 The Colours We Sing Workshops began as an experiment with these great guys and gals! |
ABOUT MY TEACHING
If I was given a pound for every person that has told me that they would love to be able to sing when they find out that I am a teacher, I would be rich now! I tell them all this; all it takes is desire, and a bit of practice, and everyone can learn to sing better.
My approach to singing is ‘holistic’. Some people need more technical assistance whilst others may benefit more from psychological boosting. Some people respond to imagery whilst some respond better to cold, hard fact. Sometimes health or bad posture is a major limit to the voice, and so I teach about that too. Teaching singing is a wonderful opportunity to work with so many different and unique people, and when I hear a person’s voice developing I find it such a rewarding and pleasurable experience.
I have been teaching and coaching for many years - privately and in Music Schools and Colleges in Australia and England. I am also a qualified music Teacher (Dip T (Mus) Primary) and have a Masters Degree in vocal performance. I am Head of Vocals for The Academy of Music and Sound and I currently teach a variety of vocal subjects, the main one being vocal-techniques, at Vocal-Tech in London, on the Diploma and Degree Courses.
I occasionally run workshops called ‘The Colours We Sing’, using colour and its relationship to the body, mind and feelings to help people to find new ways to access the strengths in their voices. These turn out to be uplifting and often soul enriching/life changing events with universal spiritual overtones. Something I plan to do more of in the future. I have written a dissertation on the subject and plan to publish a book in the future on this concept.
Some of the methods I have studied/continue to study that influence the way I teach are: The Alexander Technique, The Estill Method, Classical, Jazz, Action Theater, Toning, Voice Movement Therapy, The Stanislavsky technique and Indian Raga, Speech Level Singing, Action Theater, Overtone singing.
My personal background is in popular music, although I teach people in all styles except Opera. I play keyboards and write songs, which I have won several awards for and also secured a record deal with Polydor Records Australia fr a time. I have worked in bands, duos, as a solo artist, as a studio session musician for television and radio commercials, performed live on television and at all kinds of venues from the corner pub to large Entertainment Venues.
Some people think I am overqualified to teach beginners, but the truth is I enjoy teaching people of all levels, from professional pop artistes, to people auditioning for musicals, to the person off the street just wanting to explore their voice. It is all the same to me. The pleasure is in hearing the voice improve, no matter what it sounds like in the beginning. Yes, of course some people are born with super talent, and others sound pretty bad by comparison. Some students amaze me. They walk in, (never had a lesson before in their lives) and out of the blue comes this beautiful sound, untrained. It definitely makes me think that we have lived before and that these students have been studying singing for a few lifetimes!
Not many of us are born with such traditionally ‘beautiful’ singing voices, but the joy is, that if you want to, and if you practice, you can develop your voice. Very rare are the hopeless cases, at least by my way of seeing it. Every voice is a unique expression of a person, and that in itself is beautiful. You can learn how to remove tension, increase range, improve the tone, relax and correct your breathing and sing with more power. All these things can be learned and practised, just like I learned them.
I guess that’s why I am confident that I am a good teacher. I didn’t have a natural voice. I had to learn to make it sound good, and that is why I find myself being able to help others on their way.
QUALIFICATIONS & APPOINTMENTS
Music Masters Degree with Distinction (Vocal performance) UK, Music Teacher's Degree, Highly Commended, AUST. Head of Vocals and vocal course writer for the Academy of Music and Sound, (UK National) Vocal teacher and vocal course writer for Vocal-Tech (Tech Music Schools), Acton, London.
If you would like to enquire about singing lessons, or would like some advice about your singing, you can contact me via the Contact Me page.