Today’s guest is Brenda Earle Stokes.Brenda Earle Stokes has built an extensive and sustainable professional career as an accomplished pianist and vocalist skilled across classical, jazz, pop, rock, R&B and Music Theatre styles. Her curiosity and voracious appetite for music has led her to become an internationally acclaimed performer, composer, and educator. Since 2018, Brenda has been busy creating a suite of online courses which is now called "The Versatile Musician".In this episode, Brenda takes us on her extensive music industry journey as she reveals that her sustainable career was built on being resourceful, entrepreneurial, and by simply figuring it out. Brenda believes that versatility is key and the more we learn, the more opportunities we will create not only as performers but also as teachers because the more tools we have in our toolbox, the more students we will attract and retain. Brenda reveals how her performance career experiences inform and guide her student-centric teaching approaches. She explains that in order for our students to acquire the necessary skills that are useful and relevant to them, for whatever it is they want to pursue, we must customise our teaching. Brenda also discusses an existing culture of dumbing down singers in music programs within higher educational institutions, the problems associated with gender bias in the music industry, the importance of being strategic and how to create and seize opportunities for employment. This is such a fun and informative show with Brenda Earle Stokes.In this episode1:16 - Introducing Brenda Earle Stokes7:56 - Brenda’s early love for music18:53 - Transitioning into the professional world22:40 - Life performing on board a cruise ship31:55 - Brenda’s move to New York City39:41 - Brenda’s transition to teaching piano and voice46:30 - Are higher education training programs serving the next generation adequately?52:12 - Training programs that Brenda has created and how they have evolvedFor more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/50Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps!Follow me on Instagram.Find Marisa online: Website: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarisaleenaismith/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarisaleenaismith/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisa.lee.12 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avoiceandbeyond3519/videos Resources: MLN Coaching Program: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/mentoring/ Download your eBook: Thriving in a Creative Industry: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/ebook-thriving-in-a-creative-industry-dr-marisa-lee-naismith/ Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! https://lovethepodcast.com/avoiceandbeyond Share your thoughts and takeaways from this episode on social media and tag us @avoiceandbeyond — we’d love to hear your perspective!

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