Brett Manning

Photo by Catie Wilson

Brett Manning works hard during each lesson. He strives to help others accomplish their goals.

Brett Manning is one of the most amazing and sought after vocal coaches today. Brett has taught the likes of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Keith Urban, just to name a few. Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Manning’s studio is constantly filled with aspiring artists and singers. Brett Manning Studios has grown to be one of the most credible vocal coaching studios out there. BMS has certified vocal coaches in Italy and Australia, as well as many cities across the United States. Brett created a method of teaching that used different sounds to help develop one’s vocal technique. In order to help as many people as possible, Manning developed a vocal program called Singing Success, that teaches and helps people better their craft, or even learn how to sing. It is filled with the different vocal exercises that he teaches to his students in Nashville.

Brett Manning has over 20 years of vocal experience. He was also a judge on the CMT music television reality show, "Can You Duet." Brett teaches students of all ages. Gabrielle Solair has been studying with Manning for 16 months. According to Solair there are many things that make his teaching style unique.

Photo By Catie Wilson

Gabrielle has gone from a singer to an artist, from her lessons with Brett Manning.

“ The way Brett has so much knowledge, and that he prepares you mentally for everything,” says Solair,“He tricks you into singing notes that you knew you couldn't hit. He is always positive and has patience when he is teaching. Brett's technique is fun. Brett makes singing more enjoyable”

Vocal coaching is simply put just the art of helping a singer better his or her craft. According to http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/job-roles/150-singing-teacher-job-role.aspx, “Singing teachers often have several different roles: helping students to prepare for examinations; assisting students in building up a repertoire of sheet music and backing tracks; working with groups in rehearsals prior to public performance; they can be involved in coaching individuals for a particular role in a play or musical.”

The majority of vocal coaches teach the exact same way. They cling to the piano scales and the "do re mi’s" to coach their students. Brett Manning’s approach is much different. Brett created a way to coach that is unlike any out there.

Manning travels to different cites and holds vocal training seniors to train voices and help diagnose the issues that today’s vocalists’ are having. Brett can hear a person sing and automatically diagnose what issues they are having with their voice. According to, http://www.singingsuccessonline.com/news/2009/11/19/brett-manning-the-master-of-class/, Brett would help the singer’s problem almost instantly.

“It could be a simple tilt of the head while leaning back on a certain note or phrase. It might be a vibrant, strong level of comfort while singing the mix. It could something as subtle as articulating consonants while singing so that words are better heard and understood.”

Brett has helped his students with more than just singing. He has helped teach some students how to write their own music. He has also made it easy for people as home to just go to his You Tube site and observe a lesson. According to http://www.brettmanningstudios.com/, Brett has helped many people who do not have the opportunity to buy his tapes or come to Nashville to have a chance to learn his method of singing.

Brett in not just an amazing coach, but he is also a great performer himself. He has developed a six octave vocal rang that is quite impressive. He has made a huge impact on me personally. I have been studying with Brett Manning since July. He has become my writing mentor. He is in the process of teaching me how to coach. I would love to teach others how to sing. After watching him inspire so many people, it has just opened my eyes. It helped me see that people with a passion are willing to do the hard work that is necessary to make it. It would be so neat to help others accomplish their dreams.

Photo by Catie Wilson

Brett has created several vocal training programs.

Brett has become a true friend to me and Gabrielle. He has helped us to both develop our voices, and taught us to reach for the stars.

Brett explains why he wanted to be a vocal coach.

Brett names a few of the reasons why he loves his job.

Jeremiah Braudrick

Jeremiah Braudrick is not your typical youth pastor. Although he is different in many ways and has faced obstacles in the church, Jeremiah won everyone’s hearts. With a sleeve of tattoos on his arms, at first glance you would never guess he was the youth pastor at Bethany Free Will Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Jeremiah also has a background in the marines. He has seen first hand in Afghanistan how God can change a life. His love and passion for the youth ministry is so apparent when he speaks. He may not fit the mold of a youth pastor, but he does not let that get in the way of serving the Lord.

