Voice Lessons in Norwalk, CA

Instruments: Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I want to make sure that I foster a love and enjoyment for music in my students. Fun is the best motivator and practice is key so I hope to present my lessons in a way that makes practice an enjoyable part of the process. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students so that it feels like they are making good progress. I am never rigid in my teaching style, however! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice

From my private lessons with Jamie Valentino, who teaches at the University of Redlands and holds a Doctrine in Classical and Jazz guitar, I've learned a number of techniques for every style. We will go over timing, and strumming patterns, as well as knowing the circle of fifths, harmony, scales, finger technique warm ups for both hands, and pick control using a number of exciting songs as a supplement so we can play and practice at the same time. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Bass Guitar Double Bass Music Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching for the last 14 years for other music schools as well as my home studio. I love to help new students from the ages of  4-99  in learning the joys of playing an instrument or instruments that they are going to enjoy. Nothing truly satifies me more than to see a student advance in their insturment as each lessons passes by. Daily quality and not quantity practice is something I like to encourage the student to be able to advance much faster in mastering the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I love seeing my students begin to understand how their mind and body can work together to sing beautifully. It's a treat when a student can begin to execute the necessary actions for singing with a degree of confidence and reliability that they at one point believed was beyond them. My style is one that fosters a student's abilities and is encouraging in their efforts. I make a point to be very thorough and analytical when it comes to how physiological events and mental focus are key to building a framework for this expressive artform. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Keyboard

I have been teaching for the past 17 years.  I enjoy the challenge of meeting each student's needs and creating an individual teaching plan to help students achieve their goals. I have had the opportunity to work with preschool through undergraduate students. My experience as a high school chorus teacher, Teaching Artist with the Washington National Opera, guest vocalist for the Ghanian ambassador, and part-time professor have bolster my ambition to bring music to students "where they are". Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For beginning students, I focus on building a solid foundation of vocal technique (including: breath, resonance, posture, register, and diction). We build this foundation through singing pieces that the student is familiar with and lots of vocal exercises. At the same time, I like to introduce basic music theory concepts. I typically start with Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course Theory. Upon grasping and understanding fundamentals, I will begin to introduce repertoire from different styles of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

My Methods: Fundamentals of breath work - incorporating several physical exercises and methods of showing the coordination until it is ingrained Focus on the use of the resonators - projecting the sound to the different cavities where sound resonates before leaving your body and into the room (i.e. 'the mask', mouth resonance, chest resonance, etc) Reducing tongue tension - a common issue is root of the tongue tension and I have several exercises to address this Improving range - most of my students gain notes in their belt range and their head range, and often in their low range as well Increasing the legato vocal line - here we focus on linking the vowels properly supported by the breath Jaw tension - similar to tongue we have evercises for this Style - different approaches such as riffing, back phrasing, using a glottal attack, using a breathy attack - creating colorful expressive phrases that link to the emotion of the song and the style desired Musicality - learning to read music, counting tempo, sustaining pitch, syncopation, dynamics, etc Diction - correct vowel shapes and enunciation + awareness of when tension closes down the vocal line if diction is carried over from speaking habits Performance - using tools from acting training to perform a song effectively and believably Career consultation - when appropriate, also offered Read More