Why Lessons?

Lesson Overview

Rates

Experience

References

What do we do in a Singing Lesson? :

Lessons are tailored to meet individual students needs. However, I have found that all students benefit from focusing on three main components:

1) Stretching and Breathing

2) Vocal Techniques and Excercises

3) Application

A traditional 45 minute singing lesson will comonly include 10-15 minutes of body and breath work, 15-20 minutes of vocalizing at the piano, and 10-15 minutes applying technique and skill to songs. As I have said, all lessons are tailored to meet your needs. If some week you feel like focusing more on breath, or only working on technique, I'm happy to be flexible.

I meet with singing students weekly or bi-monthly. The length of time you take lessons, like your progress, is up to you! And remember, singing is supposed to be fun! If lessons begin to feel like a chore, please be sure to tell me so that we can make it fun and exciting again!

I don't want to sing. I want to improve my speaking voice:

Great! I work with professionals in many fields who come for tips on reaching many goals. They want to sound better on the phone, or be heard at the back of a crowded audience hall. They're looking for confidance building techniques and for ways to increase their vocal projection and improve the clarity and quality of their voice. Speaking well includes many of the same techniques as singing well, and some different ones. We'll learn where and when to take breaths, both for ease and dramatic effect; how to project your voice well enough to be heard without winding up with a sore throat the next day; and many other helpful techniques.

Most of my "speech" clients come to me for 4-10 lessons. I meet with some on a weekly basis and with some as-needed.

Shaky knees? Sweaty Palms? Voice-quake?:

Many of my students, both speech and singing, come to me wanting to address issues such as self-confidance and overcoming stage fright. I work with students to bring out their full and confidant voices. I also teach several beneficial techniques to assist in moving emotional blocks and turning off those mental tapes that play choruses like "I sound aweful" and "I'll never be good enough".

So what exactly will I be learning?:

I don't have a piano, so what about homework?:

I teach many techniques that can be done without a piano. They do, however, all require breath. So, as long as you can breathe, you should be all set for homework! I am also a big fan of practicing in the car or the shower. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!

One Final Note:

I work with students on vocal excersizes that include use of the piano, and I can usually sight read vocal lines in music students bring to me. I am not an accompanist. I am dyslexic. However, I find that even were I a proficient pianist, I would rather have my attention free to watch my student's body and focus on the sound I hear rather than looking at their sheet music.

I resolve this issue in several ways:

• Students most often will bring a CD to sing along with
• I quite often teach using exercises from a vocal training book that comes with a CD
• I play guitar, and for many students I work with songs that are in the folk genre and are better accompanied by guitar
• Students may feel free to hire an accompanist to attend rehearsal with them (this is quite common in the industry)
• I can recomend an accompanist to record the piano parts for any peice a student wishes to learn so that they have a quality rehearsal recording. Rates vary.

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