I am currently accepting new students of all ages and voice types in both Chicago and Evanston. A bit more about me – I combine a:

• Professional singer's practical understanding of what it takes

• Thorough knowledge of voice technique and science

• Years of teaching experience with students of all levels

In your first lesson, we will cover the basics of:

• Breath support and singing posture

• How to train the muscles involved in singing to allow for power and range

• The foundations of resonance, or how to make a lot of sound without pushing

I base my voice teaching on three main principles. First, singing is an athletic activity involving many muscles that require coordination and strengthening, and this activity must conform to the tenets of anatomy and acoustics. Second, learning to sing is mostly about learning to practice and guide one’s own development. Third, a solid voice technique is a prerequisite for refined artistic expression, but not an end in itself.

Perhaps the most valuable thing I have learned in my teaching so far is to always focus on telling the student what he or she is doing well, and reinforce those behaviors. Negative reinforcement has its place, but too many “don’t”s quickly leave the student wondering what to “do.” The rule of thumb to always give twice as many pieces of positive feedback as negative is a good one not just to create a supportive environment, but to give the student the guidance to fix what needs fixing without simultaneously changing what was good. I often find myself saying, “let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater.” As long as I know what sounds I’m seeking, and encourage students whenever they are getting closer to those sounds, they are becoming better singers with every lesson.