Frequently Asked Questions
What is your background?
Who is your average student?
What kind of a teacher do you consider yourself?
What will happen during a lesson?
How much do I have to practice?
Can you tell me whether I have what it takes to be a singer?
When do you give lessons?
How much do you charge?
Where are you located?
Are you accepting students right now?
How can I find a good voice teacher in my area?
What is your background?
I was lucky to be born into a very musical family, with close relatives who were opera singers and singing teachers, and with parents who supported and encouraged my love of music. Singing, harmonizing and reading music are skills I picked up throughout my childhood. I began formal study of piano at age 5, added flute at 12, taught myself guitar in high school and studied opera singing at St. Olaf College. I sang often after college, usually folk or blues music, and wrote songs and performed informally. In 1992 I formed a folk/funk band, Ballyhoo, but shortly afterward I settled down to serious study of operatic singing. At the same time, I began teaching singing to musical friends and acquaintances, and found that I loved it, so I took the plunge and started teaching professionally. My studio (group of students) expanded steadily, and I began performing with opera companies and in concert/recital. I then became a faculty member at five institutions: The Music Center of the Northwest, Seattle Central Community College, Bellevue Community College, South Seattle Community College and Shoreline Community College. I bring experience in the non-opera world and extensive classical training to my teaching. For more information about my experience, see my resume. To hear me sing live, see my performance schedule. To hear a recording, go to my sound clips.
Who is your average student?
I have basically two types of students: 1) goal-oriented, serious singers with career plans, and 2) motivated amateur singers. I truly love teaching, and bring enthusiasm and passion to my teaching. Because of this, I have found that I work best with students who are motivated to learn and improve, rather than students who "just want to sing" without expending too much effort. My students range from absolute beginners to seasoned performers, from 9 years old to 60 years old. Currently, my studio is evenly divided between adults and youngsters.
What kind of a teacher do you consider yourself?
I consider myself a relaxed, humorous teacher who specializes in communicating difficult technical concepts to every singer. My primary goals as a teacher are protecting your voice from harm and optimizing your natural vocal beauty. For these reasons, I rarely teach "style," phrasing or stage presence until I hear mastery in your voice -- specifically, I listen for mastery of breath, support, resonance and balance throughout the range. When these are within your control, we will tackle the advanced elements of singing.
What will happen during a lesson?
Typically, we begin with about 45 minutes of exercises designed to help you master a particular element of singing. These exercises will introduce a new concept and then repeat the concept in different, interesting (hopefully) ways. Learning to sing is much closer to learning a new sport than to learning an artistic ability. Your body must learn a new habit, which is more difficult than your brain learning something new. Ever tried to change your posture? That gives you an idea. The last 15 minutes of the lesson are usually spent applying the new technique to a song. I generally teach using my baby grand piano only, but sometimes we use the microphones, amplifiers and PA I have available. I have a digital CD recorder/burner, so you'll leave with a CD of your lesson, for practicing.
How much do I have to practice?
You're not required to practice any specific amount of time. However, the more you're able to practice, the more progress you'll hear in your voice. I suggest 3-4 times a week, but daily practice would be wonderful.
Can you tell me whether I have what it takes to be a singer?
To be perfectly honest, I will NEVER tell you "you don't have what it takes to be a singer," because I believe everyone can be a singer. I don't buy the popular notion that people are "born" with or without a great voice. Everyone I know with a beautiful voice has worked for years to create that sound. True, some are lucky enough to have their musical abilities (which every child possesses) encouraged, while others had those abilities discouraged. But everyone can sing beautifully, if they are brave enough to take the first step and dedicated enough to stick with it. Placido Domingo, so the rumor goes, sounded like a chicken when he began studying singing! And he now has one of the most beautiful voices in the world. Courage, perseverance and optimism are the most important qualities in a singer.
When do you give lessons?
Currently, I teach Tuesday through Saturday. My studio is nearly full; when that happens, I will begin a waiting list.
How much do you charge?
I charge $50/hour for private singing lessons. I teach one-hour lessons only for adults, and either 45-minute or one-hour lessons for youngsters. Many of my students take weekly lessons, and some take every-other-week.
Where are you located?
I recently relocated to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. I teach in my home studio near Cottage Grove and Hastings, MN.
Are you accepting students right now?
Yes, I am currently accepting students. Please contact me via email if you'd like to discuss lessons, or learn more about my studio or teaching.
How can I find a good voice teacher in my area?
1) Talk to local singers that you admire and ask about their teachers. Are there any choirs, soloists, or even musicals/operas in your area? If yes, when you hear a singer that sounds great (e.g. they can do things that you know it took lessons to learn) ask the singer for the name and number of her/his teacher. You should be able to gather at least three names for teachers this way. (Warning: sometimes these singers will see you as an opportunity to make extra money and will try to convince you to take lessons from them. Be very careful when this happens. You want to take lessons from an experienced teacher with references, not just a singer who wants to make extra money. Teaching is a skill -- and just because someone can sing doesn't mean they can teach.)
2) Ask local colleges/universities/schools for the names and numbers of singing instructors. Be certain that the instructor ONLY teaches singing. (I had a student who took singing lessons from a saxophone teacher and almost lost her voice!) Be persistent, and don't rule out schools that are not in your neighborhood. The teacher may wind up living and teaching from their home near you. Many commute quite far to teach at a school!
3) Check your telephone books under "music instruction." Again, don't rule out teachers located further away. You may have to drive a little distance to take lessons with a great teacher, but it will be worth it when you can do things with your voice that amaze people or move them to tears.
4) Interview. Thought you were done? Not yet! Here's the most important part: interview all of your potential teachers carefully over the phone. Use a list of questions you've prepared. You should be able to discover whether you'll enjoy your lessons and will learn to sing well from those phone conversations.
5) Sample lessons. You may already know after your phone interviews who will be the best teacher for you. But if you still haven't found a match, take a sample lesson from your top three finalists. Good luck!