Singing & Piano Lessons
Singing is good for you - it is fun and can help you relax!
Most people can sing, but whether you want to sing for fun or become a professional entertainer - it is important to learn how to protect your best asset and increase its potential.
I can show you how to sing, using tried and tested vocal techniques that will protect your voice and give you the freedom and confidence to sing whatever type of music you want - based on your voice type.
I am a professional opera singer and have been singing since 1998 (professionally since 2004), teaching since 2009, and have also been playing the piano since the age of 11. I teach from my studio in Torquay and am a visiting Singing & Piano Teacher at the Maynard School in Exeter.
I will take you (or your child) through relaxing, gentle physical warm-ups, breathing exercises, and vocal function exercises and increase your repertoire by teaching you new songs to sing based on your voice type, musical tastes, goals, developmental needs, and ability, including Classical Song (in English, and/or Italian, French, German & Russian), Disney, Musical Theatre, Crossover, Art Song, Sacred Song, Film Song, Ballads, Opera (in English and/or Italian, French and German) and Folk Song (in English and/or French, Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian).
I have a full Enhanced Disclosure DBS Certificate Number 001827120532 (Dated 18th April 2023), and have Registered Private Teacher Status with the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians)
I can also enter pupils for ABRSM (Associated Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music) and Trinity College London Exams (100% pass rate & 100% Merit or Distinction Results for Grades 6 to 8)). I accompany all my students on the piano in lessons and exams and also train my students how to use backing tracks.
It is really important for me that I make students (children and adults alike) feel comfortable and relaxed in their lessons by building their confidence and making lessons fun and educational.
I can also offer Teaching Mentoring for those thinking about teaching singing or who have maybe recently embarked on a teaching career in singing but are looking for more guidance.
As well as being a busy professional performer and running a busy teaching practice from my music studio in Torquay - I am a Peripatetic Singing & Piano Teacher at The Maynard Independent Girls School in Exeter and an Approved Associate Teacher with the Torbay Music Hub.
I am a member of The National Association of Singing Teachers in the USA and The Association Of Teachers Of Singing (AOTOS) in the UK, and attend their Annual Conferences and regular teaching workshops, as I like to ensure I am up to date with current teaching methods. I also attend regular Piano Teaching Workshops run by ABRSM Examiner Helen Deakin.
Prior to this, I taught at Razzamataz Theatre School in Plymouth for two years and Stagecoach Theatre School in Torquay for six months - before performance commitments took priority.
Several of my students have gone on to be accepted at The Royal Northern College Of Music, Trinity LABAN, The Royal Academy, Leeds College Of Music, Read Performing Arts College, The Hammond School, Royal Holloway, Liverpool University, Laine Performing Arts School, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Performers Performing Arts School, Bird Performing Arts School, and have won scholarships at Sylvia Young Theatre School, Italia Conti Stage School, and Leeds Cathedral, and gone on to perform in the entertainment industry, Operas, and the West End.
Qualifications
My qualifications are as follows:
- MA (Voice Pedagogy) 2024
- LTCL (Vocal Performance) 2019
- DipABRSM (Vocal Teaching) 2018
- ABRSM Grade 8 Theory 2017
- ABRSM Grade 8 Singing 2013
- ABRSM Grade 8 Piano 2013
- TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism (RQF) 2022
- TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (RQF) 2024
- Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health NCFE CACHE 2024
My continued professional development is very important to me, and I am fully invested in furthering my skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis. In June 2024, I attained an MA in Vocal Pedagogy with The Voice Study Centre and the University of Wales Trinity St David. Research interests within my MA included hydration, the impact of wind instrument playing on the voice, the relevance and implementation of voice science in the voice teaching studio, hormones and hormonal transitions and their influence on the cis female singing voice, music performance anxiety and my final thesis: Finding Practical Solutions for Music Performance Anxiety: Do Parasympathetic Tools Work for Singers?
Future research interests include Belting, Trauma-Informed Voice Teaching, The Singing Teacher Counsellor, Child Learning Development, SEND, and Child-Centred Teaching Methods.
Training Courses/Conferences Attended
A full list of training courses I have attended is detailed at the bottom of this page (and if you click on the text in bold).
COVID Secure
During COVID I went to extensive lengths to ensure my studio was safe for my students including an automatic hand sanitising station on entry and exit, plexiglass screens, an air sanitiser (with a 5-stage filtration process including a HEPA Activated Carbon Filter and UV-c light - which completely sterilises the air in my studio every 3 minutes), sterilising all touched surfaces after each student, hand sanitiser in the studio, only a maximum of 2 people from the same household allowed in my studio at any one time (excluding me), disposable paper towels in the dedicated studio bathroom and social distancing to be observed at all times where possible.
The Air Purifier is still used in my studio to clean the air. If the need arises, the additional protocols will be put in place again.
On-Line Teaching
I am a fully experienced teacher in offering on-line lessons and have been teaching online since 2017.
Fees
Private lesson fees (in my Torquay Studio) are £37 for 60 minutes, £27.75 for 45 minutes and £18.50 for 30 minutes.
Contact Information
Please get in touch with me for more information on 07522 925972 or email me at [email protected].
PIANO - As well as being a Singing Teacher, I also teach piano and follow the ABRSM Syllabus for exams.
Piano teaching rates are also the same as Singing rates.
For full terms and conditions please refer to link on the bottom of my website.
