Questions I'm Asked Constantly...

Can anyone learn to sing?

Yes. I believe anyone who has the ability to speak can learn to sing or improve his or her singing ability with proper technique and guidance. Singing simply requires acquiring physical coordination just as other physical activities such as learning to play a musical instrument, dancing, typing or anything else you can think of! All that is ever needed is practice, persistence, and patience.

How old should students be to start voice lessons? 

I believe a child is ready for music instruction as soon as they show interest, however, my education and experience is with people old enough to read. I recommend that children under about age 7 have a teacher who has had specialized training for that age range.  My youngest student is 6 and my oldest, most recently, 65!  Anyone can learn singing at any age.  

Should I make my child take voice lessons?

No.  I would never encourage a parent to force their children into something they don't have a passion for.  It's a waste of a parents time and money.  It's most important to gear lessons toward what your child loves and shows an interest in. If your child is always doing flips in the backyard, gymnastics would be more suitable than hours stuck singing. But let's say your child is clearly musical; in what ways is it expressed? Tapping his fork on the dinner table? He sounds like a drummer to me. Singing in the shower? Time for some voice lessons. 

Yea, but my parents never made me take/stay in singing lessons and I've always wished I could, so...?

So take voice lessons yourself!

Yea, but am I too old to start learning how to sing, right?

Nope. The vocal chords are the last muscles in the body to fully develop. At 30, mine aren't quite finished maturing yet. In fact, as a voice teacher I tend to be careful with young singers, being sure not to teach certain things before about age 16. Women sometimes feel like they have lost their ability to sing after menopause, but in fact the shape and size of their vocal chords has simply altered, and they can re-train based on these new feelings and sounds.

How long should lessons be? 

I typically teach lessons that usually take 50-60 minutes long.  Children ages 12 and under, I teach half hour lessons.  I suggest all my students have one lesson per week to ensure retention and development.  

I was told I am tone deaf. Can this be changed?

I don't believe people are tone deaf. I believe they either haven't been taught how to hear pitch or they are producing sound in a physical way that doesn't allow them to control pitch. I have proven this thousands of times with my clients over the years. It only takes retraining the body in the way it creates sound and the hearing will adjust as well. 

I'm already a professional singer so why should I take voice lessons?

Most singers I work with have some particular habits that if not corrected can cause problems later in their careers. My job is to educate the singer and instill good technique and habits that will prevent any physical problems such as nodules, polyps, hoarseness, or vocal fatigue. 

Do you work with all styles of music and levels of singers?

Yes. Proper technique can be used in any style of singing and there is no sound in singing that can not be created so it cannot harm the voice. I work with all levels of singers from total beginners to many well established professionals.