Luke Air Force Base, AZ Speaking Voice Lessons

I can teach you the techniques! Or how about how to make a cover song your own based off of your own unique voice? We can work together to find, develop, and build the amazing qualities that you have in your voice. I will not only work on aspects of what you would like to improve on with your voice personally, but I will make an individual plan for you that will dramatically improve your voice! I will work with you individually to strengthen any weakness you may have in a fun environment. I am fun, encouraging and motivating! When asking students to do any vocal exercises, I will explain what the certain exercise does to improve your voice so that you can have the knowledge you need to be a good vocalist, and not just know how to sing properly. You will learn many things in lessons and what I teach you will vary on where you are vocally.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide a keyboard, CD, Boom box, music sheets, etc. Students do not need to provide anything.

*** Specialties ***
Speech level singing method, classical techniques, singing success, various genres including: pop, blues, contemporary, and musical theatre. I utilize the different techniques I have learned through proper classical training, but mix it with contemporary methods I have learned from speech level singing methods.

ver/acting narration, commercial, and character development

usic to help you find your own voice.
When you find your voice, the rest of you is not far behind.

We help people to overcome any fears they may have about playing. We simply help you to find your confidence. Many people are afraid to express themselves because of negative comments from a family member or friend. We help you move far past that and get to your own voice, free of worries.

It has been said that playing only from sheet music is like only being able to talk when you are reading it from a book.

We help people to play and sing by ear.

Yes, learning to read music brings you wonderful music from some great composers. But there is so much more.

First, we find out how you learn and what you are interested in. Life is just different when you get in touch with the music inside you. Sure, it is some work, but it is very satisfying!
I love to help people do this!

All that said, reading musical notes is like your alphabet.
When was the last time you had to ponder the alphabet when you wanted to speak? Once you know the alphabet, you just forget it and move on, to words, stories and communication.
Music is a language as well.

Everybody loves music. How will you find yours? It’s different for everyone.
Maybe you want to sing like that great pop singer you love, or play keyboard. Some people write songs. In all cases, the keyboard helps you to understand all about music.

Bach used to improvise all the time. Why shouldn't you?

SONGWRITERS:
If you write songs, just bring in an idea and we will record it. We set a tempo and a key, and get your basic groove looped, all in about two minutes. Then we lay down the chords and a bass part and you sing a reference vocal. You can easily lay out a song in a one-hour session. Then it is easy to see how to produce it. It is amazing to go home with a recording of your song that did not exist in the world until you gave it a voice!

Along the way, you become a better writer, singer and/or keyboard player. You will learn to play by ear. And have a LOT of fun. You can do this online too.

ONLINE SESSIONS
You create a rough sketch and we track it, with your input.
We can help you to set up your own songwriter studio as well. If you get Logic software at your end, you can put on phones and cut a vocal with me producing you.
Seriously, great fun.
;0)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
“...an amazing instructor...inspiring mentor...compassionate.”
“...a lot of patience.”
“My son's love for music has come from Randy.”
“...positive attitude and friendly personality.”
“...wildly entertaining.”
“ ...will teach you in a way that will make you want to learn.”
“We look forward to our lesson every week!”

"Randy, I like your "Semper Method of Music” teaching method.
It's applying knowledge with fun, and common sense... the best combination. Good luck. You’re a great musician."
Joe Messina,
Motown recording guitarist & Funk Brother

SONGLab
Your music. Instantly.
We use recording as a powerful tool to help you listen and improve.
Tired of crappy tabs? Struggling to capture your song? No worries.
Learn a process, instead of a lesson. Apply it anywhere.

Go from musical idea to music, fast.
Get to the groove in 2 minutes or less. In any software.

SONGLab Studio. The antidote to rote.

SCHEDULING:
Please note: If the particular time you had in mind is listed as unavailable, don’t worry. Between working online and two locations, I am very flexible and will work hard to make our schedules click.

