Canoga Park, CA Singing Lessons

earning style and I try my best to cater my lessons around each student's individual needs and goals. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an incredibly musical household. My dad toured with Bryan Adams as his guitarist and my mom’s worked with heavy weights such as David Foster as a professional vocalist. I was mentored by some of the best in the music business since childhood. I started learning piano at the age of four and started recording vocals for radio commercials at the age of six. The experience I've acquired over the years from recording in world class studios and touring internationally I believe has given me invaluable insight to impart with my students. I’m very passionate about teaching. Whether you want to learn how to play your favorite song on the piano or polish your vocal skills to sing professionally on a big stage in front of a large crowd, I’m your gal!

*** Lesson Details ***
I understand that starting lessons can feel a bit scary and outside of ones comfort zone. It takes courage to try something new! I take pride in creating a fun, stress free learning environment, as I know it's incredibly important. I like to encourage having the best of both worlds when it comes to learning voice and piano. That means introducing some sight-reading as well as how to play freestyle, or without sheet music. What to expect upon your first lesson would be an easygoing assessment as well as something to take home and practice. I want to find out what your music tastes and background are and your personal goals, what you would like to get out of lessons. I tailor lessons around each student and their personal learning style.
Piano students: The following is an example of what students can expect to learn, proper technique, sight reading, chords and popular song progressions, how to develop a piece of music, rhythmic training, ear training, how to play their favorite song(s). I use a combo of music books, Alfred Series, Bastien and Dozen a Day for technique and finger exercises as well write out music for students too on the song they would like to learn. I make a list of songs you would like to learn and also suggest some too that I think you would like and can also further develop your piano playing skills.

Voice Lessons: I’m a firm believer that we can learn a lot from hearing ourselves back on recordings. We are our own toughest critic. Recording ourselves singing helps us hear where our strengths and weaknesses are. It might seem a little uncomfortable at first listening back, I know! However, it offers fresh perspective for us to able to take our voices to the next level. I record using an app on my iPhone or iPad and encourage my students to record as well. If they do not have a recording device I email the recording to them to study along with the notes and exercises they are given to work on. This enables the students to witness their personal progress from lesson to lesson! It’s a great learning tool!
The following is an example of what voice students can expect to learn: proper breathing techniques, how improve tone and extend their range, how to develop agility, pop riffs, and dynamic control, how to prepare for auditions, live shows and studio recording and much more!

What I expect from my students: To come to lessons with an open mind, a readiness to learn, to try new things and to apply what they learn each lesson to continue making weekly steady progress ☺ We only get out of something what we put into it right?

I like to be as flexible as possible, I understand that often times students have many other things going on in their lives whether it be sports, school or work etc. We go at a pace you feel comfortable with but enough where you feel you are getting a bit of a challenge each week to be growing. Let’s make some beautiful music together!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha Mox8 (88 weighted keys). Acoustic Guitar, Sound System, Allen & Heath Mixing board, SM58 Mic, Mic Stand, Music Stand, Shecter Electric Guitar, Pro Tools 9, Duet Apogee

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect my student to provide a keyboard at least 77-88keys or piano. i can provide a powered speaker, sm58 mic, mic stand for practicing voice and performance.

*** Specialties ***
Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Classical

Southern California, Thornton School of Music and I have a Bachelors degree from Northern Arizona University. I also completed a teaching internship at the California Lutheran University.

My style of teaching is tailor made for each student because everyone has different goals and needs. I focus on making singing fun and painless while setting a strong technical foundation. My goal for the student is to take away technical issues so they can be musically expressive and show the world who they are.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a laid back teacher. My hope is that students will feel improvement in their lessons and it will motivate them to practice. In my opinion, the lessons should be fun, educational, and safe.

