Singing with Merrill L.

I excel at mending breaks, achieving tonal accuracy from 'sloppy' or 'off-pitch' singers, strengthening the voice where it is weak and sweetening it where it is harsh, expanding range toward its physical possibilities, focusing the voice, bringing ease and confidence where there was strain and worry. In short, I teach students how to remove the obstacles that block us from joyfully expressing our hearts in song. Vocal studies include many years with vocal Masters - people who know how to free and enhance each individual voice at a rapid pace - and an M.A. in Voice. (See Musical Training below.) I have taken this training onto the stage and into my own teaching studio and used my experiences of what does and does not work - and what is most effective in the least amount of time - to benefit my students. *** Lesson Details *** Lessons are fun and full of specific information and vocal "ah ha's" to bring rapid improvement. Each lesson is recorded on CD for students to work with at home. We work on songs in the genre(s) of a student's choosing, and exercises specifically selected to build your voice. The exercises I use are culled from Speech Level Singing, Ann Thornton, Edward Sayegh (Garcia Marchesi method), and from my own inventions. The Speech Level Singing exercises are marvelous for helping easy production, chord coordination, and range. I am not a Speech Level Singing instructor, as I do not want to be limited to only this technique. Ann Thornton concepts deliver remarkable clarity, ease, and focus, as well as further refinement of chord coordination. Those exercises that I use from Edward Sayegh increase body engagement and the power of the sound. We work songs from mp3s and/or sheet music. I can transpose and change the speed of recordings to taylor generic karaoke CDs to a student's voice. I expect students to make solid - often very rapid - progress. And all students who practice meet this expectation. *** Specialties *** My specialties are starting voices and fundamentally fixing vocal difficulties. My passion is enabling the technical side of the voice the express what the spirit of the voice wants. Children, teens, adults, no matter what the age, I know how to start you off into or return you to - a world of song. Whatever your age or level, if your voice breaks or is uneven ... or you struggle with limited range... or you are straining... or if you have trouble with pitch accuracy ... or your voice sounds fuzzy or nasal or harsh - I specialize in guiding you to vocal ease. Music Training Anne Thornton, 2002- present-ocassionally (cabaret/pop/country/jazz) Dave Stroud, 2004 (lessons during visits for Speech Level Singing) Edward Sayegh, 1996-1999 (opera/musical theater) Masters in Voice, San Jose State University, 1996 (opera/art song) Ray Brown, 1980s (jazz piano and arrangement) Classical piano, 1970's and 1980's Music Experience Merrill currently performs one-woman cabarets consisting of various genres and has recently completed her third CD Vocal Concerts (solo cabaret, personalized floor shows, salon) Musical Theater (legitimate, straight, belt) Opera (lyric soprano and mezzo supporting roles and chorus) Club Jazz and Studio Work Voice Teacher Training and Experience Owner-Operated Vocal Studio in AZ, 2000-present Owner-Operated Vocal Studio in CA, 1993-1999 Participant of Week-long Seminar with VoiceCare Network (2000) Ongoing Music and Teacher Training Other Skills and Training Songwriting, script writing, theory, German fluency, Italian studies, transcription and arranging skills