Sharon Singer is a performance poet, a wordsinger who has given seminars at the Learning Annex, and currently talks on "Writing from the Soul." With an Honours B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Sharon has worked as an arts journalist, motion picture publicist and film distributor. Her first collection of poetry, FIRE RIDER, was published by Fire Mountain Press in 1996. She has contributed to a variety of anthologies including Degrees of Closeness, Postal Code II, ;|semicolon, Seeds, and A Time of Trial. Her chapbook, The Last Years of the Natural World, was published in 2002. Sharon is in the process of recording a spoken word CD with renowned jazz saxophone player Bob Mover.
Sharon programmed and hosted Words in Concert, a poetry reading series, at Free Times Café in Toronto. She has also served on the Board of the Art Bar Reading Series, and as Treasurer of the Canadian Poetry Association. She is currently a director of the Book and Periodical Council.
Selected Publications
Fire Rider. (Fire Mountain Press, 1996) ISBN: 9780968073209
The Last Years of the Natural World (Rising Phoenix Press, 2002).
Books in Print
Singer, Sharon
Fire Rider. Poetry (Fire Mountain Press, 1996). $14.95 ISBN 0-96807-320-4.
The Last Years of the Natural World. Poetry (Rising Phoenix Press, 2002) $7.00.
Sharon Singer, Toronto, Ontario
Phone 416-461-0750
704895@ican.net
phone: 416-461-0750
With an Honours B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Sharon Singer has worked as an arts journalist and motion picture publicist and distributor. She currently gives seminars on a variety of topics. Her first collection of poetry, FIRE RIDER, was published by Fire Mountain Press in 1996. Her poetry has since been included in a number of anthologies. Sharon is a performance poet, a wordsinger, whose current work in progress is recording a dramatic poetry soundscape CD where she reads her poetry accompanied by a jazz musician. Sharon programmed and hosted a poetry reading series for two years at Free Times Café in Toronto. She is currently the Treasurer of the Canadian Poetry Association and is on the Board of the Art Bar Poetry Reading Series.
Grade Levels: 9 - 12
Fees: standard
Classroom Approach:
My unique approach in presenting poetry to students holds to the strong belief that the sound of poetry is as important as the meaning of the words. My own work is highly aural and my reading style is dynamic, moving,
and highly dramatic.
My specific teaching focuses on how to read poetry aloud and how to perform, using voice techniques, intonation, pausing, stresses. I demonstrate how to relax, how to control one¹s voice, how to project confidence, and how to speak clearly and understandably. These practical skills not only cover reading poetry to an audience, but also teach presentation skills for imparting information to a group, and thus prove to be beneficial to any future career.
I read from my own work, commenting on the techniques I use in performance, and then I offer students the opportunity to voluntarily stand and deliver their own or someone else¹s work, while I give helpful, positive, and constructive tips to improve their performances.
I also create an opportunity for the students to experience the healing power of sound and become more aware of the effect of sound on the body, mind, and spirit.