Bertram G
Instruments: Voice, Music
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Spirituals, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Punk, Mariachi, Avant-garde
Bertram G
Instruments: Voice, Music
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Spirituals, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Punk, Mariachi, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 16-80
“Bertram the Voice Geek” I could list my education credentials at this point, but what’s really important here is that I tell you about me. Education is just an exercise in amassing information, learning is when you apply the information in life after the education process and any good teacher will tell you they learn while teaching. I’ve been teaching, singing, conducting, creating dreams, helping people speak and sing more confidently for over 38 years and am still going strong. I am a bonified “voice geek” meaning that ever since I started teaching in 1984, I have been obsessed with understanding the human voice. I’ve studied the anatomy, physiology, acoustics, and psychology of how it all works but more importantly, I’ve studied how to apply all of that science to helping people speak and sing better without making clients wade through technical terms…unless they want to. In 1993 I formed a non-profit 501(C)(3) amateur choral and musical theater organization called Seattle Glee Clubs and developed and conducted the Seattle Women’s Glee Club, the West Seattle Glee Club, The Olio Players Theatrical Troupe and the Offbeats Vocal Jazz Ensemble. I also taught voice classes, vocal jazz workshops, and coached a variety of vocal ensembles. The whole purpose of Seattle Glee Clubs was to have fun making music and theater. I have extensive choral, instrumental, vocal jazz ensemble, solo, and theater experience and have presented many recitals of art song, standards, and show tunes. In addition to my own performing, I held the position of bass section leader for the Seattle Jewish Chorale from 2010 – 2013 and over the years has served as soloist/section leader and music director for synagogues, and various other denominations. Oh, and for the record, I earned a Bachelor of Music from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and a Master of Music from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
I have maintained a private voice studio for over 38 years teaching adult singers, beginners to advanced and I've helped hundreds of people find their singing voice or overcome voice challenges as well as personal challenges. I created a Washington State 501(C)(3) nonprofit for amateur adult singers and actors that included 3 choirs, a vocal jazz ensemble, voice workshops, vocal jazz workshops, and a theatrical troupe. I've also conducted other community and church choirs. I am comfortable working with any style of singing and I know how to teach the sound that is appropriate for each one. I've always been motivated to understand how the human voice functions and, by extension, how to teach more effectively so in 2017 I became a Certified Mcclosky Voice Technician from the McClosky Institute of Voice after 3 ywEA studying anatomy, physiology, voice disfunction and disease, and a technique that helps the student learn how to sing and speak with complete relaxation and flow.
My mission statement is… • To teach with encouragement, humor, patience, and simple terminology, using applied science and body-awareness, all with the goal of vocal expressiveness. I always create a safe, supportive environment where my students can learn to express themselves through singing effectively. I use the McClosky Technique that employs applied science to help my students to sing with complete relaxation and freedom applied to any style of singing. My philosophy of teaching is based on the fact that working on voice technique is really an athletic process, and follows these principles: o A good voice teacher will let your true voice reveal itself, then follow it wherever it goes with encouragement and well-informed instruction. o A good voice teacher won’t jump to conclusions about your voice but listen to how you describe your own experience and take it from there. o A good voice teacher will engage in deep listening with the goal of achieving complete relaxation when singing and speaking. o A good voice teacher will help you learn how to feel your body guiding you.
Supportive, science based, creative and kind. In 2015 I discovered the McClosky Institute of Voice and the McClosky Voice Technique™. This technique is based on applying vocal science (anatomy, physiology, acoustics, health, and psychology) to teaching and focuses on efficiency, that is, it helps coordinate all of the muscles of your body so that each part is doing its proper job with little, or no effort wasted. The result is complete relaxation and flow with speaking and singing. I completed their rigorous course of study and became a Certified McClosky Voice Technician (CMVT) in 2017. Studying the McClosky Voice Technique™ opened up a whole new world for me and my skill with speaking and singing improved dramatically. I can guarantee you that I can help you correct any voice related frustrations you might have, for example • Lack of endurance • Trouble accessing your whole range with ease • “Breaks” and other limiting issues • Vocal fry • Your voice “giving out” just when you need it to soar • A weak voice or inability to project • Repetitive hoarseness and strain • Being hoarse after work • Stage fright • Limited flexibility • Monotone speaking • Needing to grab breaths too often • Inability to speak or sing long phrases • Trouble singing expressively • Wabbles, bleats, breathiness, and other unpleasant sounds… It’s all fixable, but only if you are willing to slow down and become sensitive to how your body wants to sing and speak. All of this applies to a wide range of professions. • Actors • Singers • Speakers • Teachers • Doctors • medical assistants • lawyers • receptionists • phone call center workers • people with soft voices • people for whom English is a second language • those who are often asked to repeat themselves or to speak up
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