Scene Change

Lizzy interviews the Hendrix Twins to celebrate Galentine's Day! There is no competition in this sisterhood! Just an emphasis on love, respect, and support for each other. Listen in to hear their music and a discussion about promotion, passion, and performance whether as a duo or as soloists!

On this month's episode, Lizzy gets all the details of tap dancing. Wondering what to look for in an instructor, how this art helps the body, or what typical costumes look like? You're in the right place! Listen to Cristina's advice on fun, freedom, and fitness through dance.

He's a Saxophonist, Federationist, and One of the Latest Members of the Board! That's right! This month, Lizzy interviews Dezman Jackson. Learn how the Federation influenced his confidence in picking up a new instrument, performing at open mic events, and running for the Performing Arts Division's Treasurer position last summer. Also, listen in for tools on teaching yourself a new instrument, accessible saxophone instructors on YouTube, and a top-to-bottom saxophone description.

Do you want to make music and compose with other songwriters and industry professionals? Have you ever wondered what it's like to audition for and perform on American Idol? This month on Scene Change, Katelyn interviews former American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, highlighting his upcoming program, SongSight Music Mentoring Retreat for the Blind. You can find out more about SongSight at www.songsightretreat.com Keep in touch with Scott at www.scottmacintyre.com Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org  Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Lizzy interviews an advocate, accessibility consultant, actor, teacher, and lifelong learner on this months episode! Listen to Reggie‘s journey from punk rock teen to Theater  activist.

Miss Stover is a blind music teacher at a middle school in Ohio. Learn how she confidently navigates the band room, manages "Meet the Teacher" night, and keeps her students' attention in the classroom. Stay tuned for tips on conducting a band, where her guide dog sits during concerts, and her secret to having a great day! Connect with Us Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division Twitter: @nfb_pad Email: nfbpad@gmail.com #Blind #MusicTeacher #MiddleSchool #BandTeacher #TeacherLife #ClassroomManagement #BrailleRocks #ServiceDogs

Lizzy discusses physicality, also known as embodiment, with this month's guest, Marilee Talkington, stage and screen actor and founder of Access Acting Academy. Marilee shares her experience acting in shows on CBS, Apple TV, Broadway and more. Stay tuned to hear how she does her own stunts! Get to know Marilee more from her speech at the 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind here: https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/2018_convention_highlights/july_8/am/06_authentcally_blind_on_stage_and_screen.mp3

It's here at last! Many leaders and members of the NFB Performing Arts Division have been hard at work putting together a comprehensive resource for directors, educators, and performers of all kinds on blind performers from our own perspective. Now, in this episode, PAD President Katelyn MacIntyre and Vice President Cristina Jones join Lizzy to unveil the publication. They chat about the experiences that led them to work on this project, how all of us can use it as a resource in our auditions, and some practical tips to dealing with the concerns and objections of sighted performers who just aren't sure about working with a blind person. This is a can't-miss episode for performers in all areas! Find the full fact sheet here: https://nfb.org/about-us/divisions-committees-and-groups/divisions/pad-blind-performer-fact-sheet

This month we change the format a bit as Katelyn MacIntyre fills in for Lizzy for an extended "Questions with Katelyn" interview with Annie Donnelon, an artist of many talented who has most recently entered the world of audiobook narration. Annie shares how she became interested in this art form, the techniques she uses to makes her characters come to life, some tips for those who want to build a home studio, how she collaborates with writers, and much more. Plus, we hear a sample of her narration read live to us during our recording session! Join us as we celebrate the talents of 2 of our multifaceted members—Annie's skill as a narrator, and Katelyn's skill as an interviewer!

On this special Read Across America Day episode of scene change, Lizzy interviews first lady of the National Federation of the Blind Melissa Riccobono as she describes her career change into audiobook narration. Learn about her views on Braille and audiobook reading, the technical skills needed in this field, and her perspective on maintaining confidence! Bonus: you'll get to hear her read part of a Dr. Seuss book!

