Meet Jan Shapiro

We were lucky to catch up with Jan Shapiro recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jan with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic came from both of my parents. My father grew up very poor , living in the ‘poor’ side of town . He was in WWII and was a war hero .. He and his brother started up a Scrap Iron business that became successful.. But they also put in many many hours of work ..My mother assisted my father in his work and of course took care of me and my siblings .

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am originally from St. Louis —and Music has been my life and my career .. I studied and trained as a vocalist , studying classical voice and literature. ..I started singing clubs first in the St. Louis area when there was music nightly ..I think this was about 1970..At that time I also was attending the St. Louis Institute of Music , Clayton Mo. (See My web page : www,janshapiro.com) .Life took me to many places, including Europe as a performer and teacher. While singing as a profession 6 nights a week in St. Louis and also traveling I decided I wanted to learn more .. I was asked to teach at Fontbonne College and SIUE s Edwardsville In. in the jazz department – all while still singing nightly . I also became active in the initial Jazz Educators Association , presenting and performing clinics as well as write articles in the monthly journal .. I was asked to join Berklee College as faculty , Boston in 1985 as a full time voice teacher . I later became the Voice Department Chair at Berklee College , Boston.. I retired from Berklee College summer 2017 after 31 years of teaching . I presented many vocal clinics for various organizations , notably International Jazz Educators Association .. I have written many research papers which are published, -some are housed at Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies , New Jersey , Tulane University in New Orleans , Howard University , Washington D.C., numerous articles for Jazz Educators Magazine . I received a National Endowment for the Arts Grant which allowed me to interview and research early jazz singers , The Boswell Sisters. I completed my Bachelors of Music Education from Howard University , Wash. D.C, , a Master is Education from Cambridge College , Boston Ma. , post graduate work toward a doctorate , and study in speech , language pathology , Boston University , Boston MA . When I retired I decided to come back to my hometown of St. Louis late summer 2017 to help our young St. Louis talent….I don’t do as much performing as I did but I still teach students online and in my home studio.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

.1. Persistence -and Staying true to yourself .
2. Desire to improve , grow and develop new and old skills
3. Continue to further my education .. from Bachlors , to Masters and partial work on doctoral studies , study in speech pathology, etc, attendance at Music Educators conferences , voice seminars,etc .

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

‘Strive to be the best’

Contact Info:

• Website: Www. JanShapiro.co
• Facebook: Jan Shapiro
• Linkedin: Jan Shapiro

Image Credits

Any professional ‘ head shots’ were photographed by Susie Gorman , photographer extradinaire , St. Louis Mo.