Music

Singing

JoAnn R.

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Teaches online

Teaches all skill levels

Age: 9-80

Speaks English - spoken, French, Italian, German, Spanish - sung

Teaching since 2008

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

Perfect your singing ability with lessons from a veteran instructor

In today’s world singers need to know how to perform many styles of music. Many opera singers also sing Broadway and jazz, and all Broadway singers need to sing traditional, jazz, swing, pop, and maybe rock and folk styles. To do this, you need strong physical skills to sing belt, mixed and legit voice. You need strong high, middle and low notes and the ability to sing loud and soft and to modulate from bright to mellow. You need to know your instrument inside and out - how it functions and how to make it work safely, reliably and with good results. I am unique because of my combined musical and medical backgrounds. In addition to my graduate and undergraduate musical training and extensive musical experience, I was a surgeon and taught anatomy and physiology. Part of my medical training included studying the mechanics of how the body works and its application. In addition to the traditional methods such as imagery and mimicry that all singing teachers use, I will help you understand your body - precisely how to produce and resonate your tone, and how your breathing really works in conjunction with tone production and resonance, not in an isolated way as is commonly taught. Also, I will work with you on all the musicianship skills you need: Singing with correct rhythmic style and phrasing, on pitch and with the existing harmony; reading music; and a knowledge of the history of musical styles and how they developed. And, we will work on performance skills to convey the meaning and beauty of a song to your audience. As a professional musician I bring you my extensive experience singing Broadway, opera, jazz, and choral music, and playing various instruments in dance bands, chamber groups, and orchestras. I am well prepared to teach you the skills you need to meet your goals. I keep my knowledge and skills up to date by studying the latest journals and books, attending workshops and master classes, listening to recordings, attending live performances, participating in music associations and taking private lessons. I search out and use the latest computer-based and internet resources to help you learn faster and support your home practice. Many of my students have previously studied with other teachers and they have volunteered that what they learn in my studio far exceeds what they learned elsewhere - that they are thrilled. So I encourage you to sign up for lessons and see for yourself. To help you make faster progress, I offer 45 or 60 minute lessons at substantially reduced rates that are more affordable for you.

Instructor details

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About JoAnn R.

4.9

(51)

Your lessons are designed to help you develop the skills and confidence you need to successfully perform in public. I work hard to prepare your lessons and I ask my students to invest daily time working on skills studied at their lessons. Performing music requires the patient integration of multiple skills over time, however, the rewards are BIG. During your lessons you will receive instruction in skills needed to sing or play the cello as well as musical skills including rhythm, melody, harmony and style. Because there is a lot to learn, I encourage you to consider 45 or 60 minute lessons, which I offer at substantially reduced rates to make them more affordable for you. I continually update my teaching methods by attending workshops and master classes and I incorporate my knowledge of human anatomy and function, to help you perform with minimal strain. Also, I incorporate internet resources in your lessons to keep them interesting and up to date. What will your lessons be like? At your first lesson we will explore and name the parts of your instrument (voice or cello). We'll talk about what you would like to learn, set attainable goals and select songs that you will be successful learning. In subsequent lessons you will warm up with scales and exercises, using common intervals with basic rhythms to improve your technical abilities and gain musical skills and knowledge, such as hearing pitches and intervals and keeping with the beat. This will also help you learn to read music. Singers will learn to use breathing to coordinate with your vocal folds to make a beautiful tone and sing on pitch, relax your throat and tongue to create resonant chambers, shape your mouth and tongue to color the tone, and use your tongue and lips to form the words. Cellists will learn to transfer your body weight into your cello to produce a mellow tone, placing your hands and arms on the cello and bow in a relaxed and balanced manner to allow you to play smoothly and in tune and to prepare you to produce a lovely vibrato. Since cellos don't have frets, you will also learn to locate each note on the cello but just a few notes at a time - until you know them all. You will learn to use your technical skills and knowledge to create musical phrases that sound beautiful and authentic and are fun to perform and listen to. You will need to practice simple skills and phrases repeatedly until they become habit. I will lend you my kind and patient support to help you through the bumps in the road. Not sure how to practice at home? To support your practice at home you will: Receive a recording of each of your lessons to practice with; Learn simple exercises you can do at home; Learn to create and use simple backup tracks of your songs to learn to hear rhythm and harmony; Learn how to use your computer at home to get feedback for pitch, and tone quality. Nervous about performing? When you are comfortable I will provide opportunities to perform in student programs performing for friends and families. You will have opportunities to participate and perform in workshops which include performance opportunities, lectures, demonstrations and Master Classes with nationally recognized teachers and performers.

