Voice Lessons Chicago

The private voice lesson is designed to teach the student to sing with proper vocal technique and to learn appropriate stage presence, one-on-one (instructor and student), and is tailored to fit each student's individual needs.

Students will learn proper vocal placement, pitch control, ear-training , breath support , note reading , musicianship, self-confidence, and much more. Lessons will include studying a wide variety of vocal styles and/or languages, with various degrees of difficulty, tailored to the needs of the individual learner.

The First Lesson:

Assessment of the student's goals and needs-

Some students want to get in shape for a specific performance, or for joining a choir. Others enjoy singing in the shower, along with the radio, or performing for friends and family and want to develop proper technique and development. Some students have never sung before and take lessons purely for the joy of it. And others aspire to become a professional vocalist. Discussing the needs and wants of the student will help to establish a direction for how the lessons will continue.

Development of the Lesson-

In order to maintain good time management and development in lessons, as well as in the student's work outside of lessons, student and instructor will discuss the creation of a folder for the voice lesson. This folder will consist of exercises taught, songs to work on for the next lesson, notes, goals, list of any performances, and the student's song repertoire.

Please do not worry if the student does not know how to read music or does not have sheet music or any songs in mind. There are many resources that will be explained at the lesson.

Students will be taught the basic mechanics involved in producing sound. It is important to understand the mechanics, the parts of the body that work at creating sound, and how to use different muscles and organs in creating sound without effort.

Then, the student will create some sounds, using light vocal exercises to tease out the authentic sound of the individual, while applying the mechanics discussed.

Assessment of the student physically

Since a vocalist's body is their primary instrument, the body must be in good shape in order to elicit a good sound. The level of commitment to musicianship will determine what changes need to occur. Students will be evaluated on their current understanding and care of the strength of their instrument, and/or taught to develop this by learning proper maintenance and care, as well as specific vocal and physical exercises.

A Typical Voice Lesson:

Students will begin with relaxation, stretching, vocal, and breathing exercises to slowly "warm up" the mind, body, and vocal chords, and to activate proper breathing. Each exercise is specifically chosen to help nurture proper and healthy singing technique.

The rest of the class will be dedicated to singing songs and developing specific needs for the student's development of musicianship. Song styles range from pop, jazz, folk, country, Disney songs, musical theater, to opera.

Students will study and practice basic techniques necessary to:

-Improve the singing voice

(i.e. proper posture, breathing habits /breath control, tone placement , diction/ pronunciation )

-Improve stage presence

(i.e. projection, control, body awareness, freedom/relaxation, confidence)

-Improve understanding of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements of music

-Improve individual strengths and weaknesses

-Discover, bring out, nurture, polish, and develop an appreciation and pride in, their true voice

-Build self-confidence to go beyond their original “comfort zone”

-Build and develop music appreciation, understanding, and dedication

-Build and encourage creative freedom & self-expression through the art of music.