Listen as Lizzy interviews a pianist and singer of many genres, Oveante! He demonstrates musical chords, plays a couple of songs, discusses performing for Stevie Wonder, and even gives the secret to entry into the Berkeley School of Music in an episode you don't want to miss! Since it's our Valentine's Day episode, you know we talked about love as well, focusing on self love and true confidence this year. Let us know what you think at NFBpad@gmail.com learn more about Ovi on his website here: https://oveantemusic.com/

Calling all creatives! If you're looking for something new and exciting in 2024, this is an episode you won't want to miss! First, our President and one of our Board members bring us news of two exciting NFB Performing Arts Division initiatives that you can play a part in. Then, Lizzy takes the mic with a guest who is no stranger to those who have been around the NFB for a while. His voice and guitar playing are heard on "The Rhythm of the Movement," the album that has become the soundtrack for so many NFB events since 2015. But JP is so much more; he's an accomplished musician and songwriter with some pretty impressive collaborations to his name, a life coach, and a podcaster. Join Lizzy and JP as they chat about performing, transformation, how to make real change, and so much more!

Welcome to our last episode of 2023! As we celebrate the holiday season, famous for virtually every choir imaginable giving some kind of performance, 3 prolific choral singers join us to share their experiences in the group singing environment. They'll also share some tips about succeeding in auditions and rehearsals, and get personal about the ups and downs of finding community and acceptance within the choir. Teaser: One of our guests has recently joined one of the most famous choirs in the world! You won't want to miss this special holiday episode!

Tony Gebhard breaks barriers every day as a musician, podcaster and producer. But he also joined us from the frigid wilderness of Alaska, so we had to get an ice reference in! Join Lizzy and Shane (yes, we give Shane a mic this month) to celebrate our third anniversary by chatting with Tony about his many talents and activities. Plus, hear some more highlights from our division meeting at convention, when Shane took the mic around the room to hear what people were thinking. It's an episode worthy of our "podcastiversary!"

Welcome to the third anniversary episode of Scene Change!!! 3 years ago on October 15, we released our first episode and promised that we would bring you the most engaging, exciting blind artists who are active at all levels of performance and committed to changing the landscape for their fellow blind performers. On this special episode, we celebrate with a very special guest who is no stranger to PAD members: Jessica Victoria! Jessica chats with Lizzy about her lifetime commitment to our community, her pioneering work as a professor and performer, and much more. You won't want to miss this conversation with one of our own!

On this episode of Scene Change, Lizzy interviews The Performing Arts Division's newest board member, Kingsley Martin. Here his attitudes on jumping right in to acting, podcasting, and whatever else you may want to do. Listen until the end for an unexpected  role reversal where Lizzy gets interviewed by the guest! Connect with Us Visit our website: www.nfb-pad.org Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division Twitter: @nfb_pad

She has been a PAD Board member, a member of our podcast team, a co-founder of RAMPD, and a Latin pop sensation. So, she's done it all, right? Not even close! Since we last featured Precious on the show, she's released several new songs, moved across the country, performed at some impressive venues, and (lest we forget) married our own producer, Shane Lowe. Join us as Lizzy and Precious catch up on where Precious's journey has taken her, her future plans, and what the Kennedy Center has to do with it all. Keep in mind that this is our last episode before the NFB national convention in Houston. We hope to see many of you at our meeting and Showcase of Talent! If you need to join us or renew your membership in time for convention, visit nfb-pad.org/member. See you in Houston!

For part 2 of our series on classical piano, we're rejoined by our panel of 3 accomplished blind pianists as we look into the practical side of performing. How do they learn complex repertoire? How do they make that big leap across the keyboard accurately? How does a pianist adjust the bench to the perfect height and prepare for an outstanding performance? Lizzy and her guests will address all these questions and more on this episode, plus we'll hear what these musicians are up to next!   Connect with our guests Yoo Jin Noh: https://www.youtube.com/@yoojinnoh9947 Elizabeth Sprecher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-sprecher-77348522b/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTLuBTOaSOQ David Lai: https://youtube.com/@davidlai1996   Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

This month we begin our two-part interview with 3 talented classical pianists who will share their experience in the conservatory environment, share interesting insights about their diverse backgrounds, offer performing advice, and much more. Of course, we'll also hear a selection of their performances for all who love the piano to enjoy!