SOP-Concrete Jungle

These photos were both taken from the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. To me they show not only the beauty of the city, but also the dreams that can come true here. It is such an enormous place, but it can make a girl feel so small. It is a place of unique diversity that brings people together.

Photo by Catie Wilson

Photo by Catie Wilson

The P Word

Decisions, decisions, decisions. College is all about making the right decisions. It seems to be something that college students face from the moment they begin to apply for college up to the moment they graduate.
With all of the decision-making that occurs in the first few years of college, many students loose sight on many if the things that make them genuinely happy. Jason Rider, a former University of Oklahoma student knows about this first hand. Graduating with a degree in Journalism with a minor in Film Studies, Rider knew he wanted to find a way to make his major his own. While in college, he searched how to incorporate his passion for film into his live for writing about fashion. This according to Rider is what made his successful. Rider is now a fashion editor at the New York Times.

Photo by Catie Wilson

Jason Rider explains to a panel of OU students,who were visiting the New York Times,his past

experiences,and the steps he took to gain success.

In a discussion with OU students, Rider explained the importance of getting back to your roots and pulling out the things that you are truly passionate about.
Even professors are encouraging students to find their passion. Kathryn Jenson White, Journalism professor at the University of Oklahoma believes that your passion can help to get you an internship, or even land you a great job.
Kathryn Jenson White discusses the topic of passion with Jason Rider, a former OU student, who is now a fashion editor at the New York Times.


For women this can be extremely hard. As young women in this day and age, it can be difficult to pick out the things that make one unique. With all the pressures of this world it can be a tedious job to even find out what one’s passion is. Women tend to over think things and forget the things that make up who we are. However, finding something that makes feel excited to go to work and grow can be extremely important when determining one’s future.
This P word, or passion, is a thing that once you find out what it is, can change your life forever. It can make your working experience better than you ever thought. It can set your work apart from other employees. It may even help you score your dream job.
There are many ways to find your passion. You can make a list of all of your hobbies or interests and narrow the list down to the ones that you spend the most time partaking in. It can also help to talk with friends and family to get their views and opinions. It always helps to talk to others to learn about the things you may not see.

For more information on Jason Rider, check out his blog at, http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/author/jason-rider/

No Fear...Persevere

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New York City is the city where dreams are made of, but many people have to work very hard to get there

One of the biggest fears of young women graduating from college is finding a job. With the way that the economy is today, this fear has grown substantially. Many women feel that since the economic crisis, that they will have a harder time finding a job.

Recently a group of Journalism and Public Relations students from the University of Oklahoma traveled to New York City to tour a few Magazine Companies.

One of the Magazines, Parents discussed the issues of finding a job upon graduating college.

The thing that made it interesting is that the panel from Parents Magazine was made up of all women. Each of which were very successful editors that have established many things. They understood how eager young college women felt when thinking about a job. They ladies from the magazine offered some very good advice to the OU students.

Photo by Catie Wilson

The Panel explained how important a resume was, while the OU students eagerly wrote down notes.

Jane Nussbaum, the Senior Editor at Parents explained that it is very important to find out what your passions are.

“When I am looking at a resume I want to see that they are passionate about something,” said Nussbaum, “It lets me see that they have a voice, whether it be in fashion, writing, or whatever.”

The panel also explained that it was crucial to be involved while in college. They explained that it could truly prepare you for the real world.

They also explained that people needed to be informed, and talk to people who have the career that you want. Each woman on the panel named a time that they shadowed someone, just to learn more about the profession.

The women at Parents were very encouraging and hopeful about the jobs for the students graduating this year. They explained that as long as you work hard and show that you are willing to do what it takes your future could be bright.

Work hard, persevere, and who knows maybe someday you will end up in New York like these ladies did.

Women Shaking Up the Work Force

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After graduating college women have to make the decision to either settle down of join the work force. Some women want to do more than cook, do the dishes and change diapers.

