Click on the gold button that says "Book Intro", and you will be able to select a time that works for you to book an intro.

I currently use MyMusicStaff to manage my business accounting, billing, etc. Your information will be entered into my music studio and you will automatically be added to the waitlist for group classes, music theory, etc. I will get in touch with you, and we will chat on the phone to see if our goals align. If we're a good fit, we'll schedule a trial month in which there is a lesson slot available.

No. Spots are dependent on available times, your schedule, and whether or not we click.

There are no musical or technical knowledge prerequisites to study with me at the moment.

The length of each lesson depends on which package you opt in for. Lessons range in time between 30 and 60 minutes.

MUST HAVES: 1) Your healthy self 2) Your music (on a tablet with a pen you can mark, or a black-and-white paper copy) 3) Your binder, with a copy of your music for me 4) A pencil 5) A water bottle OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: 1) A recording device (or a smartphone of any kind)

I have some European sensitivities, so please come to your lesson in actual day clothes. No pajamas or swimsuits. If you are preparing for an audition, I recommend you bring your outfit to at least one preceding lesson---especially the shoes you plan on wearing. If you always sing in flat shoes or barefoot, and then suddenly wear heels, it can throw you off.

If you are advanced, sure, go right ahead. If you are coming for a vocal coaching, sure, saves time. That said even with my advanced students I like to do at least some vocal exercises to see how they are handling breathing, register switches, etc.

Yes. Please limit visitors to one person at a lesson. Each individual guest is allowed up to 2 visits. Please keep in mind that nerves increase when other people are present. This positive stress can be beneficial to your practice. Your use of visitors is, however, up to your best judgement.

The general rule is no, although if you're very concerned, we can discuss. I definitely like meeting the parents and creating a good relationship with parents of minors. That said, in my experience all students want to please their parents, and it leads to a tension in the muscles that is unnecessary and hinders proper vocal technique.

You may attend the first few lessons if your child is very, very young. That said, I really recommend you don't. Subconsciously, every student wants to please their parent. These thoughts and motives can very much get in the way of proper singing, especially when experimenting with sounds. We need the freedom to make hideous, loud, ugly sounds, so we can master the fine motor skills of singing. No sane parent would ever criticize a toddler's scribbles and say, "That's hideous, is that supposed to be a flower?" Parents instinctively praise the effort of their child and the gift offered. Experience teaches us that enough scribbling can lead to mastery or, at least, to recognizability. Parents understandably don't apply the same wisdom to kids experimenting with their voices, because while a hideous drawing may only offend the parent's eyes, loud sounds can offend everyone in earshot. Testing their voice in an acoustically rich environment like a stone church is not socially acceptable, and a toddler screeching to "Let It Go" at the top of their lungs for hours on end is amusing for only so long. Therefore, kids get shushed to preserve everyone else's sanity. Therefore, let me build a relationship with your child. Let me help them experiment with their voices, so you don't have to hear the raw, uncut, less socially acceptable prep work. A music teacher is another trusted adult in your student's life. It takes a village to raise one. To this day I still visit my piano teacher, who was like a second mother to me during high school.

I do. I assign homework as soon as I'm confident they are not going to hurt themselves by practicing the vocal exercises at home. When playing any other instrument, you might get the posture or fingering wrong, but it will never lead to injury. However, singing wrong creates a muscle memory that can, in fact, lead to vocal injury. I first make sure that the student understands how to sing properly under my supervision, until I'm confident that I won't have to undo all the practicing they did at home in their next lesson. All students are encouraged to practice the exercises on their apps for at least 5 consecutive days a week, listen to and memorize their songs, and work on character development for their pieces.

First let me explain what my song choice is not: It's not an attempt to push any kind of doctrine, political, or philosophical ideology. This is the way I choose songs for student, in relevant order: First I consider the genre they are trying to master. Then I choose from among the emotionally age appropriate songs, as well as for their vocal development, and then try to go one step beyond to slightly stretch their ability, so that by learning the song, they will acquire a new skill. This skill can either be something technical (extending range, interval jumps, phrasing, breathing), or musician ship (advanced rhythms, tricky harmonies), or acting (portraying a new character). I go with the student's input. It is so much easier to practice when the student WANTS to sing the song. One still needs to develop the discipline to learn songs even when they are not first choice, but that too is a skill I try to cultivate in students. Now, can we change the song? Sure. I also tend to change lyrics when there is unnecessary cussing, a personal pet-peeve of mine. That said, changing the song solely because one disagrees with that character's choices is not going to add to a well-rounded singer. My voice teacher in college is the sweetest, most kind person there is. He wouldn't hurt a fly. He absolutely LOVED playing the villain roles as a performer, he told me. It was such fun to pretend to be the complete opposite. I have a sweet mom who is taking voice lessons. She is the most demure, quiet, and anxious person I know. Her range is perfect for "Evil, like me" from descendants. I presented her the song choice, and she blossoms into confidence and courage when she sings it. Getting to explore another character through song encourages students to develop empathy for others. So my advice is...trust your teacher...and your student. If you really have objections, we can always chat.

