Lessons for Singing
The foundation of lessons are intensive exercises and etudes I’ve developed and assembled from wide-reaching teaching styles. My pedagogy draws from Bel Canto, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, and vocology, among many other sources. I’ve combined all of the most efficient materials specifically to strengthen the breathing apparatus, get the voice closing properly (to create sound in a healthy and sustainable way), achieve clear and consistently resonant vowels (phonation), expand range and power, while most importantly allowing the voice freedom to find its own authentic and natural sound.
Contact me to set up a free initial consultation!
In addition to teaching weekly lessons, I also make recordings of distinct sets of these exercises for each student, based on range, skill level, and special vocal needs, such as falsetto. Recordings are provided to students to practice with daily at home, in combination with breathing, tongue and postural exercises. When done correctly and regularly, this regimen yields fast and effective results. Over the course of the first 3-5 lessons, we invest a significant amount of time learning the exercises. As lessons progress, we increasingly focus on repertory chosen by the student, but we continue adding exercises to the student’s recording so that practice sessions at home yield consistent improvement.
Most importantly, we have fun. In addition to technical work, we also explore vital areas such as musical interpretation, theatricality, connecting with audiences, defeating stage fright, and improving body alignment in singing and everyday life. Students working in my Rye studio often have the opportunity to perform in front of small audiences at studio recitals.
FAQs
I don’t have much experience singing. Can I benefit from lessons?
Yes! In fact as a beginner, you stand to get the most out of lessons since you’re setting up your entire vocal regimen, developing all the tools you’ll need at your disposal to make your singing shine.
You will absolutely benefit from lessons, as you’ll skip all the hundreds of exercises out there that don’t accomplish much, and get the best, most effective foundational vocal training, coaching, and education.
Can you help me sing well even if I’m ‘tone deaf?’
True tone deafness only affects a very small fraction of a percent of the population. Tuning issues can have multiple causes, but the most common I see are issues around breathing, time spent singing music that was out of the singer’s range where the singer developed a habit of singing off key (very common with baritones), or just a lack of singing during the formative years.
Tuning CAN be learned. We need to start on the pitches that you can match, and work on opening up the range with expanding exercises. Once the range where you can match pitch is large enough, we can sing songs within that range. As you continue developing your pitch matching in a larger range, more songs become possible.
Tuning work takes lots of practice, but is shockingly transformative for a voice. It’s a very addictive work to do, because as you hear yourself singing better, it motivates you to keep going.
Can you help me prepare for an audition, event, or public performance?
I have lots of experience helping singers get to the next level, whether it’s beginner singers who want to audition at school, amateurs looking to produce albums and become professional, professional singers who are preparing for tour, singers in pageants or TV shows, or actors looking to break out into musical theater - what all these singers have in common is that they want to be in their best voice and find themselves well-prepared for their event.
I would be honored to help you achieve whatever goal you’ve set out to achieve with your voice. We break it down into approachable steps that you can take each week to help you make it happen. Along the way, you learn how to prepare your pieces, so that you don’t need a teacher forever!
Please reach out and let me know what your goals are, and I would be happy to meet with you and discuss it.
I’ve been studying voice for years but I feel stuck. Can you help?
I absolutely can. You’re probably a very developed singer and probably know so much more than you realize about your instrument. There may be just a few things holding you back from getting to the next level.
Work on vowels, posture, jaw placement and breathing can be absolutely transformative in very short amounts of time for singers who have developed their voices but hit a plateau.
My mission is to help you get through those blocks, but even more to become confident and independent in your singing so that you know your own voice, what it needs, and how to accomplish your singing goals independently.
I’ve experienced a vocal trauma, illness or other emotional block around singing. Is this a problem?
Vocal work is the most personal work we can do. Medical issues are connected, emotional issues are connected. Many singers experience tough times due to health reasons or other life events that leave their singing blocked or frustrated. Even natural processes like aging or menopause can cause issues for singers.
One of my specialties is helping singers who have, for various reasons, found their voices experiencing problems. Vocal training with an expert coach with sensitivity, respect, and integrity can guide a singer back to a voice that’s healthy, strong and more robust than ever.
I want to develop my voice, but I’m not sure I can afford lessons right now. Do you have any advice?
Working on your voice with an expert coach at SVA is along the same lines as taking college-level vocal study. Many decades of experience and a PhD in Music went into the background for this work. I can help you get the right foundation and be set up well for all your future vocal studies, or help you where others have failed.
But yes, there is a significant investment involved, as well as a time and energy investment in your practice time throughout the week. Voice lessons are a commitment, and it’s very important that you feel the vocal coach you are working with is the right match for you.
That’s why I offer a free consultation where we can meet in person at my studio or via Skype/Zoom, so you can get a better sense of how lessons work and whether or not you feel it’s a good fit.
It’s important to be financially responsible, so I always let singers know that if they feel I’m the right teacher, decide how many months you want to study, and save up for as long as you need to. Lessons should be a joyous investment in your or a loved one’s growth, not a financial burden.