Welcome!
I'd love to know a little bit about you and what has piqued your interest in singing/music/songwriting/performing.
Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!
A bit about my philosophy and approach in teaching
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My job as a voice teacher and coach is to provide you with all the information on the topic at hand. Whether that be the vocal instrument and how it works, how the body responds and handles tension in singing, and common tendencies or habits that inhibit growth. Once the 'black and white' aspects of great vocal technique become part of your approach, or a student absorbs a good amount of information as in the case of songwriting or music theory, we will delve more into artistry and musicality and what you can make of it, or say with it.
Overall, my goal is to provide you with information, tips, and a variety of approaches to what you are learning, always making sure you know why you are doing something in the moment and where the positive, useful and joyful experience exists.
Eventually, I hope for all my students to feel like they have acquired something that will last forever and has made their sense of identity and life more full. Every lesson should feel invaluable.
All levels are welcomed! Whether you barely feel comfortable singing a couple notes or speaking loudly, think you're tone deaf or are in love with music and/or singing and looking to pursue a professional career in mainstream music, classical music/opera, or musical theatre, I am here to guide you in reaching your fullest potential and inspire your exploration.
VOICE LESSONS
Singing is not always easy but in general great vocal technique is simple. After all, we can only think about so many things at once and still enjoy what we are doing in the moment. Great singers make singing look and sound free. That freedom comes from knowing what one is doing and enjoying it.
In lessons, my job is to use my eyes, but mostly, ears to identify anything that is getting in the way of you feeling like you are singing "right." And by "right" I mean FREE (i.e. not tight in the body, able to move your voice through fast notes and sustain the long notes, not worrying about how you sound and able to feel the song in the moment and share a song in a way that will be felt by your listener/s), RESONANT (power throughout your entire range, able to "fill" the room you're in with your voice) and CONFIDENT (knowing you have reached your full potential, knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how to own or maneuver them throughout a variety of songs.)
CONCEPTS:
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Range: guaranteed to have you tap into your lowest and highest notes within the first 3 lessons. (Usually the first lesson.)
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Resonance (aka Power): will provide knowledge into what parts of your body are involved in creating a full, clean, and strong sound that projects without a microphone-- always staying true to your most natural voice but also exploring the different colors and tones you can create.
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Tension: identifying where you hold physical (and sometimes mental/emotional) tension in your body, and giving you a variety of approaches and solutions to eventually make it a thing of the past.
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Musicality: addressing what makes a singer sound like a singer and a song come across with meaning.
SONGWRITING
**This often goes hand in hand with some of my musician students who have just started voice lessons, but have already written songs. However, no experience or prior written songs is necessary.
In lessons we cover what makes a song strong. Unlike with singing, there isn't necessarily a "right" or "wrong" way of writing a song (or even one way), but a good song communicates well, "speaks" to the listener and is ideally memorable. Throughout a song, sometimes the melody takes the lead, sometimes it's the music, and sometimes both are equally active. Because of this, we do cover some music theory to make sure the song structure is solid (doesn't have to be formulaic, but rather flow). Whether you already have songs you want to make better/polish, or are experimenting with writing songs, I will guide you through all the moments of a song so that it is an experience from beginning to end. We will cover everything from the music, the vocals, and the lyrics.
CONCEPTS
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Structure: explore length, order and timing of verses, choruses, bridges and everything in between.
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Melody (usually voice): experiment with what makes a melody memorable or how to write melodies that highlight the best parts of your voice.
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Voice: will provide voice technique tools to touch up any pitch problems-- extremely helpful for those with songs they are planning on recording.
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Parts of a song/instrumentation: (usually for those who already have songs) we will "proof-hear" all the parts in your song/s to make sure they all work together and add to the point/meaning of the song.
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Lyrics: we'll dig a little deeper into what, why and how we're saying the words, aka help the song make sense and communicate, (or at least entertain ;-)).
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Music theory: provide as little or as much music theory as you want and need to reach your songwriting goals and facilitate the process for future writing.
MUSIC THEORY + PIANO
I often get students, usually guitarists, singers and songwriters who feel their limited knowledge, or complete lack, of music theory slows down the process of learning, understanding and writing music, and even the process of mastering their instrument. I incorporate bits and pieces of theory in my voice and songwriting lessons when that information will guarantee a faster and deeper understand of the topic or song part at hand. In addition to enhancing our skills and learning process, having some theory knowledge is extremely helpful in communicating the language of music in collaborations with other musicians who may have had some previous formal training. Knowing some theory cuts communication time, making collaborations more efficient as well as building confidence in oneself as a musician and artist. These lessons are also perfect for someone wanting to learn a little piano. I also get adults who are not musicians, wanting to learn some theory because they are around other musicians often (usually a spouse, family or friends) and want to understand the language they speak, or simply just appreciate music so much they'd like to understand it a little deeper.
CONCEPTS
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Strong, Basic Piano Foundation: We'll get you started with a strong and clear sense of theory, and healthy piano technique, to start playing for fun or begin a journey of playing an instrument of your choice.
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Reading Music: learn to read music just because you want to learn a new thing/language for fun or because you've been playing "by ear" for years and want to take your skill to the next level.
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Music Appreciation: understanding the differences and similarities between all kinds (genres) of music for your own personal gain or to enhance your listening experience.
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Theory for Songwriting: expand your range as a songwriter and feel more confident in your skills.