My Vision for Teaching

Faith Statement: The following is an honest depiction of my vision as a Christian for singing. However, if you are not a Christian, no problem at all, feel free to skim below. I will work with you based on where you're at, and teach you with total respect to your beliefs and on a strictly scientific, professional level. Many facts below are obvious to anyone regardless of their personal beliefs.

It is my firm conviction that the amazing instrument inside your throat is capable of far beyond what you have dreamed of yet. There really are no limits to what the human voice was created to do! The vast arena of different singing styles across cultures and decades alone can support this theory! Thus, it is my belief that everyone who loves to sing should pursue the finest singing voice they can develop, within a range of multiple styles, because the instrument itself is worthy of being shown forth in all its multi-faceted beauty, glory and power.

That doesn't even begin on the worthiness of the Creator of the voice, for Whose glory it was created....what kind of song and sound is HE worthy of, my friend? Just...”well, I can sing, maybe make a joyful noise, but you know...it's not real great, sometimes even the shower closes it's ears!”? Mary Magdalene could have washed Jesus' feet with just water and oil, but no; she broke her alabaster box and poured out the finest of perfumes on Him, likely her life savings in a bottle...because He was worthy!

The power of the voice as the main means of human communication, and the primary expression of the soul and spirit...is unprecedented! The Almighty Creator spoke with His Voice “like mighty rushing waters,” giving the commands that framed and brought the worlds into being. In all the Word of God, you'll see the people of God had an understanding of the power of their voices lifted in praise, thanksgiving, worship and powerful declaration! In many battles in Scripture, the singers were primary, lifting their voices in praise, or in mighty battle cries of victory...declaring with their VOICES the victory God would give them! The sound of their singing was so glorious and powerful, it created sheer terror in their enemies, causing them to flee before them. One whole tribe of the 12 tribes of Israel, the first nation God covenanted with, was set apart to focus entirely on ministering to the Lord in the temple, a large part of their duties being that of music, singing and worship! Revelation describes Heaven as being full of the sound of singing, of praise and adoration to The Father that just never ends! (Can you imagine?!!)

The Word says...”the power of Life (and death) is in the voice!” There's a power in a beautiful singing voice that can literally bring healing to both soul and body. If you play Pavarotti singing some of his glorious tenor arias, you will often find even babies crying in silent reverence, hearing it for the first time. It reaches a place in the soul that knows it was created for Glory, for Heaven, for The Indescribable Lover of All, and awakens something there! Even if you're singing a love song, or a jazz or folk song, just the hormonal fluctuations alone that happen in the listener's brain, are amazing enough to study!

It is therefore my goal as a teacher, to inspire my students with a new understanding of the amazing incredible worth of their own voice, and the wide open horizons of potential that lie before them as they begin to sing. And then to proceed, in methodology tailored to each unique student, to give them all the tools they need to mold, form, undergird and transform that voice into their dream or calling for it.

I believe the voice should be like a brand new bungee cord, strong, powerful, supple, seamless, and well supported from top to bottom of the range (which should be extensive). Though all of us may come into singing with the same weaknesses (i.e., breaks, cracks, vocal fatigue, small ranges, tightness when singing high, no middle voice, too much air, running out of breath, etc), this does not mean we are destined for these weaknesses, nor that we should accept them as “normal” or “cope” with them. No one is born knowing how to read, they must be taught, and in whatever way needed for them to learn well!

I have accumulated the insights and methodology of many wonderful vocal coaches and artists over the years (though my primary one is still Cornelius Reid), but my pledge to my students is to always address their particular vocal weaknesses individually, applying one tool after another, or researching and studying for new ones if those I have are not working, until that voice has reached its full strength!*

I believe God is raising up many wonderful and powerful singers in this day! I am thrilled and excited to partner with Him in this!

*Note: I do refuse to teach styles that are destructive to the voice, i.e. screaming, rasping, whining styles or those primarily in the vocal fry.