We're switching up the format of this month's episode as we share a recording of the membership call that kicked off 2023 in the NFB Performing Arts Division! That call featured a lively discussion with a panel of blind music educators who are making a difference in the lives of their students every day. Learn their creative techniques for dealing with the day-to-day challenges of the classroom, how they deal with their students' thoughts about blindness, what tools they use in their work, and much more! We host these membership calls bimonthly on a wide variety of topics of interest to blind performers! Want to know when the next call is and how to participate? Become a member of our organization so you can receive our newsletter, join our events, and much more! Visit nfb-pad.org/member for more information.

Hang out with our host Lizzy and creative couple Dan and Michelle to learn about their relationship podcast, shared values, and advice for finding and keeping a partner on air and in life. Who knows whom better? What might they name a potential restaurant? How do they divide their duties on their show and at home? Tune in as these partners on and off-air slide in our DM's this Valentine's Day! Find their podcast here: https://downinthedm.libsyn.com/

Ready to jump in to a new Performing Arts project? Join our host Lizzy and producer Shane as they give real life examples of how to do so in seven steps (move past anxiety, gain clarity, find resources, assess the cost, take action, and show up) plus a bonus! The innovative spin on classic ideas and episode highlights will surely motivate you to start your project ASAP

our Scene Change host, Lizzy Muhammad-Park, talks with 3 seasoned performers about confidence building, putting a price on talent, future performance ideas, and more! The episode includes helpful hints for when to begin looking for gigs, where to perform, and how to build solid connections that might lead to future work. Featuring: Lawrence E Brown III, Christina Ebersohl, and Cristina Jones.

It's November. It's cold. It's dreary. It's gross. It's that weird time between the enjoyable part of fall and the holiday season. What genre of music would best describe November? The blues, obviously. So we found a guy who plays the blues with 2 instruments at the same time! How does he do it, and what does he have in common with Scene Change production team member Precious Perez? Find out the answers to these and many more questions as we spend our November episode with Noe Socha!

What do pizza, toilet paper rolls and the NFB Performing Arts Division have in common? They all join with many other topics to make for what might be the most fun, freewheeling episode of Scene Change yet! Join Lizzy and your newly-elected PAD Board--all 7 of them at one time--as we get to know each member better and talk about what the division has planned for the future. We hope our return episode will be as fun for you to listen to as it was for us to record! Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision

Welcome to our July episode, and thanks to everyone who attended our convention events, whether in-person or virtually. All the beautiful post-convention selfies on social media made us think that, if blind people aren't gracing the runways of fashion shows and modeling competitions, we should be. Well, we found a blind model who is doing just that! Check out this unique conversation with one of the most inspiring "scene changers" we could hope to find! Connect with us! Website: www.nfb-pad.org. Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division. Twitter: @nfb_pad

Join Lizzy for this month's riveting episode featuring Krishna Washburn, a professional ballet dancer, and the artistic director and sole teacher of 'Dark Room Ballet', along with The 'Dark Room Ballet' program coordinator and lead administrator Alejandra Ospina. Interested in ballet? This is an online ballet course specifically for blind dancers. She's got something for everyone. She's got intro courses, they are eight weeks long, and she also has open courses for experienced blind professionals. They are tuition free. In this episode, you will hear more about this exciting opportunity and all it entails. Her summer course is beginning on June 25, and Registration closes on June 18, 2022. Sign up here: https://darkroomballet.com/ Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD Episode 21 notes 0:41 – Introducing Krishna 3:10 – How it's like to be a blind ballet instructor 16:08 – How to sign up and prices for other courses 31:48 – The difference between sighted, blind, and balanced 36:15 – Do students need to purchase ballet shoes before class 37:05 – What tape is used 39:49 – Krisna dancing while teaching 41:59 – Who taught Krishna 47:39 – Misconceptions for teachers to break 54:40 – Advice for anyone advocating for equality in the dance space 1:04:51 – Contact information 1:07:54 - Outro

