Q & A

I work with professional singers, songwriters, composers, musicians, actors, dancers, speakers and artists who seek coaching for their career and with people who may or may not have any music background but who want to start singing and exploring the possibilities. 

I work best with people who like me laugh easily, realize the importance of investing in themselves, have gratitude and big hearts and sincerely seek self-expression and growth so that they can be as big on the outside as they know are inside.

Please know, I cherry-pick my clients and turn away people who I think aren’t suited for my programs and wouldn’t get the results they signed up for. That wouldn’t be fair to them. Total Singer Support is not for people looking for the cheapest NYC singing lessons they can find or for those who expect overnight stardom and have unrealistic fantasies and expectations.  I do not work with people are negative, complain, don’t do the work, make excuses, find fault constantly or are unable to communicate courteously or respectfully. If you are one of those people, I gently and respectfully ask that you not call and I hope you understand why. We’ll probably just not work well together. 

Total Singer Support programs are designed for adult women over the age of 18. Occasionally an exception is made for a young adult or child who is exceptionally motivated.

Come exactly as you are. You don’t need to want to audition for american idol or have really any clarity at all about what you want to ‘do’ with your singing. You are invited to begin and explore. 

Virtually all vocal problems are caused by the singer’s inability to effectively move through the bridges. Speech Level Singing is the only vocal technique that specifically and successfully teaches singers how to develop, strengthen and smooth out the bridges. An SLS coach is a person who has been extensively trained to help you identify and improve your ability to move through bridges and strengthen you whole voice. SLS lessons are different from traditional voice lessons in that you don't just sing through the song over and over or do exercises and scales that have no purpose as far as improving your voice. As an SLS coach, I have a verifiable reason for every exercise I give you and you will see results immediately in your voice-right from the first session. Unfortunately for many singers, most vocal coaches in NYC are not trained in teaching YOU how to sing. They are just singers themselves and try to help others. They do not have a proven technique or a method behind what they ask you to do. It's usually all hit or miss and students don't actually find themselves improving vocally even after spending thousands of dollars on lessons. If you're serious about improving your voice, SLS lessons are the way to go. Thousands of successful singers rely on it to keep them in top performance shape night after night and music legends (Phil Webb, Bernadette Peters, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, etc) rave about it. 

Great question! There's a sea of people teaching singing lessons in NYC-what DOES make me different?! 

Before I knew that Speech Level Singing technique existed, I was a conservatory trained pianist. From that I morphed into a published songwriter, bandleader, recording artist, free-lance musician, vocal accompanist, musical director and piano teacher with a passion for classical, jazz, rock, gospel, r&b, folk, country, broadway, salsa, Indian music and everything in between. One thing that makes me different from other NYC voice teachers is that I'm a musician, not just a singer.

On a non-musical note, I hold two certifications to teach Yoga, Meditation and Stress Management and have taught workshops and classes in NYC and internationally since 1997. And, I’ve been the official Yoga Instructor at the Juilliard School since 2006. For several years, I balanced my music career with a private practice in Holistic Health and Wellness Additionally, I have extensive training and experience in facilitating and participating in Creative Movement, Acting, Dance, Workshop Facilitation, Women’s Empowerment, Artist Development, Creative Recovery and Personal/Spiritual Growth. My perspective is open and wide and my skills are not limited to music. My ability to draw on ALL of what I know to help clients is one of the things that makes me different from other NYC voice teachers who may have a more narrow focus or well of wisdom.

Total Singer Support’s approach is about helping you be MORE YOU, not less you. In my experience, it’s vocal training that gives you the foundation from which you can express more freely and confidently more of who you really are. If you are stressing and stumbling over notes you stay frustrated, constricted and limited. Technique is what allows you take risks, play, have fun, experiment, and be more exciting, spontaneous and real on stage. Don't worry, you want sound like an opera singer unless you that is what you want! SLS lessons teach you HOW to use your voice to sing anything you want. They don't tell you what to sing or what you 'should' sound like. 

The term “tone deaf” gets thrown around a lot. The implication is that it’s a permanent and hopeless situation, but I’m not so sure. In my experience, most people can match pitch within a certain range (usually around their speaking tone). Some people have a hard time reproducing sounds or matching pitch, but this comes from a lack of coordination in the vocal structure and can be improved. Sometimes it’s just a lack of experience and familiarity. All it takes is patience, time, practice and a positive attitude-and of course, a supportive and skilled teacher. I have taught several students who thought they couldn't sing at all and managed to improve so much that they perform now! Plus-they did online singing lessons with me, not even in person!

Singing opens the heart like practically nothing else so naturally getting emotional, tearing up or even crying is common in lessons and happens more than you might imagine. There is nothing wrong with it. In fact, I wonder why it doesn’t happen more. Whether you’re the type to get emotional or not, Total Singer Support is a safe space for you. I remember going to quite a fancy, schmancy New York vocal coach years ago who made me feel so bad about myself that I had to hold back tears in the lesson. Of course, since I was holding back tears I couldn't sing! It was traumatic. Made me think I should just quit. On a positive note-it further inspired me to create Total Singer Support as a safe space for people where they would be loved up and supported and encouraged. So that's the rainbow....

Sure! And don't be intimidated. As long you are ready to invest in yourself, commit and take concrete action toward fulfilling your singing dreams, then I can help you. You don't need any prior singing experience to get started. And you be anywhere in the world and learn to sing online with Skype singing lessons. 

Here are some of the struggles some singers faced before turning to Total Singer Support. Check this list below and see if you can find yourself in the descriptions. If you do, you just might find the support you need here.

    -My past singing experiences were critical and made me feel like I can’t sing

    -I struggle with hitting notes and I sound wobbly and airy

    -I feel tension, strain, stress and fatigue when I sing

    -I can’t sing high/I can’t sing low/the middle of my voice is weak

    -I’m singing rock night after night in loud clubs and straining my voice

    -There are cracks in my voice that I don’t know how to fix

    -I struggle with pitch

    -I want to stop feeling so self-conscious, embarrassed and scared about singing

    -I sing professionally but am too caught up in sounding perfect. I’m not having any fun anymore and I’m not even sure why I do it. I want to

     reconnect with the joy of singing just for me

    -I’ve never sung in front of people but have always wanted to

    -I’m a songwriter and I need to sing better to pull off my songs

    -I’m recording my songs and my vocals aren’t coming out good

    -I’m too constrained-I want to be more spontaneous, take risks and improvise

    -I’m an actor/dancer. I got a singing role and I don’t know what I’m doing…

    -I am classically trained. I want to sing pop but my sound too ‘legit’   

    -I have trouble memorizing lyrics-even when they are mine!

    -I want to sing for my own joy, healing and growth, that’s it

    -I’m an professional instrumentalist with a secret desire to sing

    -I feel disconnected when I sing-like I’m not really sharing from my heart

    -I’m recording for the first time and I don’t want to waste time & money

    -I’m a teacher and by Friday I’m so hoarse I can’t talk let alone sing.

    -I never seem to find the right key to sing in. I don’t know how to change keys

    -I was made fun of for my singing as a child and I want to reclaim my voice

    -I can’t get it together to practice. I procrastinate, avoid, and forget

    -My childhood dream was to be a singer. I’m ready to try taking my dreams seriously and learn how to sing in a healthy, balanced way

    -I want to delve into who I really am as an artist and express myself freely with confidence and joy no matter where I am or who is around.