Answers to the most frequently asked questions…or the questions you should be asking!

Why am I seeing such a wide range of pricing among voice teachers?

In three words:  Experience.  Reputation.  Marketing.

My younger students are auditioning and getting cast in leading roles in musical theatre or opera at their schools. 

My more mature students are preparing their own shows, writing songs, and develop a strong presence online.  

I teach strong techniques for the professional voice which work across styles.  Vocal health and longevity are my primary concern for every student. 

During my years in New York City, I met with many voice teachers, some of renown reputations and rates that matched it.  I chose a voice teacher that knew technique and had many years’ experience, and was on the conservatory faculty at Circle in the Square, yet was reasonably priced. 

I asked him the same question.  “Why such a wide range in pricing?”

He gave me a revealing response:  “There are at least 50 great voice teachers in NYC.  A competent teacher may have been charging modest rates for years, but when a celebrity walks through the door, suddenly that teacher is the ‘BEST’ in town, especially when they ask the celebrity to give them an endorsement, and they start charging top of the line rates.”  Today that’s $450/hour or higher. 

I’d like to share an additional observation: A teacher can be teaching time-honored techniques for years when a new teacher comes along and repackages it and markets the heck of it as their “own,” and they make a fortune at it.  

I receive a lot of phone calls.  Sometimes the caller starts with the question “How much do you charge?  I respond: What’s your goal? Do you want a cheap rate from an inexperienced teacher or whatever it costs to hire an experienced teacher?  The results will reflect this choice. So let me start with my philosophy:

1. We all need to make enough to pay the bills.
2. You pay for what you get. A good teacher will need to offset the time spent outside of the lesson to customize and research for repertoire building and find performance opportunities and network and market for the students. A teacher that charges a low rate will not have the time to do all of this.  Time is money.
3. Experience.  I’ve been around a long time.  Experience is an understatement at my age.
4. Reputation. As for reputation, I’ve always received the highest ratings from my students at the college and secondary school level, as well as from my private students and the students at Circle in the Square Theatre School where I developed what is now the musical theatre summer program.
5. But most of all I love what I do.  I am a working actress/singer who also loves working with children and teenagers, as well as adults.  It gives me a great sense of reward to give back and to teach them what I’ve learned and to watch them experience breakthroughs along their unique journeys.
6. I teach with passion and energy.  I’m here to help you become the best singer you can be, to discover who you are and where you may want to take your well-earned talent.  If you can’t afford voice lessons and I see you have extraordinary skills and you have a strong desire to succeed and will work your guts out to achieve it, I will work with you and we will find a budget that fits.
7. And so…although I’ve got the experience and reputation to charge higher rates, I’ve decided to make my expertise more accessible because the rich and famous do not hold a monopoly on talent and skill.  Talent is usually earned, not inborn, and it comes in all colors, ethnicities, genders, sizes, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.  I’d hate to be turning that away.
8. You’re never too old to begin.  

What kind of Vocal Technique do you teach?

I teach styles across the spectrum from rock to opera.  Foundational technique is common to all styles.  Once that is learned, then we can modify the technique according to the unique qualities of the style.  

But my question to you is this: What’s your goal?  Do you want to be a winner on America’s Got Talent, The Voice or American Idol?  Or do you want to do Broadway?  Or do you want to sing with a choral group or just for the fun of it? 

We will create a plan unique to your needs and goals. In general, we’ll build strong breath management, the foundation of all healthy singing, regardless of vocal style. Improve articulation, solidify tone, expand range, strengthen mix, blend breaks, eliminate bad habits, repair damage.   

What’s the difference between Private Voice and Coaching

Private lessons are technique -focused and recommended for any individual whose goal is to perform solo or in ensembles, either amateur or professional.  

Coaching provides additional techniques for audition and performance prep, including for solo acts, plus arrangements that enhance your strengths.  I use techniques of Broadway’s and contemporary commercial music’s best. 

I go beyond technique to explore the character and to review the context of the show. We will have opportunities to select the best songs for the singer and audition song/s for the role.

I have received permission from David Craig’s protege, Sara Louise Lazarus, to teach his unique song style and interpretation techniques for character development and song performance. I work with you to expand repertoire and build a powerful audition book that will show the casting directors the best of who you are.  

Do you coach students who need self – tapes? (Pro-Track only)

Absolutely! It’s the industry standard for professional singer-actors. I have many years’ experience as a commercial actor and producer, off and on camera. 

