Voice Lessons in Indianapolis, IN

Instruments: Voice

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If your child has a real passion for music and has the ability to focus for a half hour or more, then go for it! It also depends on what you want your child to accomplish in lessons. Many kids sing in choirs, so working on general music skills can be incredibly advantageous. If you want them to work on vocal technique, I would suggest waiting a few years so their instrument can develop.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Figure out which section of the music you want to work on, and then focus on it within a limited time frame. Repeating the same section over and over again eventually ceases to be productive and begins to work against you. If needed, set a timer for a reasonable amount of time (30-60 min.), and after the timer goes off, move on to something new. Be gentle with yourself!

When will I start to see results?
This really depends on your level and what kinds of results you are looking for. For a beginner, learning basic breath management and posture can produce major results! But sometimes, more advanced singers have more nuanced problems, and these habits can take months or years to correct. Patience is key! There really are no shortcuts when it comes to singing.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Absolutely. One of my recent voice teachers was, and still is, a huge source of inspiration for me. She went to the same high school as me years before I did, and while visiting to help with a school musical, she encouraged me to pursue a professional singing career. Today, she is rising to the top of the field and winning awards left and right. While teaching me, she instilled a lot of the techniques and approaches that I apply to my own students. She taught me that every singer has their own journey to take, and that we have to be kind to ourselves during the process.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
When I was fourteen, I accidentally changed the tv channel to PBS, where they were playing the 25th anniversary recording of Les Miserables. A couple months later, I had my first live performance singing Javert's song Stars, and ever since then I have been hooked! But really, singing is to me an extension of speech, and sometimes we sing the feelings that we can't express with words. It's an amazing experience that I can't get enough of!

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Not thinking too much. Seriously! One of my biggest struggles has been that I think way too much while singing, analyzing every vocal detail and hyper-focusing on every note. But, the key is to just let the notes flow out like a big sigh. I find that this is a common issue for a lot of singers, and it totally doesn't need to be.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance from Pacific Lutheran University, and I am currently working on my Master's Degree in Voice at Indiana University. I chose this degree because I love singing, and we should all do what we love!

Read More