voice lessons

Want to find your singing voice?

The human voice is a powerful musical instrument. Everyone has one, but most people don’t use their voice to its maximum capacity.

Voice lessons can help you:

  • access a stronger and more beautiful vocal sound
  • increase your vocal range or develop ease and consistency throughout the range
  • develop or enhance your musical skills
  • find music that suits your interests, abilities, and unique voice
  • express yourself through song

 


My voice studio in West Chester, PAI offer private voice lessons in my home studio.

If you are interested in taking private voice lessons, please fill out this contact form. I will reply as soon as possible.

If you’d like to know more about me and my approach to singing:

 

about


teaching experience

Vocal instructor: private studio and performing arts camp
Children’s choir director: Fulbright scholarship (Germany)

performing experience

Josephine, H.M.S. Pinafore: Swanhurst Chorus
Hanna, A Waltz Dream: Concert Operetta Theater
Third Boy, Magic Flute: Academy of Vocal Arts
Bridesmaid, Trial by Jury: Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Chester County
Ensemble, Carmen: Rowan University Opera
Ensemble, Patience: Savoy Company


Read my full vocal pedagogy resume



FAQs about voice lessons



Q: Why take voice lessons? Can’t everyone sing?
A: Pretty much anyone who can speak can sing, but most people don’t use their voices to full capacity. Voice lessons teach singers how to control their breath and vocal resonance for a fuller, healthier, and more beautiful sound. Lessons also teach general musical skills. Read more about why aspiring singers need a voice teacher’s guidance.

Q: Can’t people improve their singing on their own or by using books, CDs, or DVDs?
A: It is possible to improve without a teacher, but it can be dangerous. The voice is a delicate instrument, and misusing it can cause pain and even damage to the vocal cords. A voice teacher can make sure your technique is healthy and can also 1) hear your voice accurately (you can’t fully hear your own voice since it resonates inside your head), 2) monitor your singing posture, 3) guide your progress, and 4) introduce you to great music that fits your voice.

Many singers take voice lessons throughout their adult life. Even professional singers (including highly trained opera singers) rely on trusted teachers to provide feedback about their voices. Read more about why singers need voice teachers.

Q: What is the right age to begin voice lessons?
A: Most classical teachers recommend that girls begin lessons around age 12 and boys after their voices change. However, I think it’s fine for students with a strong interest in and talent for singing to start lessons earlier in some circumstances. Parents should be especially careful in selecting a teacher for a younger child. For more on this topic, read my blog post about deciding when to start.

Also, it’s never too late to begin lessons, but most professional, classical singers start private study somewhere between age 12 and their early 20s. Students who are considering studying singing in college should begin lessons by age 15 or 16 at the very latest.

Q: My child is too young for lessons. How can he/she improve now?
A: There are several things your child can do to improve his or her singing.
1) Join a choir. A good director will teach the basics of vocal technique (how to stand, breathe, sustain the voice, etc.). Plus, singing in harmony will develop the musical ear. If your child’s school doesn’t have a choir for younger grades, try to find a community or church choir instead.
2) Take piano lessons. Piano lessons will teach your child to read music and to develop musicality and practice skills. When he/she begins singing lessons, these skills will make him/her a well-rounded singer and enable him/her to learn songs quickly and independently.
3) Listen to music. Expose your son or daughter to good singing and instrumental music in a wide variety of styles: classical, opera, country, bluegrass, pop, jazz, etc.
4) Sing! Encourage your child to sing along to recordings and to sing with friends or family. Folk songs, patriotic songs, and religious songs are generally easy to learn and are a great place to start.

Q: I think I’m tone deaf. Will voice lessons help?
A: Most people who think they’re tone deaf actually aren’t. True tone-deafness does exist, but it’s very rare. People who are tone deaf can’t tell the difference between high and low pitches. They can’t even recognize songs. To them, music just sounds like a bunch of noise.

If you can recognize songs and enjoy music, you’re not tone deaf. You probably just have difficulty matching your voice to the notes you hear. Anyone can have this problem, but it’s more common in guys, especially after their voices change. Some people are born with great musical ears. Other people struggle to match pitch, and some people can’t carry a tune at all. The good news is that anyone can improve!

With guidance and regular practice, you can learn to sing with confidence. Lessons will include exercises in:

  • listening to several pitches and determining which ones are high or low
  • hearing pitches and singing them back
  • exploring the many sounds the voice can make
  • experiencing the sensations of the voice

I particularly enjoy working with students who have trouble carrying a tune. It takes patience and dedication for both teacher and student. But it’s so rewarding to watch someone discover his or her own voice for the first time!

Q: What musical styles do you teach?
A: My own training is mostly in classical (including sacred) music and opera. Unlike singers of other styles, classical singers almost always receive years of highly technical training in such areas as vocal technique/pedagogy, voice science, song literature, music theory/history, and foreign languages.

In addition to teaching classical, I also teach musical theater and popular music. Good vocal technique can apply to any singing style! As a teacher, my goal is to assign songs that match a student’s interests, abilities, and unique vocal sound.

Q: Do you teach adults?
A: Absolutely! Whether they’re experienced or beginners, adults are fun to teach since they’re intellectually mature and usually very motivated.

Have more questions?

Send me an email.