No refunds are offered if you cancel within 24 hrs unless it is a medical emergency requiring you to go to the ER. You can however reschedule your lesson with 24 hrs notice. Reschedules are offered as a make up credit. They have to be used within 3 weeks of your original lesson or you will forfeit the lesson. It is your responsibility to reschedule and is based on availability. That said, please be aware of the nature of sore throats, colds, and flus. They take at least 7 days to recover in a typical case. So don't reschedule for a day or two later. You won't be well enough. Please use this checklist, to see if you should come. I have a sore throat. Look at the back of your throat in the mirror. If it's red: Reschedule. Avoid Talking. Gargle with salt water. If there are white spots: Reschedule. See a doctor. You might have strep. If it's just dry: you might have a cold or allergies. We might be able to do an online lesson. Do some warm ups. If it hurts. Reschedule. I have a cough. If it is a dry cough: Come. However: drink fluids, rinse your nasal passages, use a moisture inhaler, steam shower. If it is a productive cough: Reschedule. Coughing puts a lot of strain on your vocal cords. They are likely swollen. Drink warm fluids like broth or tea (not coffee or dairy). I have a cold. Reschedule. I have the flu. Reschedule. I have severe seasonal allergies. Reschedule. Stomach Flu. Reschedule. I feel kind of off, but don't have any specific symptoms. Maybe request an online lesson, or come in. I have period cramps. Come anyway. It will make you feel better. I'm feeling really depressed/down/angry/frustrated. Come. There is literally no better activity to lift your moods. I will design the vocal exercises to give voice to your emotions. Usually within 5 minutes I have students laughing and feeling better. I have a terrible Migraine. Reschedule. Stay home. Cool compress on eyes and darkness. Singing will only add to that head pressure.

Please take the time to read my studio policy here.

Offering no refunds within a certain time frame is actually completely normal for service businesses. For example: We pay for my sons' boxing, football, and my daughters' dance practice, choir trips etc. If they can't go, no reschedule or refund happens. Same with college education. Doctor, therapist, and massage appointments will also charge you for no shows, because someone else could have taken that spot.

Vocal technique is not the only sing we can work on. Acting, character analysis, role study, singer analysis, music theory, sight reading, ear training...we can find something to work on that doesn't require singing.

NEW STUDENTS Introductory lessons and Discovery calls you pay directly on the website when you book. SINGLE LESSONS & PROFESSIONAL COACHINGS You pay directly with credit card on the website when you book. You can also text me to schedule, and then use Zelle. RECURRING STUDENTS By enrolling for the semester, you receive a lesson spot at a reduced rate and are billed in advance hourly for the time you reserved. You receive an invoice on the 1st of the month that you can pay with either credit card (+convenience fee), Zelle transfer, or we can set up an automatic bank withdrawal.

All sound starts by closing the vocal chords. The sound is then amplified in the resonant cavities of the head. How a singer shapes those cavities, and to what extent the chords close, differs with each singing style. Generally speaking, music theater---when performed on stage---requires a microphone. Opera does not.

Karaoke tracks are AWESOME. In fact I like all my students to download Appcompanist. What a blessing to have youtube and all the services providing backing tracks. Back in my day I couldn't perform anything unless I paid an accompanist or an orchestra, so this is so much fun. That said, I teach how to sing, and that includes learning to read the music in all it's details, come up with your interpretation, not just parrot someone else's version of that song.

Great question. Why do I insist that you (the student/parent) buy your own sheet music? It's actually a legal question. The law provides composers important rights about their sheet music and intellectual property. They composed the piece, wrote the lyrics, or arranged it. It is their intellectual property, and they should be compensated fairly for it. So while it is certainly easy to make copies of music I already own, I will not do so, to respect my fellow artists and the law. I'm treating them the way I would want to be treated, if I ever get around to composing. Just because it is easy, doesn't make it right.

1. INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES Paper or an ipad with marking tool allows me/you to draw in musical, technical, and character markings. You can't follow the quick pace of a piece on a tiny screen. 2. VOCAL TECHNIQUE Without going into too much detail, the way you focus your eyes while singing influences the tension of the larynx. Focusing on a small object and script is counterproductive to freedom of sound.

First let me explain what my song choice is not: It's not an attempt to push any kind of doctrine, political, or philosophical ideology. This is the way I choose songs for student, in relevant order: First I consider the genre they are trying to master. Then I choose from among the emotionally age appropriate songs, as well as for their vocal development, and then try to go one step beyond to slightly stretch their ability, so that by learning the song, they will acquire a new skill. This skill can either be something technical (extending range, interval jumps, phrasing, breathing), or musician ship (advanced rhythms, tricky harmonies), or acting (portraying a new character). I go with the student's input. It is so much easier to practice when the student WANTS to sing the song. One still needs to develop the discipline to learn songs even when they are not first choice, but that too is a skill I try to cultivate in students. Now, can we change the song? Sure. I also tend to change lyrics when there is unnecessary cussing, a personal pet-peeve of mine. That said, changing the song solely because one disagrees with that character's choices is not going to add to a well-rounded singer. My voice teacher in college is the sweetest, most kind person there is. He wouldn't hurt a fly. He absolutely LOVED playing the villain roles as a performer, he told me. It was such fun to pretend to be the complete opposite. I have a sweet mom who is taking voice lessons. She is the most demure, quiet, and anxious person I know. Her range is perfect for "Evil, like me" from descendants. I presented her the song choice, and she blossoms into confidence and courage when she sings it. Getting to explore another character through song encourages students to develop empathy for others. So my advice is...trust your teacher...and your student. If you really have objections, we can always chat.

I know some piano studios personally who prefer a certain pedagogical approach to teaching their students piano (aka a certain piano curriculum). They purchase the books the students need in bulk, and then allow for it in the price. They do this mainly to make it easier for parents, but also easier for themselves, because parents have a million things to do in raising children and getting them to and from places, so remembering to buy the music often doesn't make it onto the priority list. That said, this approach doesn't really work for a vocal studio that caters to different levels of singing and various styles.