Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara McAfee.
Hi Barbara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am surprised to be where I am in this life. Why? I was a very timid singer up through young adulthood and now I perform concerts and singing keynotes with ease and joy. I was an arts-oriented kid and ended up having two successful careers in the business world — in recruitment and organization development consulting. I am a singer/songwriter who composes music and ended up writing an Amazon bestseller about my approach to voice. There are now 60 people who are trained in my voice work, including folks from the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom. I’m a native Minnesotan, born and raised in Stillwater. After forty years in the Twin Cities, I made a move back to the St. Croix River Valley in October of 2020. I now live up the street from the river in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh my, no! I had horrible stage fright and lots of vocal challenges. That’s why I opted to make a living in business as a young adult. It gave me time and space to heal and discover how I wanted to develop my gifts without the pressure of paying the bills with them. During this time I tried my hand at singing jazz in clubs and restaurants even though my legs were shaking the entire time. I began working with a local voice teacher to get to the bottom of my fear. In my sessions with her, I’d start to sing and burst into tears. If you’d told me then that I would be able to sing with pleasure someday, I wouldn’t have believed it. After 12 years as an organization development consultant, in 2003 I stepped away from that career to pursue my voice coaching and speaking work. It took some time to build up the business and a lot of faith that the work was necessary. In a world where we use our voices in so many important ways, there’s very little guidance about how to use them well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All of my work takes root in voice. I’m a master voice coach who helps people from all walks of life to find their voice, whatever that means to them. In 2011 I published Full Voice: The Art and Practice of Vocal Presence which focuses on my unique approach to voice. Since 2013 I’ve been training people in my approach to voice. There are now 60 people who are trained in Full Voice from around the world (US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom). My keynotes weave music and words to deepen an audiences connections to each other and their work. I’ve brought my message to health care professionals, attorneys, coaches, and educators among many others. As a singer/songwriter, I’ve released eight full length recordings and a recent EP. My greatest joy is when people put my music to work in their everyday lives. Finally, I am an irrepressible song leader. For nearly thirty 30 years, I’ve been leading community song circles where people can gather to sing just for the joy of it. No music to read. No performance. No pressure.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Trust the unfolding. Be faithful to the things that nourish you and others. Don’t believe your “Brain Rats!” (It’s the title of one of my most popular songs).
Pricing:
- Individual voice coaching – $185 per hour or a package of 4 for $640 (saves $100)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barbaramcafee.com
- Instagram: @barbaramcafeesings
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbara.mcafee/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKVI443XUSXnA1Jcfcc2hPw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/barbara-mcafee
