Voice Lessons
The study of vocal technique should encompass three main aspects: placement of the voice, breathing (support) and body mechanics (as they relate to singing). The perfection and integration of these three elements should be the goal of any course of vocal study. With study and practice your vocal technique can improve and become optimal, freeing your voice and opening the way for your individual artistic expression in the style of music of your choice. A voice teacher helps you overcome technical problems and choose a suitable repertoire for your voice. A vocal coach is an accompanist who also makes suggestions about the musical aspects of your performance, but usually doesn’t focus on the details of your technique. Many professional singers consult with both a teacher and a coach to meet the demands of their careers.
As a voice teacher, my own training is classical but I don’t focus on any particular style in my teaching, such as musical theater or R&B. My students sing a wide variety of music, from folk/rock to classical, and I help them apply the fundamentals of good vocal technique to their chosen style. In each lesson I follow a pretty traditional structure in that I start with vocal exercises, in which technical concepts are introduced, and then I help the student apply these concepts to his/her repertoire. The technical concepts always relate to one of the three aspects of singing mentioned above, and I return to these ideas, although I may present them in a variety of ways, and reinforce them in each following lesson. Eventually students are able to unify placement, support and body mechanics in their technique, and these elements no longer feel separate.
I offer my students the option to record their lessons and burn the recording onto a CD, we can also make demo CD’s should the need arise. Recording the lesson and listening back is invaluable, because you can really hear the difference when you make a change for the better and this reaffirms the learning process! Listening to a recording of the lesson is also a great way to remember exactly what we did and a good opportunity to take notes, which helps solidify new ground you are gaining. Standard rates are $45 per hour or $25 for a half hour lesson.
For more information please contact Kirsti.
