FAQ

FAQs from Hundreds of Parents

0:00 - Intro
3:31 - What Age Should Your Child Start Vocal Lessons?
3:53 - What are Voice Lessons like for Early Childhood? (Ages 3-7, Grades Nursery-2)
5:04 - What are Voice Lessons like for Elementary Schoolers? (Grades 3-5)
5:46 - What are Voice Lessons like for Middle Schoolers? (Grades 6-8)
7:03 - What are Voice Lessons like for High Schoolers? (Grades 9-12)
8:22 - What Lessons are better Group or Private?
8:44 - What are the benefits of Private Lessons?
9:39 - What are benefits of Group Lessons?
10:20 - How do I sign up my student?
12:14 - What are Lesson Packs?
13:26 - Need more information? Set up a discovery call.

Do you offer trial classes?

Yes! Finding the right teacher is key. Sign up for a trial lesson and we'll make sure it's a fantastic fit. If it's not, let's try again until it's a success!

How do you work with "shy" children?

In my experience, starting anything new can be scary...and exciting! We work hard to put any nerves at ease by:
- Establishing nurturing rules to create a safe environment where we are honest, fair, safe and respectful
- Providing a consistent, organized lesson structure and routines so everyone knows what to expect
- Fostering student relationships to become a supportive learning voice team
- Respecting each individual's path of growth in their own time
- Focusing on the joy and love of singing!

It never ceases to amaze and inspire me to see children progressively come out of their shell and step into a new self-confidence through singing...and to witness how encouraging their classmates are along the way!

What kind of music do you teach?

We teach it all! Most of our students are interested in contemporary commercial music and musical theater, with occasional folk, jazz, and classical music. We strive to connect students with songs they love and suit emotional and developmental needs.

Is my child getting enough attention with 4 or 6 students in a group?

Traditional voice classes have anywhere from 10 to 30 students in a class and they either rotate performance days when they receive individual attention (e.g. every other week or once a month), or all singing is done as an ensemble.We have limited enrollment in group classes to ensure that each student has time to practice as a soloist in each lesson, in addition to ensemble work. Yes, less time is spent on the individual than a private lesson, but in return each student receives more time on voice as a whole with repetition of key singing concepts in multiple contexts, as well as weekly practice performing in front of an audience, and ensemble work with peers who have a shared interest.

Keep in mind that students are generally working on short songs (about two minutes). Students usually perform one section they've been working on (about 30 seconds). We isolate at least one specific spot and apply technical adjustments (about 1-2 minutes), repeat that isolated section a few times, discuss changes we hear and feel (and perhaps everyone tries it), pinpoint what to practice, then move on. It's a lot of specific, concentrated work that happens within just a few minutes. With 6 students in a class, the goal is that each student receives about 5-7 minutes on their song, with the remaining time spent on warm-ups and musicianship.

What individual attention can I expect my child to receive in a group voice class?

- Personal feedback on posture as needed
- Tracking personal records on their breathing exercises
- "Siren" solos where students self-assess jaw, tongue, lip and cheek position with teacher guidance
- Introducing themselves to an audience with oral and written teacher feedback
- Working on solo repertoire with oral and written teacher feedback
- Individual expression of the beat and/or rhythm through movement
- Solo melodic and/or rhythm reading
- Practice providing feedback as critical thinkers and listeners of singing

What is your make-up policy?

Your courtesy is appreciated! Please text or e-mail if your child will be absent. Due to the nature of Group Voice class, there are no make-up lessons. In the rare event that the teacher must cancel a lesson, it will be rescheduled or you will be issued a credit.

Fact or fiction?: Children shouldn't formally train their voices until they're older.

Fiction - it's a myth! I myself was told as a little girl that I had to wait until I was 16 to take voice lessons, and so I did. Now I know better, and have dedicated myself to become the teacher I wish I could have had when I was little! Basically, there is no scientific evidence to show that training children's voices is harmful. In fact, it's much easier (and helps avoid unhealthy singing) to establish healthy habits from the start. Kids naturally sing, and the sooner they learn the basics, the more empowered and healthy they become. But don't take my word for it.

Click here to read the statement on Teaching Kids to Sing issued by the American Academy of Teachers of Singing in 2002.

FAQ

FAQs from Hundreds of Parents

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