In honor of Mother’s Day, we take some time this month to celebrate our members who are moms on stage, in life, and sometimes in both. Enjoy this fun and enlightening chat as Lizzy, joined this month by cohost Katelyn MacIntyre, talks with three awesome moms, performers and leaders about their journeys. Connect with us! Web: nfb-pad.org Facebook: facebook.com/performingartsdivision Twitter: @nfb_pad

Most musicians will tell you that making music is therapeutic for them. For some people, escaping into the world of their favorite tunes gives them peace. But did you know that there is an actual profession known as music therapy that uses music to improve mental health? In this episode, we're joined by Kaiti Shelton, a professional musical therapist, as she describes her field and tells her story as a blind professional and performer breaking into a new career path. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Listen in to this month's episode of seen change where blind multi instrumentalist John Dowling talks shop on learning new instruments, the songwriting process, and jam sessions! Live performance and description of the mandolin included! Enjoy Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Picture this: You're spending a romantic Valentine's Day evening with your valentine, everything is going well, and then your partner asks you to dance. What do you do? Many of us will do it, but if we're honest with ourselves, the very thought of dancing--especially in public--makes us become instantly self-conscious if not outright embarrassed. If you can relate, the Scene Change team hopes to change all that this Valentine's Day! For this special, we're featuring 2 Scene Change regulars: Lizzy Muhammad-Park, podcast host, PAD Vice President, and talented dancer, and Katelyn MacIntyre, PAD President, accomplished dancer, and frequent dance instructor. Let Lizzy and Katelyn help you make the most of your partner dancing experience, so that next time your partner asks if you want to dance, your answer can be an enthusiastic "Yes!" Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

This month's episode marks a first for Scene Change: For the first time, we're collaborating with another podcast! Join Lizzy as she partners with the host of Poppercast, a production of the Pacific Opera Project, as they interview 3 people who are deeply involved in the wonderful world of opera. Spoiler alert: One of the guests (and a leading lady in a Pacific Opera Project production) is Cristina Jones, who also happens to be the Secretary of the NFB Performing Arts Division! So we believe we can claim some bragging rights. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Facebook: facebook.com/performingartsdivision

Welcome to the last episode of 2021! Covid might have prevented our favorite choirs from serenading us in person during the holiday season, but the gift of technology has made it possible for singers around the world to come together, rehearse and perform—all from their own homes. Join Lizzy as she sits down with Kayleigh Brendle, a member of the Sing for Serenity virtual choir, and Rachel Grider and Tom Page, the director and engineer behind the NFB virtual choir that has added music to our last 2 national conventions. Stay tuned for a musical sample from both choirs, and a new segment we're calling "Questions with Katelyn." Happy holidays from the Scene Change team and all of us in the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division!

It has been said that hip-hop/rap is the music of minorities. If that's true, blind rappers should fit right in. Question has certainly found his niche in this genre of music. Join Lizzy and Question as they listen to some of Question's music, then engage in a little Q&A session about his story and the message behind his music.

Picture this: you're sitting in a studio. Maybe it's even in your own home. You're reading a script, interpreting your character's voice, and recording yourself talking into a microphone. Congratulations… You are an actor! And yes, there are actually people who do this for a living. So how does that work? On this episode Lizzy talks with Sammi Grant of Access Acting Academy about all things voice acting: how it works, how blind people are succeeding at it, and how you can get involved. Access Acting Will soon be announcing their winter schedule of classes, and plans are being made for a new five week in person acting course, so you won't want to miss the exciting events available to aspiring actors from our friends there. Be sure to check out accessacting.com and sign up for their newsletter to be the first to know about their upcoming projects!

It's back to school time again! Some of us are excited about it, some of us are dreading it, and many of us fall somewhere in the middle. But, for students everywhere, it's just a fact of life. So what do blind students interested in the performing arts do about this time? Join us as we talk with an educator and 2 music education students about their experiences and how you can be prepared to thrive in all your academic endeavors. Also, we're excited to announce that we now offer a transcript of each podcast episode! Visit the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division YouTube channel to get the text of each show!

