traveling: paris

Love- Love- Love this city! Paris is the bomb. I highly recommend going to the Picasso Museum and the under ground Catacombs where seven million Parisians bones rest upon each other naked and absolved. It is a fascinating place. Go to The history of the Paris catacombs to learn more about the history.

Montmartre is an area rich with artistic culture and has been home to many great painters and artists over the millennia. You will find many cherished galleries. Also it is common to see artists painting on the streets and selling their works at affordable prices. There are mimes that perform on the streets in the Montmartre area that are really something to watch. They are the real deal. Don't miss Moulin Rouge. Again a big artist area rich with a lot of smoky cafes and bars. The red wine flows heartily in da 'Rouge'. Click HERE to check out more about Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur.

opera house photo JM

Musee d' Orsay is a fantastic museum that was once a railroad station and they converted into a real masterpiece. One of my favorite paintings is hanging there by Alexandre Cabanel "The Birth of Venus". Also works by Gustave Courbet "The Artist's Studio", Paul Cézanne (also my favorite), Vincent Van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Odilon Redon, Jean-Léon Gérôme (gorgeous), Claude Monet, among others. And of course you can't miss the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum or the mind blowing, St. Jean the Baptiste, by Leonardo da Vinci. There are so many incredible works of art at the Louvre …check out the site (it is inspiring) to get a taste of what there is to experience. Take at least a full day to enjoy the museum.

The windows at Sainte Chapelle are very pretty and most definitely worth the trek as well as experiencing the space surrounding the Chapel. Link Sainte-Chapelle.

Just to touch upon the food … The cheese… oh the cheese of France…so savoureux! The wine and bread are endlessly lovely, ravissant and superbe. The French eating experience is one so divine that for that reason alone, you will not want to ever leave Paris. The grapes are luscious as well as all the patisseries which are some of the most yummy, phantasmic desserts you will ever eat in your life. Go to Paris Patisseries to check out the best rated in Paris.
The crepes are fabulous as they come in many different flavors with sweet fruits, chocolates and jams or you can get spinach and cheese, etc. The cafes are to die for. If you are into writing and drawing the French cafes smolder with an air of creativity. Sipping lattes and people watching are quite the 'in' thing to do in Paris.

Check out the Luxemborg Gardens and enjoy an afternoon stroll amongst the great statues and lively scenes. Bring along a sketch pad or a notebook even if you don't draw or write, you might become inspired to do so. The Eifel Tower is fun to check out especially if you take the elevator up and check out the view from above. I have to mention the GREAT Notre Dame de Paris but of course…and certainly your visit would not be complete with out visiting the haunting Père Lachaise Cemetary - XX Arrondissement - where Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Balzac, among many other great artists, writers, etc. lie in peace…Peace Be Upon Them. For more info click on Père Lachaise Cemetary to get a virtual tour. It is a cool site and worth the visit.

Lastly The Opera House in Paris is quite spectacular…if you get a chance just peek your head in and take ten minutes to mosey about the place. The Palace of Versailles is a short train ride out of Paris and is apparently a great day trip. For more info go to:Château de Versailles

And very lastly… The Rodin Museum… what an awesome place if you are into sculpture. It is beholden to some of Rodin's greatest works plus a good amount of Camille Claudel's pieces. She was the great sculptress behind a lot of Rodin's hands and feet that he never gave her full due or credit for.
The movie of Camille Claudel, entitled "Camille Claudel", is a great depiction of her life and her relationship to Auguste Rodin. Check out her fascinating story on a website entitled Camille Claudel at: CAMILLE CLAUDEL. To check out musée Rodin of Paris click on Rodin of Paris

Tips
Be smart about the way you get around the city. Walk!! Or take buses and the Metro when you can over Taxi rides. I give you this warning as the drivers are reputed for literally "taking you for a ride" if you don't speak the language or know the best road routes. Don't let them take advantage of you! Shopping can be pricey. Try to get to some outdoor Paris Bazars where there are great deals and merchandise from all over the world.

sacre cour photo JM

traveling

	Alaska	Italy	Paris	Switzerland
	Dominican Republic	Japan & Korea	Scotland	USA
	England	Morocco	Spain	West Indies

voice training
click on notes to link
How to begin-Vocal Training for Singers
Stretching - Warming up before singing
Method - Breathing: What about the Diaphragm ?
Breath - Breathing: How it should feel..are you straining your voice ?
Method - Are you Singing correctly ?
Training - Voice Teacher: How to find one that's right for you

taking care of yourself

Nutrition for Singers
Spiritually Singing
Emotionally
Physically

songwriting

Composing and Writing

I have been a professional singer for over twenty years and teaching voice lessons for over ten years. I received my vocal training at the University of Colorado School of Music at Boulder and Denver and at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in NJ. Singers who influenced me greatly in my early years were Linda Rondstadt, Anne Wilson from Heart, Robert Plant, Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, Judy Garland & Aretha Franklin.

contact: jennifer@jennifermatthews.com
websites
jennifermatthews.com
myspace.com/jennifermatthews
myspace.com/thundamoonrecords