unlock love in each. In each episode of this podcast each of us will tell a story, share a song, and then lead a discussion on a question of our own devising on the topic at hand.
Season three
The Power of Children Singing
Five Episodes
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Episode #1: Discovering the Ability to Make Sound
August 25, 2023
Rich McKinney speaks eloquently about the powerful experiences he has had rediscovering his own ability to make sound after losing his vocal cords and relates that to the powerful ability children find in their own voices.
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Episode #2: Why Children Sing
October 31, 2023
Featuring Dr. Susan Mohini Kane, who is an expert in vocal development. Dr. Kane shares audio clips of one particular child singing at the ages of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. It is so interesting to hear the group discuss this case study of why children sing at different ages.
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Episode #3: The Journey of a Child Singing: Exploration & Vulnerability
December 18, 2023
This episode features Joseph Gárate speaking about the importance of feeling supported and safe as children, especially when they are expressing themselves through singing. Joseph shares an original song written with his eight-year-old student. The group discusses their own childhood memories about being supported in their creativity.
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Episode #4: Why Children Love Singing Together
December 25, 2023
Welcome to Season #3 Episode #4: Why. Children Love Singing Together - featuring Joyce Wells of Enjoy Your Sound. A perfect episode to be released on Christmas Day. Joyce shares her memories of singing together with her siblings as a child and a recording of her conducting a very large group of children singing together. The group discusses their memories of singing with others as children.
Visit EnjoyYourSound.com
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Episode #5: Voices of Children: A Palette of Invention and Character
January 1, 2024
This final episode for Season Three starts the new year of 2024! We are already in production for Season 4: THE POWER OF SINGING WITH A PURPOSE. In this episode featuring Heather Fetrow of The Penelope Project, we explore creativity and expression of children when they sing. And the group explores how their voices own were described by other people when they were children resulting in a surprising discussion about identity.
Season Two
The Power of Singing in Harmony
Five Episodes + 1 Bonus Episode for Mother’s Day
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Episode #1: Directing a Community of Singers
January 11, 2023
Rich McKinney speaks eloquently about the powerful experiences he has had as a choral conductor. His story is truly moving. Then he shares a recording of one of his choir’s performance of his own piece: Wait on the Lord. This piece will melt your heart. After that Rich asks the group about when we knew we were singers.
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Episode #2: Find Harmony Everywhere
February 7, 2023
Featuring Joyce Wells of EnjoyYourSound.com who shares her stories of singing in harmony with her siblings growing up. The Voices of Santosha Voice Group discuss where we find harmony in nature. Joyce’s rendition of “Row Your Boat” is nothing short of perfect simplicity in harmony.
Visit EnjoyYourSound.com to learn more about Joyce Wells.
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Episode #3: Harmony is a Worthy Goal
March 7, 2023
This episode features Susan Mohini Kane and her song “Waking Up in Wonderland” from her upcoming album of the same title. The Voices of the Santosha Voice Group discuss how harmony can help build great teams and bring groups together. They even suggest ways they would do it in a consulting situation. So creative and helpful!
To hear more of Susan Mohini Kane’s music you can go to her BANDZOOGLE site!
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Episode #4: Fill the Gap with Harmony
April 4, 2023
Welcome to Season #2 Episode #4: Fill the Gap with Harmony - featuring soprano Heather Fetrow from The Penelope Project. When family members sing in harmony, it brings a deep connection found no other way. Heather shares her story and a beautiful recording of herself singing with her sister. The Voices of the Santosha Voice Group discuss how harmony fills the gap between disparate opinions and people -- so relevant in this day and age.
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Episode #5: The Power of Connection Amid Conflict
May 9, 2023
This final episode for Season Two: The Power of Singing in Harmony is The Power of Connection Amid Conflict. This episode features Joseph Gárate, professional tenor and teacher, singer/songwriter, DJ and advocate for people with special needs, in the Los Angeles area. Joseph's featured song is "We will always be alone". Every episode also includes the VOICES of the Santosha Voice Group: Rich McKinney, Joyce Wells, Heather Fetrow, and Susan Mohini Kane: all singers and teachers and all dedicated to bringing music into the world as often as possible!
We will have a bonus episode for this season too! Watch for our Mother's Day episode coming soon!
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Bonus: Mother's Day Episode
The Power of Motherhood & Singing
May 14, 2023
In this bonus episode for the end of season two, we get to meet and hear Miranda Burnett, a beautiful singer and mother of three. Like so many great singers out there, Miranda stopped singing for a few years while she was raising her kiddos. Now that the oldest is graduating from high school, Miranda feels ready to get back to singing with a new, more mature and healthy perspective that gives such a beautiful feeling to her singing. The VOICES of the Santosha Voice Group: Susan, Rich, Joyce, Heather, and Joseph are on hand to ask her questions about being a mom and a singer - just in time for Mother's Day! Miranda performs a few songs including "Nancy Hanks" by Katherine K. Davis (with lyrics by Rosemary Benét) published in 1941, accompanied on piano by Jennifer McGuire. Enjoy!
Season One
The Life-Transforming Power of Singing
Five Episodes + 1 bonus holiday episode
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Episode #1: The Power of Singing to Create Community
July 5, 2022
Heather Fetrow, professional soprano and teacher shares her life-transforming story about singing and shares her beautiful song “Fairy Lullabye” by Amy Beach. The Group discusses how each of us benefits from singing.
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Episode #2: The Power of Singing to Affect Others
August 9, 2022
Joseph Garate, professional tenor, singer-songwriter, and teacher shares his life-transforming story of singing and his original beautiful song “I Found a Baby in the Woods”. The Group discusses what emotional state we must be in to be creative.
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Episode #3: The Power of Singing to Illuminate One's Inner World
September 6, 2022
Joyce Wells, professional singer-songwriter and vocal coach, shares her life-transforming story of singing and her original song “Beautiful Friend”. The Group discusses how we connect to singing on a deep personal level.
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Episode #4: The Power of Singing to Heal
October 4, 2022
Rich McKinney, professional composer, choral conductor, and pianist, shares his life-transforming story of singing before losing his vocal cords to agent orange exposure in Viet Nam. He shares a recording of himself singing and playing the piano on a moving inspirational song. The Group discusses how music heals.
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Episode #5: The Power of Singing to Affirm One's Existence
November 8, 2022
Susan Mohini Kane, professional soprano, singer-songwriter, and teacher shares her life-affirming story of singing and her recording of performing the Dvorak Te Deum with orchestra and chorus. The Group discusses how singing helps them know who they are.
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Bonus: Season's Greetings with Love from the Santosha Voice Group
The five VOICE of the Santosha Voice Group share their favorite holiday memories and songs.
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Studio recording of original song by SMK