PLEASE NOTE: In July 2020, my husband bought me 2 adorable kittens for my birthday (Bob & Ginge). They are very friendly and very musical cats who, on occasion, like to attend music lessons. Please be aware of this if you or your child has any allergies (although I do have a very effective air purifier that cleans the air every 3 minutes, which has resulted in many students with severe cat allergies being able to continue to have singing lessons in my studio) or phobias. UPDATE: In May 2021, we welcomed a new furry addition to our household - a black/silver Maine Coon called Drax, who adores music. UPDATE: In July 2024, we welcomed another new addition to our feline crew - a Persian called Rosie, who is very vocal and takes after her cat guardian!
Training Courses/Conferences Attended
Evaluation of Voice Disorders with Kerrie Obert - September 2024
Self Care for Singers: How To Protect Your Best Asset with Dr Marisa Lee Naismith - September 2024
Music Reading for Children with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia with Dr Elizabeth Morrow - August 2024
Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Musical Behaviour - the Significance of Context and Implications for Pedagogy with Dr Eva Wilde - August 2024
Teaching the passagio and high range of tenor, baritone, and bass voices in western classical and commercial contemporary genres with John Nix - August 2024
NCFE Level 2 Qualification in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health - June to July 2024
TQUK Level 2 in Counselling - May to June 2024
Singing Through Change: Menopause & The Voice with Nancy Bos - October 2023
HM Government Prevent Awareness Course - September 2023
Safeguarding and KCSIE Training - September 2023
An Exploration of Belting with Amanda Flynn - August 2023
Neck, Jaw and Tongue: A Singer's Guide with Dr Julia Neilsen - August 2023
Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Course with Kenneth Bozeman, Ian Howell and Chadly Ballantyne (Embodied Music Lab) - July 2023
Case Reflections: Diagnosis & Treatment of 4 Professional Performers Attending a Specialist SLT led Performers Voice Clinic at a Tertiary level London Hospital with Torni Burnay - July 2023
Linear and Non-Linear Mechanisms of Human Sound Production with Dr Brad Story and Dr Ingo Titze - June 2023
Helping Your Child with Anxiety (Under 8's) with Dr Naomi Fisher - June 2023
Working with Demand Avoidant Children, The Art and Science of Low Demand Therapy with Dr Naomi Fisher - May 2023
Helping Your Child with Severe Anxiety with Dr Naomi Fisher - May 2023
The Transient Theory of Human Voice Production with Dr. Julian Chen - April 2023
High Notes Masterclass with Dr. Julia Nielsen - April 2023
Common Medical Diagnoses & Treatments in Voice Patients with Dr. Robert Sataloff - April 2023
Fascia 101 for Singers with Jeremy Mossman - December 2022
Voice Pedagogy Masterclass Series with David Jones - September to December 2022
The Tongue as a Gateway to Voice, Resonance, Style & Intelligibility with Angelika Nair - November 2022
Belting: The Pedagogy & Technique with Jeanie LoVetri - August 2022
Singing Voice Science Lectures x 8 with Richard Lissemore - June to August 2022
Voice Pedagogy Masterclass Series with David Jones - June to August 2022
Autism Awareness Level 2 Qualification - April to June 2022
Safeguarding and Child Protection: the essentials - 21st February 2022
Voice Pedagogy Masterclass Series with David Jones - January to April 2022
Registration - the Snake Pit of Voice Pedagogy (with the National Association of the Teachers of Singing USA) - December 2021
Honing Your Voice Pedagogy Skills (with Janice Chapman and James Platt) October 2021
Voice Pedagogy Series (with David Jones) - September to November 2021
The Myofunctional Singer (with Julia Radosz) - June, July & August 2021
Estill For Singing Teachers (The Voice Explained - with Anne Marie Speed) - June 2021
Belt & Mixed Voice (Estill Voice Training - with Anne Marie Speed) - May 2021
Tongue Symposium Workshop (with Julia Radosz) - May 2021
Acoustic Tips and Tricks for the Classical Treble Voice (Voice Workshop - with Kelley Kijleh) - April 2021
Brain, Movement, and Song (Voice Workshop - with Dr Michel Belyk, Ph.D) - April 2021
SOVT Singposium (Webinar organised by AOTOS with Oren Boder, Filipa Martins Baptista, and Ilter Denizoglu) - Association of the Teachers of Singing) - April 2021
Coaching and Mentoring (Voice Workshop - with Theresa Shaw) - April 2021
Acceptance Commitment Training (Voice Workshop - with Dr David Juncos) - April 2021
Vibrato - A Singers Guide (Webinar with Dr Julia Nielsen) - February 2021
Music Performance Anxiety (Voice Workshop - with Dr David Juncos) February 2021
The Use Of Singing Exercises After Vocal Fold Injury (Zoom session with Dr Jenevora Williams and Kittie Verdolini) - January 2021
Effective Learning and Dealing With Fear (Evolving Voice) - July 2020
Hormones And The Voice - March 2020
Safeguarding Young People Level 2 - January 2019
AOTOS (Association Of The Teachers Of Singing) Autumn Conference October 2018 - Preparing students for Classical and Musical Theatre Conservatoire/College Auditions
AOTOS Summer Conference July 2018 - Keynote speakers included Dr Ron Morris and Janice Chapman
Advanced Vocal Anatomy For Professionals (Vocal Process) October 2017
AOTOS Advanced Professional Development For Singing Teachers July 2016
Various Piano Teachers Seminars between 2013 and 2018 run by ABRSM International Examiner and Diploma Examiner Helen Deakin.