In last months episode, we brought you the first part of our panel from the 2021 national convention featuring three leaders in the field of audio description. Now here's the second part of that discussion, featuring questions from the virtual audience!

Our 10th episode brings a first for Scene Change! During our annual division meeting on July 8, we recorded a live episode of the podcast featuring an all-star panel of influential members of the audio description community: Dr. Joel Snyder, Director of the Audio Description Project; Roy Samuelson, a renowned describer and voiceover artist; and our own Everette Bacon, a Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind. Enjoy Part 1 of this informative and insightful conversation with Lizzy and our panelists, and stay tuned for Part 2 in August! Oh, and speaking of Lizzy, we start off the show with a very exciting announcement involving our host!

Anthony Saldona has dedicated his career to using art and film to shed light on the subjects he is most passionate about. Join Lizzy as she and Anthony have a conversation about his life, work, and the unique style he uses in his documentaries. Plus, be sure to listen until the end to get a glimpse of some of the awesome activities the Performing Arts Division has planned just for you at the 2021 virtual convention of the National Federation of the Blind! You won't want to miss the largest and most dynamic gathering of blind people in the world, so be sure you're registered at nfb.org/convention. It's free! Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @nfb_pad

He's a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, motivational speaker, broadcaster, music ambassador... and now a guest on our podcast. His name is Joey Stuckey, and he has quite a story to tell. Join Lizzy and Joey as they delve into Joey's life story, his outlook on blindness and life, his style of performance, and much more. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Our guest this month describes herself in many ways. She's a singer, a songwriter, and an all-around performer. She's also blind, a woman, and a person of color. All of those characteristics--and many others--make Lachi who she is. And, because she writes songs about her own unique experiences, those characteristics come together to make Lachi's music uniquely hers. Who is Lachi, how has she gotten to where she is today, and how is she working to build a brighter future for blind female performers of color? Join us as the one and only Lachi opens up to Lizzy about her life, her music, and much more! Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

what do you think of when you think of March Madness? Probably that exciting college basketball competition that has the unique power to become a student's dream and a fan's obsession. You might think about filling out your bracket or proudly displaying your school's colors. But there's more to March Madness than the athletes on the court; the marching bands, too, represent their schools with pride and style. "But blind people can't play in a marching band, can they?" you ask. Of course we can! Join Lizzy as she celebrates March Madness by talking with some marchers who show us how it's done. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Take a listen as a blind/sighted, inter-abled couple describes their Cirque du Soleil-style aerial dancing act. Silk, romance and a sense of adventure come together to show us a new way to perform in our special Valentine's Day episode! Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division. Web: www.nfb-pad.org. Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division. Twitter: @nfb_pad

Blind comedy - how does that work? We'll hear from two outstanding blind comedians, Shannon Cantan and David Glasspool, on how they got started in the genre, how adversity shapes presentation, the dos and don'ts of blind jokes, and what's on the horizon. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision. Follow us on Twitter: @nfb_pad

Learn about the cello and the violin from Leslie Hamric and Julia LaGrand. Details: Descriptions of instruments, proper bowing, orchestral performance adaptations, and audition accommodations. Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @nfb_pad

We know there are many blind musicians out there, but what about dancing? Blind people can’t see what other dancers are doing on stage. Surely they can’t perform in the same way. Not so fast! On this episode, Lizzy is joined by three ballet dancers who are successful at their craft and share with us how it’s done.

On this White Cane Awareness Day, the NFB Performing Arts Division is proud to present the premier episode of Scene Change! On this podcast, we meet the Performing Arts Division in a more intimate way as we have fun talking with some of the leaders who make our division (and this podcast) work. Join Katelyn MacIntyre, our beloved President; Lizzy Muhammed-Park, our Vice President and the host of Scene Change; and Precious Perez, one of our Board members, as they share their experiences and their love of the performing arts. Let's learn and laugh with these three leading ladies! Connect with the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division! Website: www.nfb-pad.org Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_PAD

Thanks for subscribing to Scene Change! Enjoy this tiny preview of what you'll hear on our first episode and what the podcast is all about. Episode 1 is coming October 15!