Anyone from age 10 to 110 who is interested in understanding and improving their voice.
The human voice goes through major changes and growth during the teenage years, and will continue to develop and grow in some voice types well into the late 30s. Generally, serious vocal training does not start until after the voice has passed through puberty. However, more and more elementary and high school students are involved in intensive music programs which can place severe demands on young voices. It is especially important in these cases for a student to be working with a teacher so as to avoid injury and establish healthy vocal habits. My focus with pre-puberty and adolescent singers is on acquiring basic musicianship skills and a beginning understanding of fundamental vocal techniques such as breath support, posture, and relaxation. Because this can be a difficult time for a young person's confidence and self-esteem, the primary goal is to provide an encouraging and supportive environment where they can learn to enjoy their own instrument and build confidence in using it.
The first 15 minutes or so will be spent warming up the voice through a series of vocal exercises. These exercises have two purposes. In the short term, they warm-up the vocal instrument gradually so as to prevent injury or stress and prepare it for work on the repertoire. In the long term, they help to build specific skills and techniques that, when ready, can be applied to more difficult repertoire. The techniques covered include issues of pitch range, breath support, posture, tongue position, and the release of physical tensions in the face and mouth.
The rest of the lesson will be spent on songs or repertoire selected by the teacher and student. This repertoire will be chosen based on the singer's goals, taste, voice type, and skill level. The goal is to find pieces that the singer will enjoy but that will also help them improve their skills and grow as a musician.
No. Learning to read notation or improving existing reading skills is part of the lessons. Certainly, the more musical experience you have in your background, the easier it will be to learn the music but it is not required.
- A blank CDR, CDR-W or recording device.
I strongly encourage students to record their lessons. This is especially important if the student has limited note-reading ability. Having a recording of the vocal exercises and pieces that you will be learning is invaluable to your own personal practice. I provide a CD recorder that you are welcome to use, or you can bring your own recording device.
- Your assigned songs.
- A positive attitude and a willingness to experiment and try new things.
Generally lessons are once a week. This allows enough time for the student to prepare assignments and progress in their own practice, as well as providing a goal and deadline to work towards.
I consider several factors in suggesting repertoire including vocal goals, voice type, skill level, and personal taste. My goal is to select repertoire that you will enjoy working on while still allowing you to grow as a musician and expand your vocal skills and talents. For beginning students, I generally draw from a wide variety of genres including easier classical works, folk songs, musical theater pieces, and jazz standards.
As with most disciplines, the more time you invest, the quicker you will advance. It is best to at least sing a little bit every day, even if it is just to go through a cycle of the vocal exercises. This helps to build strength and flexibility, and keep the voice active. Beyond that, I recommend an additional 30 to 45 minutes depending on the difficulty of the music you are working on and your skill level. The most important thing is to listen to your own instrument and not push it beyond the point of fatigue. Continuous overuse of the voice can cause serious injury. A student just beginning vocal study or working on a particularly difficult piece will tire much more quickly than an advanced student who has been singing daily for several months.
There are several wonderful websites for ordering music.
If you are primarily looking for beginning repertoire, a voice teacher/colleague of mine, Valerie Williams, has a wonderful repertoire link set up on her website. This page provides pictures and descriptions of some of the most popular and commonly ordered music, and links them directly to the Sheet Music Plus website. It is a clear, simple, and concise source for music, especially for beginning students.
In addition, there are several wonderful websites for ordering music.T.I.S. Music ServiceT.I.S. is a university bookstore chain that is based at Indiana University, one of the largest and most prestigious music schools in the world. They have an entire branch dedicated to classical music and recordings. They are very organized, prompt, and have fantastic customer service.J.W. PepperOne of the largest sheet music services in the country. Extremely broad and varied inventory, and very detailed website.Classical Vocal RepertoireFantastic resource for the serious classical singer and one of the very best locations for out-of-print or difficult to find repertoire. The website lists only a small fraction of their inventory so I would recommend calling if you don't see what you need.Sheet Music PlusVery large and varied site with a huge collection of musical theater, folk, pop, and classical music.
There are other stores around town but they tend to cater to the self-taught or amateur musician, and their supplies for the serious student can be very limited.
Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions or concerns.