ReviewsWrite a review

94%

4.9

51 Reviews

jessika

Teacher's studio

JoAnn was very knowledgeable, friendly, and great at teaching! The only challenge is making time to practice :D

Posted Mar 21, 2023

Anthony

Teacher's studio

JoAnn has been patient teacher for my 12 yo son w/ 2yr middle school experience. He is really enjoying her lessons and interaction and is improving in techniques and comprehension. Looking forward to further progression under her instruction. She has inspired him to audition for city youth orchestra. So all good here.

Posted May 26, 2022

Keston

Teacher's studio

Really patient and knowledgeable.

Posted Mar 27, 2021

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Experience

Singer-Performer

Nov, 2015 - Present

Self

I regularly sing classical, musical theater and jazz standards for the Dixon and Pioneer regional music series, and at Jim Jordan's piano bar.

Cellist/Musician

Jul, 2014 - Present

Cellist with Beethoven and Friends Chamber Music Ensemble

I regularly perform chamber music as part of the Dixon and Pioneer regional chamber music series, including sonatas, trios and quartets and folk music arrangements, by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Saint Saens, and Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams and others.

Solist and Choir member

Feb, 2014 - Jul, 2015

Capella Antiqua

Member of, and soloist with, Capella Antiqua, a sixteen member elite choir which performed a range of choral music, including annual performances of Handel's Messiah with orchestra until the ill-health of its director caused it to disband.

Singing Teacher and Coach

Mar, 2013 - Oct, 2013

Miss Cynthia's Dance Studio

Taught singing and prepared students for roles in Annie and Wizard of Oz - ages 7-18

Choir - Professional Section Leader/Soloist

Sep, 2011 - Feb, 2014

Wilshire United Methodist Church, Glendale 7th Day Adventist Church, First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, Monterey Park Lutheran Church, and St Marks Methodist Church in Sacramento

Soloist and section leader Participated in weekly choir rehearsal with Sunday service, bi-monthly solo/duets, bi-yearly performances of choral works with professional orchestra - section leader and soloist, including works by Bach, Brahms, Saint-Saens, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Handel, Faure, Mozart Soloist at Bellflower, La Canada and San Mateo Christian Science Churches. Sang a contemplative solo at weekly services, led congregational hymns

Choir member

Sep, 2003 - May, 2013

University Choir

Sang a variety of choral music with the 50 member University Choir under the direction of Don Kendrick at CSUS. Included performing occasional solos. Professional choir section leader and soloist multiple churches. High school and college choirs.

Podiatrist/Anatomy Instructor

Jan, 1993 - Aug, 2013

Monrovia Podiatry Center, Mt.Sac Community College, ITT Tech

Podiatry services - including evaluation and treatment of chronic and acute injury Taught anatomy and physiology to pre-med and nursing students

Private Singing and Cello Instructor

Oct, 1976 - Present

Private Studio and East Los Angeles Settlement House

Sacramento May, 2009-Present Private singing instruction ages 11-60+ Opera, Broadway, Jazz, Rock, Pop Private cello instruction ages 16-60+ San Francisco Oct 1966-June 1972 Private singing instruction ages 14-20 Choir, Broadway, Classical singing lessons East Los Angeles Settlement House Oct 1972-June 1976 Private singing and cello instruction ages 10-18 Classical, Opera and Broadway

Opera singer

Sep, 1966 - Jun, 1971

Pacific Opera, CSULA, Citrus College, Euterpe Opera, Pasadena Opera

Perform light jazz, folk and classical songs with Beethoven and Friends Chamber Ensemble. Performed leading roles in operas including Gianni Schicchi, Magic Flute, Sir John in Love, Orpheus in the Underworld, Hansel and Gretel, La Boheme, Romeo and Julliette with Pacific Opera, CSULA, Citrus College. Sang in Pasadena Opera chorus in productions with international stars including Placido Domingo and Richard Tucker.

Education

Bachelor of Arts Music

Sep, 1964 - Jun, 1970

California State University, Los Angeles

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

Feb, 1977 - May, 1980

California College of Podiatric Medicine

Certifications

Community College Teaching Credential Anatomy and Physiology

Sep, 1984

State of California

Teaching Credential for Anatomy and Physiology

Awards

Outstanding Singer of the Year

Jun, 1968

California State University, Los Angeles

Winner ARC Annual Aria/Concerto Competition

May, 2012

American River College

Outstanding Madrigal Singer

Jun, 1968

California State University, Los Angeles

Affiliations

National Association of Teachers of Singing

Apr, 2012

Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members worldwide.