Frequently asked questions

How often should I practice or vocalize?

My feeling about that is if you're new to singing, in other words, if you haven't already strengthened your voice, then vocalize every other day at first. Gradually begin to build your voice. You must remember that the vocal chords are muscles and we want to extend and strengthen them but not overextend and overuse the voice. If you're a seasoned singer, then doing a 20 minute vocalization warm up every day is what I recommend. This allows the voice to stay in shape.

Should young kids start vocal lessons or will it damage their voice?

It's okay to start singing at a young age. I have two daughters and I gave both of them many lessons beginning at about five years of age. Not only does it strengthen the voice but it strengthens the ear and the sooner you get the ear going, the better your pitch is, and the better your understanding of how your voice works. The ear has to hear the pitch before the voice can reproduce the sound. I don't believe children should be forced to sing however, but should rather be encouraged and allowed to. There's a big difference!

I'm not really a "singer" - would singing lessons still benefit me?

You don't need to be a professional singer to benefit from good vocal training. Even if you just sing at home with friends and family, the confidence you can gain from using your voice well, can give a great sense of personal satisfaction. If you're an actor or a voice over person, then singing lessons will definitely help you. Lessons will strengthen your voice and whatever you use your voice for, you'll be stronger and have more control and resonance.

I sing in a choir, should I get vocal instruction?

It really depends on what level you'd like to take your singing to. Singing in a choir is all about blending voices. What I do is, I work with students to help them find their uniqueness. What's the characteristic about their voice that makes them special? Singing solo is not about blending, but is about finding your own voice so to speak, your own style. I help people find their solo voices, not necessarily choir voices.

I don't want to sound like an opera singer! Will vocal lessons make me sound like one?

That depends on who you study with! As instructors, we teach what we know. I have studied classically but I grew up in a gospel church, I sang in a country and western band so I understand about stylization. It all depends on how you're taught as to what you're going to sound like. I work with singers to bring their voice forward and in front just like when you talk. We don't want a "covered" operatic sound so I don't work in that way or move in that direction at all with my teaching. My Complete Vocalist Method was designed to develop and enhance your individual style and sound! If you did want to sing opera, I can help you with that, but I don't churn out singers that all sound the same!

Can you help our whole band - lead singer and background vocalists too?

Yes, I work with a lot of bands. Working with the lead singer is all about getting their voice in the right place - out front, strengthened, with lots of power! As far as background singers, I work with harmony and ear training. Actually, I have many exercises in my training that are harmony related and really assist all the singers in the band to learn to hear and create beautiful harmonies on their own. I work with several bands so that they are able to, in a live setting, sing those harmony parts pitch perfect!

I went to another vocal coach and it didn't seem to help me. I still can't sing like I want to. What makes you different?

My Complete Vocalist Method approaches singing from the speaking level. What that means is that when you sing a song, your voice will sound the same as when you speak. With my technique, no matter how high or low the pitch goes, you still keep your words at the speaking level so that you sound natural and engaging. People will want to listen to you sing because it sounds like you're just talking to them!

I've been singing for years but my voice is not like it used to. Is there any way to repair damage without surgery from years of live gigs?

That's a good question. A lot of it depends on how you sang for all those years. If you were singing improperly then you can do damage to your voice, you can get nodules, and nodules once they calcify, don't go away, they have to be removed by surgery. Every situation and every singer is different. Generally speaking I've worked with singers overs the years who have really pushed their voices and they come in and we start to get them in the right place vocally. It's all about the placement of the voice and balance. All art is balance and singing is one of the art forms, so it's about finding your true balance and singing with maximum efficiency and the least amount of effort. The key is to find this balance and efficiency before you end up with a vocal problem that can only be corrected with surgery!