American jazz recording artist, Kevyn Lettau, has also worked as the department head of vocal studies at a private school in LA. She brings a diversity of experience in the performing arts to this discussion.

Kevyn Lettau:  "I studied ballet and modern dance, but it was a difficult road and I started dance at an older age than most do. Singing was so soothing, healing, comforting. Singing saved my life. If I hadn't been a singer, I would have been a therapist."

PW:  "How have you dealt emotionally with depending on singing for your income?"

KL:  "Well, I have been really, really fortunate in that I love to teach, too, and I love to teach singing. And so, I supplemented my income with teaching singing. I am very fortunate that I have the ability to earn a living combined with singing and with teaching. Teaching is kind of an extension of singing. It's basically sharing my knowledge, what works and what doesn't work. When I was much younger I had that feeling, 'Oh my God, how am I going to earn a living doing this?' But I have been so lucky that I haven't had to deal with that at all."

PW: "When you are really beat with your schedule, or you don't feel your pipes are 'up to par', so to speak, how do you physically and mentally prepare yourself for your performance?"

KL:  "Well, first of all I try to never to get myself so beat up that it gets to that point. I am very health conscious. When I am on the road I become quite the hermit. I'll go to sound check, do interviews, do the gig, meet and greet the audience and then I'll go back to the hotel. I'll shut-up, and then I don't talk again until sound checks or another warmup. I try to prevent that burnout that you are talking about."

PW:  "You are very disciplined."

KL:  "I am extremely, to the point of being boring." (she chuckles) "I really enjoy singing with a healthy instrument, so I do whatever I can to try and keep it that way all the times."


 More from my interview with Kevyn Lettau in the future! Meanwhile check out her site www.kevynlettau.com