The following are some of the questions I hear most often from the parents of prospective students. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, e-mail me or leave your question in the comments section and I’ll answer it as soon as I can!
You’re certified by the Northwest Institute of Voice. What does that mean?
The Northwest Institute of Voice was founded over thirty years ago by Thomas R. Blaylock, who developed the system of exercises I use and who has been my teacher for the past several years. My certification reflects extensive study of vocal anatomy, physiology, pedagogy, and artistry in various musical styles, as well as a personal evaluation by Mr. Blaylock.
Where are you located?
I teach from my students’ homes and studios in the Portland area. I travel up to 30 minutes each way at no additional charge.
Can I come to the studio for lessons?
“The studio” exists more in spirit than in matter. Since I don’t currently have a suitable space for teaching, I teach all my lessons from my students’ homes. There is no extra charge for house calls and it means less driving for you!
Can you teach biweekly lessons?
Yes! If you are interested in biweekly lessons, please call or e-mail me to discuss, because scheduling may be limited. Biweekly students may be asked to change the day or time of their lesson if someone else wants their time on a weekly basis.
When is a good age to begin vocal training?
I take students starting at age nine, and generally recommend starting between the ages of nine and twelve. However, I accept beginning students up to age sixteen, and there are some very successful singers who didn’t start study until their twenties or later. It all depends on the individual, but sometime around the onset of puberty is ideal.
Do you ever take younger kids?
I don’t teach children younger than nine. There are two reasons for this: (1) The value of vocal training for substantially prepubescent children is dubious and (2) I’ve just always connected better with teenagers. If your child is interested in pursuing singing, I strongly encourage you to enroll him or her in piano lessons until he or she is old enough for voice. The musical training your child will gain in piano lessons will be invaluable when she begins voice lessons later. Overwhelmingly, my most successful voice students are those who have studied piano previously, so piano lessons are never a waste of time or money!
Do you ever take older beginners?
I don’t take beginners older than 16, because the challenges of working with adults (and near-adults) with busy schedules and conflicting obligations are more than I want to take on. However, my cutoff has nothing to do with the ability of older beginners to learn singing successfully. If you’re older than 16 and just starting out, please get in touch and I’ll refer you to a qualified colleague who would love to work with you!
What style do you teach?
Vocal technique mainly has to do with strengthening and coordinating the muscle groups involved in singing. Beginning students usually have a great artistic sense for the music they want to sing, but are limited by a lack of strength and coordination. For these reasons, I can teach beginning and intermediate students in all styles of music. I also offer advanced coaching for classical singers.
How much are lessons?
After a half-price initial consultation, lessons are $65 an hour for weekly lessons or $70 for biweekly lessons. My students purchase lessons in ten-week packages – i.e., ten weekly lessons or five biweekly lessons. The consultation fee is applicable toward the cost of the lesson package. If you have any other questions about my rates or other policies, please e-mail me.
What do I need to have for lessons, in terms of space and equipment?
The most important thing you’ll need is a space in your home – a corner of a room is enough – dedicated to lessons and practice. Ideally, this space should be quiet and free from distractions. To conduct lessons, I will need a piano or keyboard (an acoustic piano is best) and a CD player. The CD player should be able to play quite loudly, as the volume of accompanying tracks affects how students sing. Standard computer speakers are not loud enough for this purpose. More information about space and equipment needs is available here.