SPECIAL NEEDS?
Everyone's needs are special. If your child has been diagnosed ADHD or ASD, music can be a joyful and rewarding way to see real growth and make a wonderful experience for parent and child. We help with the Proprioceptive and Vestibular senses in a fun and therapeutic way.

Just Google "BrainVolts" for a tremendous study from Northwestern University on the amazing effects of music study!

Playing by Ear
Pretty much everyone can play by ear. So we help you to find your own voice, reach your musical goals and to create and perform music as a real and beautiful part of your life.

Making music should not be a boring job. Rather, it should be something you can't wait to do. A way to get in touch with the rest of the universe. You will also learn to read and write, but it won't get in the way of your music.

Since a very young age I have loved to improvise and to create music. It is very satisfying to pass this on to others who are full of music inside but may not know how to get it out. If you wish that you or your child could get some help creating your own music as well as playing the great music already written, perhaps we should be talking.

I am from Canada, and I have been a professional musician since 1970. I studied music performance in school, piano with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and Music Education at Queens University. I have toured with national acts, produced dozens of recordings of all kinds and played, arranged and conducted music on cruise ships all over the world.

Music is my life. Bringing other people's skills to a higher level is what I do best.

Tell me what you want to accomplish, either for yourself or your child. I look forward to speaking with you.
Warm regards,
Randy

PS:
A note about allergens:
I teach online and at my home and my studio. At home we have two very friendly dogs and a cat (Julian) who sleeps all day. If you have allergies, we will study at the Troy studio which is allergen-free. Unless you love animals. In that case, you will get to meet Vinnie & Buddy, the two most kid-friendly, loves-everybody, most gentle little guys you will ever meet. I put Vinnie's picture up so you can see him.

Teaching teachers
Several excellent teachers I know who have been teaching music for many years were frustrated by not being able to play without a sheet of music. They have found satisfying and positive results from this approach.

Wouldn't it be great to be gifted? In fact... It turns out that choices lead to habits.
Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts.
You're not born this way, you get this way.
~ Seth Godin

*** Lesson Details ***

Music should be fun. Period.

My only real job is to make sure you have fun and want to learn more. Then you will do the rest. you will astonish yourself and everyone around you!

In a traditional music education, reading the works of others is the focus, with no encouragement to improvise or to play by ear.

In our community, there is a prestigious, private college prep school that charges just under $80 per hour for traditional private music lessons. If you take away the music, most cannot play a note.

My method is every bit the equal of that school for those who are drawn to express themselves playing by ear. You will still learn all the core skills needed to be a well-rounded musician.

Music study helps people young and old to overcome shyness and build confidence. It empowers them as they refine their special talents.

We will always have a lot of fun, but there is a lot to do, so we need to be efficient. My teaching method is a combination of the best methods I have found. It is backed up with the same solid principles that I received when I was a student myself. If you choose to continue and pursue a classical education at a high level, you will be well-prepared.

Please note:
You are most welcome to start with 30 minute sessions to see if we are a good fit. 30 min lessons are offered for this purpose and also for very young children with short attention spans. For any student, wishing to make progress, lessons will eventually need to be an hour or 45 minutes at minimum in order to reach your goals.

Attendance
While fun is our main goal, we need results and I am an old-school stickler for results.

Weekly sessions are the only way to get measurable results, and the only way I teach. Two absences a month is noted by colleges as a clear path to dropping out. That is what bi-weekly sessions will do.

Though you'll receive serious critiques from me, I always uplift and encourage. Positive energy is the ticket.

My Method:
Listen, Sing, Clap, Play, Read and Write. With these tools you can look deeper into the elements that make up music. Folk, jazz, pop, rock or classical; all Western music is derived from the same principles. We will study ear training from a wonderful ear training book by a famous guitarist. It'™s simple: you learn all the theory so you will be at the top of your game, but always have fun doing it.
For notation, we will use The Semper Note Speller.
For scales, we have the famous Brown Scale Book.

