Philosophy - The Path

Long and Arduous

I began taking singing lessons when I was sixteen. Throughout my school years I was in choirs and musical theater productions. Despite those experiences, as well as eleven years of higher education in voice performance, I often tell people that my singing path was “long and arduous.” For various reasons, I wasn't happy with my singing technique until my early thirties (midway through my doctoral studies). I wasn't singing badly, but I knew I wasn't singing at the level that was necessary for me to feel confident and have successful performances and auditions. It was an extraordinarily frustrating time. Things improved for me only after many years of doing my own research (before the internet existed), talking to other singers and teachers, and endless hours in practice rooms.

I tell this story to students because from my experiences, I have known how intimidating it can be to sing in front of other people. We often have a great fear of being judged harshly. I am, in fact, extremely grateful for the difficulties I went through because I know it made me a better teacher – one who understands and has compassion for the challenges we face on the path of developing a secure vocal technique and building confidence to sing in front of others.

My Approach in Lessons

In the 30+ years that I have been teaching, it has been extremely important for me to be patient and kind with my students. I have worked with some teachers who were not so, and I know that to be a miserable experience. I want my students to feel supported, encouraged, and confident. I have seen over the years that most people are much too hard on themselves, so I work to help them overcome that. I want them to develop a clear understanding of how their voices work and to use that knowledge to create emotionally sincere performances. I also believe that working on singing should be fun and even light-hearted. It is great to joke about some of the absurdities of our work and very satisfying to share laughter together.

My approach is to make singing “easy,” that is, when there are extra tensions or physical work that is unnecessary, we work to take that away. In the beginning, it can feel like there are a hundred things to think of. However, in it's basic form, singing is a simple process. The four foundational aspects of my technical training is 1) the importance of breathing well to support our singing, 2) utilizing the miraculous beauty of acoustics by opening our mouths and throats to get a strong, resonant sound without having to strain, 3) understanding how vowel shapes (in some ways different from speaking) influence the quality of our sound, and 4) strengthening the vocal cords with steady training and consistent use.

Working with Children

Over the years, I have taught students of all ages. My youngest student was 4 years old, and my oldest was around 85. I am embarrassed to admit that in my very early days of teaching, I was not thrilled with the idea of teaching children. I was perhaps a little more arrogant back then and I believed that my training was more suited to working with adults. Nevertheless, over the years, I have found that I absolutely love working with children and teens.

It has been such a joy and blessing to have people come to me at young ages, and over the years to watch them develop and change. I have often worked with young people who are lacking in self-esteem, and I have watched them grow into more confident individuals when they are encouraged and find how accomplished they can be after dedication and hard work.

Perhaps it is, in part, because my own two children have grown into adults that it brings me such joy to work with young people. I have learned that each one is unique and learns things in their own way and at their own pace. I love getting to know them as individuals and unlocking the puzzle of how to help them on their path in a way that is engaging and fun.

Different Styles of Singing

I believe I teach a healthy vocal technique based on classical singing principals. This then offers a consistent foundation for working on any style that a student is interested in. I have always been fascinated with analyzing and learning what are the technical differences in singing various styles. I love many (most) forms of music. My Spotify playlist consists of rock and roll, popular, classical, musical theater, jazz, 1930s French popular singers, the chanting of Buddhist monks, Hip Hop, etc. I also love it when students introduce me to music and singers that I have never heard before.

Recitals

I hold recitals twice a year for students who would like the opportunity to sing in front of an audience of supportive family members and friends. Before going out to perform, I like to remind them that singing is something to be enjoyed, both by the singer and the people listening. There truly is little to be afraid of because the vast majority of people in the audience are caring and supportive, and they recognize the courage it takes to sing in front of others. I also tell them that when we are performing live, we will most likely make mistakes. Inevitably, things will happen that we didn't expect. I remind them that we are just singing, not performing brain surgery. Mistakes that we make are, fortunately, not life-threatening! It's supposed to be fun.

The Path

Throughout my teaching years, I have met some people who learn what I do for a living, and they then say: “I can't sing at all. I'm really terrible.” I tell them that I don't believe that to be true. I believe (and have seen) that anyone can improve and grow to like, or even better, love their voices. I have worked with students who most people would call “tone deaf.” I do not believe that such a thing exists. With hard work and patience, even students who struggle with matching pitch can develop a sound they are proud of.

My overall belief and experience is that we are all on the same path. Some people are closer to the beginning of the path, and some people are further down the path. Some people run along the path at a fast pace, while others take a more leisurely stroll. It matters not. If we choose to put in the work, we will all move forward.

Along the Path, Do We Strive for Perfection or Try to Fail?

In my twenties, I prided myself on being a perfectionist. I was also constantly frustrated because my singing was just not where I wanted it to be. During graduate school, I spent three summers in the beautiful mountains of Colorado (my home state) at the Aspen Music Festival. My first year there, I had a teacher named Irene Gubrud who taught her students something radical. She wanted us to: “Try to Fail.” At first, I found this extraordinarily difficult to accept, but because I was desperate to try anything, I gave it a shot.

Without going into great detail, I will say that this changed my life. I learned how pointless (not to mention misery-causing) trying to be perfect was. This was true in all aspects of my life. As for my singing, I came to see that improving in any art form absolutely requires us to be willing to make mistakes. This is the only way we can learn and grow. Trying to make things perfect (which doesn’t actually exist) only ties us up in knots. “Perfect” performances are safe, flat, unimaginative and boring. True artistry requires risk and sometimes making choices that feel dangerous. This is essential for creative individuals. To my students, I offer this maxim: “In order to pass this course, you must be willing to fail (and sometimes to look foolish!).” Embracing this idea can open things up in so many areas of our lives.

What We Gain Along the Path

I have learned so much from singing, performing and teaching. I am so incredibly grateful for the way it has influenced my life. When working on your singing, you can learn lessons that have absolutely nothing to do with singing. Some of these lessons may be:

• Learning to be kind to yourself and to accept that it is okay to make mistakes
  

• Learning to lighten up and not take yourself so seriously

• Learning to vastly improve your breathing which is so important for good health and mental well-being
  

• Learning to have good posture, and gaining greater confidence in your own skin and how you move your body
  

• Learning how your body works, and becoming aware of physical tensions you may have, as well as ways to overcome them
  

• Learning how to become comfortable, and even to enjoy participating in performances and social gatherings
  

• Learning how to express yourself freely, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable in front of others, which opens doors of opportunity and creates closer relationships
  

I believe that working on music and the very personal instrument that is the singing voice, can and does affect people in profound ways.

Gratitude

Singing and teaching have deeply enriched my life. Over the years I have also had the great fortune of seeing the ways it positively effects the lives of others. It is such a privilege for me to be a part of that process. I will forever be grateful to singing and the people that have come into my life because of it.