We are born breathing deep belly breaths. We don’t care how we sound or how we are perceived. Then life happens. We grow up. We are socialized. We have voices in our heads that control our breathing and vocal cords and mutate the function of our instrument from its pure origin of function. We manipulate our speaking voice in order to fit in. We start lifting our shoulders and moving our jaw and tongues in ways that inhibit the natural voice. We take away our power, or we make our voice too powerful in order to protect ourselves. Sometimes we start speaking in a high voice in order to seem more docile. We judge our voice. We limit our range by the inner negative voice that says “I just can’t reach that note”, “I can’t do that”. Anything your brain thinks will affect your vocal production. Most of the muscles involved in producing sound are involuntary ones that are controlled by thought.

I studied classical voice as a teenager and went on to attain a BA from the New England Conservatory in vocal performance. In my Junior year of college I hemorrhaged my vocal cord. I couldn’t sing for months. I had to re-learn how to sing. Then I finally found a teacher who broke down vocal function to a physical level. I realized I was a vocal athlete. I had to train just as a tennis player would. I needed to think of my vocal production as my instrument. THEN I was free. I no longer labeled myself to be any class of singer. It wasn’t about the style of singing jazz, classical, pop, rock or soul. I just sang. I found the freedom to sing the songs I wrote without judgement of range. I finally understood that my ability to sing was dependent on my commitment to my INSTRUMENT and my self love (worth).

I am passionate about passing on my knowledge of vocal production, songwriting and performance coaching

To me teaching is a spiritual experience just as singing is.