Technology
We use recording as a tool to help you hear how you sound and we always encourage you to express yourself with improvisation. In many cases, you will have tracks to practice with. We also use apps for your phone that really help. A guitar tuner to nail down vocal pitch, as well as a metronome app that is with you wherever you go. If you have a minute anywhere you can get in some good practice time. So we truly have the best of all worlds: playing from music and learning to play by ear! If you stick with it and do the work, the end result will be that you can always just sit down and play, whether or not you have any music in front of you!

On our first lesson we will do a duet jam session together and you will not believe how great you sound!

The Big Picture
In the old days, a tiny percentage of students would become a concert pianist.

Today, there are a multitude of other ways to become involved with music. Whether you are looking at music as a profession or as a hobby, we let parents know of the many choices available so that they can make good decisions, for themselves and for their children.

Having fun as you improve is a big priority. I also teach songwriting, singing, music recording and performance, as well as piano.

Remember:
A piano should be an irresistible invitation, not an obstacle.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Troy studio: A digital keyboard in a professional recording control-room environment at our media production studio. The studio is near Big Beaver and Stephenson Hwy.

Home studio: An acoustic piano and recording studio environment at my home in Franklin/Beverly Hills.

Your Instrument
If you are taking any kind of music lesson, we recommend a tuned piano or digital keyboard, preferably with at least 76 full-sized keys.

We have helped many people to find the right piano.
If you like, I can suggest several different models of keyboard that I have researched and of which I approve. They range from an inexpensive but effective starter keyboard for ear training and just plain fun to an 88 note weighted keyboard for more expressive practice.

*** Specialties ***
Adults who always wanted to.
Homeschoolers who are frustrated.
Kids who just love music.

My youngest student is 4 and my oldest student is 102 now. )At 100 he recorded an album of songs from the 1920s!)

I teach people of all ages first to play by ear and to have fun while they study. Then I back up ear training with solid theory so they can read and write music. In school I studied many traditional methods and I have distilled my own distinct method from them. Though I am classically trained, I specialize in improvisation.
Here's to a most satisfying musical experience!
Best regards,
Randy

en the songwriter, arranger, and bandleader for several original music groups. Stress Factor Zero combines rock with funk and jazz. Cloud Ex is an acoustic group combining Afro Cuban and Peruvian percussion with folk rock songs. His most recent band Stratosphere is a modern rock and funk band for artistic rockers and visionaries. They blend diverse styles of rock music with a fiery blaze of Latin percussion, sensuous saxophones, and poetic melodies with a message. Their first CD received radio airplay on over forty stations across the U.S. and Canada, and they are currently working on their third CD. Stratosphere performs throughout Southern California and is currently setting up several short tours in various cities across the U.S., Europe, and South America.

*** Lesson Details ***
Well structured lesson plan covering all aspects of music, specifically designed to help you reach your individual goals.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Acoustic piano, full keyboard, 4 guitars, bass, amps, microphones, Pro Tools recording equipment, and seating for parents

*** Styles ***
Rock, funk, jazz, country, blues, fusion, folk, R&B, and classical

, I left college with a shrunken range: A3 to Ab5, I had lost more than an octave as a result of poor training by a doctorate of music.

In 1995 I won Miss Louisiana (Miss America). I was blessed to received scholarship for the rest of school. One of the colleges that provided money was the University of Louisiana Monroe. I decided to take summer sessions with Dr. Weidman. He realized quite quickly that I had been given the wrong Fach and technique for my voice type and encouraged me to stop with my former teacher and give my voice a break. And I did.

In fact, I decided to focus on acting. The closest acting community was Dallas, Texas. There I was picked up by the Ivett Stone Agency and began booking national commercials, TV spots and films. Along the way I worked with Don Shook of the (then) Actors Company in Dallas, TX. Don listened to my vocal story and told me about his teacher, Bill Bauer.

Bill became my vocal mentor and saving grace. He taught me how to release the tension of poor training and build the technique that lasts a lifetime! I am forever in his debit as my Angel of Voice!

