Sam J
Instruments: Voice
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, R&b, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Swing, Soul, Avant-Garde

My curriculums have been based much in my student’s interests and tastes, and I shape each individual student’s experience around them. These include: world music, RnB and musical theatre songs. One of my past students was very interested in Whitney Houston and the “diva” sound and was having trouble with it as they are a tenor. I focused mainly on healthy belting, as well as working through their “break” and connecting their belt to their falsetto. I have had many wonderful teaching experiences with large groups as well. In the Spring of 2014, I was a co-founder of a jazz vocal quartet that was one of the artists-in-residence at the Virginia Beach Arts Festival. Over 5 days, we worked with 12 different groups of students (K-12), and taught jazz and improvisation through interdisciplinary means.

Sam combines a traditional vocal pedagogy with modern repertoire. For the last few years, he has been managing his own private vocal studio, where he places an emphasis on teaching healthy vocal technique through a jazz medium. Where as many voice instructors rely heavily on Italian art song (which is most certainly within his play book), jazz standards are a more modern and approachable genre for students to explore their own voices and artistry. Curriculums are based in the student’s interests and tastes. These include: world music, RnB, gospel, pop, jazz and musical theatre.