JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum yell/scream

Since I make my living teaching people who have been told they can't sing, how to sing, and then go and watch them sing at open mics and in musicals and in choirs, you know I'm going to disagree with you. I would never promise anyone they would sing like Mariah or anyone else. The only person you can sing like is you, and it's unhealthy for the voice to try to make your voice sound like or sing like anyone else.

What I do say is, there is a voice, and with the right approach, that natural authetic sound can be accessed, if we can learn to let go of strain, tension, trying, & bad habits. And you will never convince me that someone who longs to sing... but can't sing on key... can't learn to sing, because I have.. oh at least a few hundred students who can prove you wrong. I have been teaching for 11 years and any "tone deaf" person who has been willing to do the work has always recovered from that affliction and has progressed to the point where they could sing entire songs on key.

This is what I say. Could you talk when you born? Could you write when you born? Could you walk when you born? Could you play the guitar when you born? No. You learned how to do those things, and many other things. So there is no earthly reason why people who have difficulty singing cannot learn to sing correctly, given the right kind of holistic instruction and encouragement. And I would very very insulted if any of my students said that I simply teach to make money off of them.

I teach because I love relating to adults who on a creative journey of self-growth. I teach because I love watching and hearing my students make tiny steps towards the goal of singing freely without fear. I teach because it brings meaning to my life and hopefully healing to my students, who have struggled, as I have, with shyness and self-esteem and lack of belief in themselves.

I invite prospective students to meet with me for an (free) hour and chat about who I am and what I do and what my philosphy is... and then I offer them a discounted first lesson. So if they sign on, they know exactly what they are going to receive from me in exchange for tuition. They get all of me, everything I know about singing, about creativity, and about life. I tell my students I consider myself part singing teacher, part therapist and part creative guru.

Teaching is my passion, that's why I do it. If I had lots of money and I didn't need to support myself, I would teach for free because it brings so much to my life. I would not be the person I am today if so many people had not honoured me by sharing themselves and their voices and their process with me.

That being said, unfortunately not all singing teachers and vocal coaches are cut from the same cloth. Some make dubious claims and some don't know what they are doing. I could write more about to look for in a vocal teacher but I believe there already is a thread about that. If anyone is interested, just PM me.

Hummin'bird