Voice Lessons in El Cerrito, CA

Instruments: Voice

I prefer to take on students who are considered "intermediate" or at least working toward the intermediate level and advance because I specialize in developing a singer's performance quality. It's important that the student has basic vocal technique training prior to training with me because they'll have a technical foundation and sense of confidence that will allow them to explore (or as I like to call it "play") more of their vocal capabilities. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard

Ive been teaching music since I was a teenager. Ive taught at various music schools in New York and also California. Ive worked with very young beginners as well as seniors who are beginning. Ive worked with people who have all kinds of learning and physical disabilities. I really love teaching (people who want to be taught and who love music). I dont love people who are being forced to take lessons. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I work from a whole-body mindfulness perspective on voice. We use our whole body to create and emit sound, not just our lungs and throat. When we work from a whole-body perspective, we are more grounded, we are better able to identify pitch and stay on pitch, our breath flows better, and the act of singing becomes enjoyable and easy. We start from identifying the student's comfortable pitches and range, and then we expand upon what is currently comfortable for a greater range. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

For voice, I will typically start with technique and breath. The first lesson is heavy in feeling the anatomy of the body to cultivate a coordinated breath for the most optimal and healthy singing. From there, we move into warm-ups, and will adjust vowels to find resonant spaces. Generally, with the voice, after the initial work with anatomy there is an improvisatory style of teaching that I develop, catered to the individual. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I also believe that I am not the teacher for everyone. I should not be the teacher for everyone. I am not in the studio to judge a student by telling them they made a good or bad sound. How would I know? How would anyone know? The way I see it, whatever sound we make just happens to be the one the Universe wanted us to make at that moment of our existence. Read More

Instruments: Voice

My lessons are highly individualized and directed to the musical level of my students. My students always comment that my patience, passion and honesty help them achieve singing and performing levels that they never imagined possible. I start every new student with an honest appraisal of their starting point as well as their potential. I am very outgoing and try to understand fully each students aspirations and dedication, which is quite important. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice

I have always loved music and have sung many kinds of music throughout my life from choral and musical theater to folk, jazz, and even opera. I learned to play several instruments along the way but came to playing guitar as my primary instrument because of its versatility and portability. My clear tenor voice led to my becoming a member of two nationally known folk groups that toured the U.S. and Japan. Read More