Young women in college are constantly thinking about next big step they need to take to reach their future career. From trying to join all the right organizations, to perfecting her resume, and even trying to get an internship, women in college are always trying to take the steps they need to get their dream job.
Women have come a long way since the early days of women’s suffrage in the 1920’s and the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s.
Nearly half of the women in today’s workforce are women. That is quite and achievement. This is quite a change from just a generation ago. In 1967 women made up only one-third of all workers in it the workforce. Even though women have taken great strides to get to where they are today, there are still there are still many doors to knock down.
California first lady, Maria Shriver, is not only a very successful woman in her own right, but she also wants to do all that she can to help women. She wants to encourage women to She has worked vigorously to bring to light the areas that woman are still lacking when it comes to women equality. The Shriver Report is a study by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress that in Shriver’s own words is a report that "Presents an accurate and detailed portrait of American women and families at this transformational moment in our history. ”
This is very encouraging for the young college women that are soon to be graduation from college. Entering the workforce can be challenging for just about anyone, but it seems that women may have a few more things to think about. In the Shriver Report, the idea is brought up that women just out of college are still having to decide rather to settle down and focus on starting a family, or to enter the workforce and put the other things on hold. This is still something that is on the minds of many women, rather they realize it now or not.
Shriver also looks at the difference in pay between men and women. It is surprising that in today’s society women continue to be paid 23 cents less than men for every dollar earned in the United States. According to the Shriver Report, nearly 4 in 10 mothers are primary breadwinners, bringing home the majority of the family’s earnings, and nearly two-thirds are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, bringing home at least a quarter of the family’s earnings. The report also looks at the positives aspects of being a woman in today’s society. Women today have the opportunity to hold a position of authority. There are many different jobs that a woman can choose from.
University of Oklahoma senior Candace Hudson is a public relations major. She is near the end of her college career, and is now thinking about the next milestone in her life.
“After reading the Shriver Report, I now have hope that I will be able to have a stable and fulfilling job,” said Hudson I feel that there are still obstacles that women have to overcome in the workforce. I am so happy to be a woman living in today’s society, but I there are times it can be frustrating."

Hudson explains her frustration with the double standards in society that women face today in the labor force.



For more information on the Shriver Report and Maria Shriver’s findings visit, http://www.awomansnation.com/index.php

National Love Your Body Day

Photo by Catie Wilson

Many girls today look to fashion magazines to tell them what is beautiful. This has become very harmful for young women that measure their worth by the size of their waist.

In today’s society women are bombarded with images of pin-thin models, and air brushed photos of celebrities. It is hard to escape these images. It is easy to see how young women that is maturing and developing at this time can be insecure about her body. Many college age girls feel that the media has had a major impact on creating this type unrealistic beauty.

On September 25, 1998, thousands of women’s right activists took part in the first ever “Love Your Body Day”. The activists wanted to bring to light all of the harm that the images of women in the media have caused women in society, and to encourage women to celebrate and love their bodies.

The National Organization for Women Foundation organization is passionate about furthering women's rights through education and litigation. Affiliated with the National Organization for Women, the NOW Foundation since 1998, has worked year after year to help women embrace their bodies. They created the National Love Your Body day to challenge the practices of advertisers, and of the fashion and media industries.

Last Wednesday, October 21, 2009, people all over the United Stated took part in the 12th annual Love Your Body Day. The campaign that is pushing to get rid of all of these fake images, and for women to see what real beauty is has grown to be very successful.

Many women in colleges across the United States are struggling maintain a good and positive body image. That is one reason why so many have participated in the Love Your Body campaign. Having a positive body is difficult for women of all ages, but in particular the young women transitioning into adulthood.

It has been said time and again that women try to compete with each other. This can also play a huge role in the destruction of a young woman’s self image.

Elizabeth Vo, a junior at the University of Oklahoma believes that this peer pressure is what causes many issues for young college age women.



It seems that the NOW Foundations’ work is paying off. There are some brands, such as Dove that has tried to uncover the lies that the media has forced on society. It seems that that many young girls are growing up with this false idea of what is truly beautiful. It is important to show young girls growing up in today's society the importance of loving themselves the way they are.