I’ve also cast and produced several concerts and shows and have auditioned countless performers for over 40 years. 

We will work together to prepare a a professional quality vocal or acting monologue self-tape.  For an additional fee, I will accompany you on location  to direct you through your video.  

Do you provide studio singing and voice-over technique? 

Yes!  I’m well-qualified to train in studio technique.  I began recording in studios many years ago.  The animation company Hanna-Barbera offered a voice-over job for the trio I sang with for the 1970’s cartoon series “Josie and the Pussy Cats.” 

I have since sung on commercials and recorded music CD’s and narration for videos and concerts in major markets and even impersonated a child’s voice once when in the studio when the child didn’t show up.    

Are virtual voice lessons effective and which platform is best – ZOOM – GOOGLE MEET – FACETIME – SKYPE FOR Online Distance Learning Lessons? (All plans)

While they are not as perfect as IN PERSON,  FACETIME is my first choice.   ZOOM/Google Meet technologies are  higher quality than Skype, and FREE, but the audio lag and distortion interrupt or prevent a quality voice lesson. 

Many professional singers take their lessons online while on tour all over the world.  

Online private lessons are amazingly effective, especially when out of town or on tour, or too far from my studio.  I have been offering state of the art high speed Internet and video technology for best quality audio/video since 2010. 

FACETIME offers better audio syncing than ZOOM one-on-one, but ZOOM or GOOGLE MEET offer better audio quality than FACETIME and can handle groups. Both are more stable than SKYPE.  I will use the platform of your preference depending on your Internet stability, speed and connection. 

What are the advantages of virtual voice lessons?

1. Most auditions are now online and require self-tapes.  Using video conference technology is a valuable experience and will help you create a superior final product. 

2. Internet video singing lessons are an excellent way to avoid the time and expense of heavy traffic, to accommodate long distance students, and to enjoy training in the privacy of your own home. 

3. Professionals on tour use FaceTime to stay in touch with their teachers and coaches.

Why do you offer group lessons? (A la Carte only)

Group lessons are recommended for  beginners or for children and their parents in the exploratory phase of choosing interests and developing skills and who will be more comfortable in a group setting. 

If you or your child considers voice lessons to be a second choice to sports or other interests, the group lesson is a more economical initial investment.  Minimum: 4 students.  As of this update, Group Lessons are on HOLD because of COVID-19, but when we can meet in groups again, I will open up groups by geographical region.

What are Master Classes and why are they required? (Pro-Track required, Optional for other plans)

Monthly master classes are different from group lessons.  They are mandatory for Pro-Track students because Master Class setting is an invaluable experience as peers observe each other perform and watch me coach them.  It removes them from the private voice studio setting.  Suddenly what they thought they knew and could perform privately, typically unravels temporarily.

Each student receives one-on-one attention in front of this peer audience and receives essential feedback from me.  They are then able to take the suggestions, make the adjustments, and try again.  It’s not easy to do this in front of others, but there is nothing  as valuable for preparing for the real world of performance than the Master Class!  We sometimes learn more from watching others than from even doing it ourselves.  But the combination is powerful. 

Minimum: 4 students

Do you provide college entrance audition preparation? (Pro-Track only)

Yes!  Consultation is available for submissions, selection of appropriate audition material,  recording the demo and resume development.  For an additional fee, I will attend the recording session to coach you.

Can you help me with a YouTube music video or demo? (Pro-Track only)

Of course! It’s now the industry standard to post videos of your work, and not just “self-tapes,” either for your agent- manager or for your own blog or web site. 

I mentioned my studio experience above. My experience directing high-quality video demos, commercials has given me the practical experience to teach on camera techniques for singers. 

The fee for a video project is determined on a project basis. Please email [email protected] to arrange an in-studio or video conference call appointment.

Do you provide direction for recording an album or to create a Cabaret or solo act? (Pro-Track only)

Yes.  I will advise you with whatever your career goals as a singer-actor may be. 

I’ve performed several solo acts myself, working with some of the industry’s finest directors, especially cabaret in NYC. 

My experience will guide you using a powerful success formula for a memorable act that’s uniquely yours. 

Coaching and direction is available for the professional or amateur recording or performing artist, for commercial or demo, or for solo or Cabaret act preparation.

The fee is determined on a project basis. Please email [email protected] to arrange an in-studio or video conference call appointment.