BEGINNERS

I love working with people who are total beginners. People who would never consider singing in front of anyone. Sometimes they don’t even want to sing a song. But they are curious about their voices.

Often when we are at the absolute beginning of the singing road there is a really strong curiosity that seems to counter our lack self-belief. It reminds me of when I observe young ones learning to walk and talk, how they wobble and flounder but just keep on keeping on…

I have worked with people who couldn’t sing a note – much less a note in tune – when they first came – but somehow still longed to sing. And sing they do, now. In tune and everything! Anyone who is able to talk – and to listen – can sing.

Sometimes our work as beginners means spending plenty of time simply remembering how to move the voice around consciously, and connect it to the breath and the shapes we make with our mouth in a way that feels comfortable and easier. Practicing listening is a big part of it. Each journey is – honestly – unique, and is always a great adventure.

AMATEUR SINGERS

The word’s root is in Latin: amator, meaning a “lover, a devoted admirer, or a devoted friend.”

I also love to work with people who are singing for the love of singing, in folk clubs, in choirs, on the open mic circuit, writing songs in their bedrooms, and so on. Actively singing already to make their overall life as a human fuller, richer, more resonant.

Often amateur singers come to singing lessons knowing that they want to deal with issues like a feeling of constriction in the throat, or to work on breathing so they can sing complete phrases, or strengthen and tune certain parts of their range. At other times they come with a general sense that they want to give their voice more attention and learn some more about it.

ARTISTS AND ACADEMIC VOICE STUDENTS

Many of my students have a full-time creative/performance practice of their own when they come. I absolutely love working creatively with artists. The studio is a reflective space where we can shed a light oninto the corners of their existing practices, tweak the details of their voices and ears and work with making some unconscious habits conscious – which is always helpful for all of us as individuals.

I have also worked a lot with video artists, multimedia, performance artists and postgraduate fine art students who are curious about bringing the voice and the act of listening into their work. Areas of creative research recently – in true reflection of the zeitgeist – include (but obviously are not limited to) ecology, spirituality, identity.

Sunday Singing Salons

My students have the option to come together with other students periodically for song salons at my home, where we invite visiting speakers on various topics from vocal osteopathy to the vagus nerve to weaving (and more), and perform for each other and sing in the circle together. And, primarily, eat chocolate and grapes.