Along with his guidance and genius he helped developed a safe, powerful technique for all vocal genres. I’m so confident that this method will work that I can I guarantee your singing and/or speaking voice will be the best EVER!

In addition to Bill's technique, in 2005, I began incorporating the Gary Catona Method for both my speaking and singing students. It is a powerful Bel Canto vowel method that strengthens and heals all voice types!

Whether you are a beginner and want a solid technique, or you have experienced bad training and need to retrain, I guarantee this method will work for you!

*** How I Can Help You***

I have taught both singing and acting for over 17 years and have the honor of working with some amazing students including, American Idol finalist Rachel Hale, Singer/Song writer Sara Skinner, Bluegrass singer Joseph Hott, Actress Molly Quinn, Actor John R Colley, Ark-La-Tex’s country star, Klancy Johnson, singer/actress Tara Clem and many, many more.

Here are some examples of how I can help: vocal node/polyp elimination therapy, increasing vocal range, eliminating “breaks” in your range, supported sound, natural breathing techniques, body alignment, conquering performance anxiety, stage presence, song interpretation, and positive internal programming.

I began teaching private vocal lessons in 1998. I have taught for two schools of music, First United Methodist Music School in Texarkana, Arkansas and Burbank Music Academy in Burbank, California. In 2007, I began offering vocal lessons online through Skype. My current studio is located in Manhattan.

I've been a member of the National Association of Teacher's of singing for 6 years and am also a member of Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA, NARAS (the Grammy's) and a lifetime member for the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. I hold 2 Fine Arts degrees in Music and Drama as well as a Bachelor of Applied Arts; Sciences in Administrative Leadership with an emphasis in Psychology.

*** Lesson Details ***

In your lesson, I start where you're at. I identify immediate problems and then put you on a regimen to move you toward your vocal best. I am a stern but encouraging teacher. I expect a vocalist to practice.

Whether a beginner or seasoned performer. My goal is to get your voice to a place of ease in production and to articulate your performance in a way to connect with your audience.

Each lesson is recorded and emailed so you can listen and practice. Practicing is imperative to building your vocal muscles and performance skills.

Here is a list of other benefits that I provide: ear training, finding your true voice - not just an imitation of your favorite vocalist, smart career goal setting, overcoming stage fright, audition/interview techniques, positive self-programming, finding your acting "type"career marketing strategies, how to work "where you're at", scene study, monologue preparation, and a building basic musical theatre audition book.

*** Studio Details**

-an Mp3 of your lesson either on CD (you provide), flash drive (you supply) or a download via website,

-music track editing (includes cutting, tempo changes, key adjustments, etc. (I usually do music editing outside of a lesson for a nominal fee.),

-stage choreography/blocking,

-microphone training,

-and studio recording training.

*** Studio Equipment ***

Yeti microphone, H4n Zoom recorder, Audio Technica AT 3035 microphone. 

-Music Editing Software: Pro-Tools, Cubase LX, Audacity, Garageband, Sony Sound Forge

-Video Editing Software: Final Cut, Sony Vegas, iMovie

-I also utilize Sing & See in my studio for vocal analysis when needed.

*** Specialties ***

Along with the guidance and genius of Dallas-based vocal teacher and composer, Bill Bauer, I have developed a safe, powerful technique in the art of vocal production for all vocal genres. Some of which include supported belt singing and Bel Canto-style singing.

I am also a trained Opera singer and jazz vocalist and have trained in Vocal Pedagogy both in college as well as with the National Association of Teachers of Singing of which I am a full member.

I am a former Miss Louisiana and talent winner at Miss America. I have judged numerous local, state, and national pageants and talent shows across the country.

UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR SPEAKING VOICE!

ive collection of artists; Nestor Torres, Henry Jimenez, Celia Cruz, Carlos Ponce, Tito Nieves, Johnny Ventura, Camilo Sextos, Claudia Acuna, Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes, Gap Band, Motor Head, Matt Bianco, Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack, and Bradford Marsalis to name a few.