My curriculum is based on the needs of the student. In general, I always begin with breathing techniques. Breathing is the foundation of singing and so I tend to spend some time trying to show the student the most efficient and most effortless technique. Then I move on to what I have learned from my own voice teacher, and I will teach the students what are called "vocal function exercises." These are a series of gentle warm ups that teach the student a combination of breath pressure, resonance, and eliminating physical tensions within the neck, chest, and back. Then I move on to incorporating these ideas into repertoire. I like to decide repertoire with the student based on their preferences and their skill level. Generally I like to give the student one classical piece in a foreign language and one musical theater piece, but this is not set in stone.
I hope that after a few months the student will have an understanding of breathing, beginning vocal technique, and some repertoire we have been working on.

All of this said, ultimately I do not hold students to my own expectations. I want them to learn at their own pace and not feel they need to be at a certain point after a certain amount of time.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room. Keyboard. Seating for parents. Cats.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide sheet music and I expect the student to provide a keyboard or piano.

*** Specialties ***
I teach a method that is very simple and allows the student to express themselves musically and to have fun.

My expertise is Opera but I can teach all styles of singing.

nd beneficial.

With piano lessons, you will learn music theory (including scales, chords, time signatures, key signatures, etc.), exercises to increase dexterity, and how to play the songs YOU want to play. I typically use the Faber curriculum for my piano students, but this may vary depending on each student's needs and interests.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect the student to provide a piano or working electric keyboard for us to use during the lesson.

*** Specialties ***
In voice lessons, I specialize in teaching contemporary styles- pop, blues, soul, gospel, etc.

In piano lessons, I have much experience in working with beginners, both children and adults, but will work with students up through the intermediate level.

d many others. She has been producing music and vocals in the recording studio, coaching voice, piano, songwriting, rap writing, performance, studio, jazz, blues, classical, pop and artist development for the past 20 years. She was operatically trained by Juilliard instructor Sylvia Bagley, trained as a jazz singer at world re-known Berklee College of Music, where she won several songwriting awards, and was R & B/Pop trained by Vocal Coach To The Stars, Seth Riggs. In 2010 she had a #6 Billboard hit dance song, which she wrote and sang and 2 top 10 hits in 2016. She has written, recorded and performed songs in several different languages for a variety of films, television shows, and commercials such as Nickelodeon's Hollywood Heights, The Natalee Holloway Story, Spike Lee Productions, Barbie, Ponds, Target, Ford, Mazda, Pontiac, The Guiding Light, The Young and The Restless. MTV and several others. Fawn has also sung, written and played in many different styles from Jazz/Blues to Classical to Pop to children's to Opera.

Fawn is a very fun, yet honest and straight-forward coach. She loves working with adults and children, and considers lessons a 'team effort to reach her students' goals. Being that music and the entertainment business are her career and life, she is current and relevant, yet has plenty of old school training to be well rounded and help students build a strong foundation. Music and the entertainment business are her life, and she loves helping people reach their goals and meet their dreams. She has released 5 albums, several singles, won numerous awards and worked with such talents as Grammy winners Lalah Hathaway and Paula Cole, Meredith Brooks, Vampire Diaries Kat Grahm, BT, Jeff Goldblum, Right Said Fred, Ed Townsend, QD3, Club Nuveau's Val Watson, Robbie Benson and shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Carol Channing, Kevin Sorbo, Pink, Joss Stone, David Guetta, Katy Perry, Moby, Dionne Warwick, James Torme', David Foster, Thelma Houston, David Pomeranz, War and countless others. She has also worked with Kevin Costner, Alexandra Paul, David Marshall Grant, Florence Henderson, Jay Leno, Hulk Hogan, Darryl Hannah, Tommy Lee, Martin Lawrence, Magic Johnson, Pamela Anderson, Jermaine Dupri, Rae Dawn Chong, Eva Longoria, Joan Rivers, Erik Estrada, John Amos, and others appearing with them in film, TV and benefits for worthy causes.

Over the years, Fawn has been known to bring students into her inner circle, so they can gain more experience and exposure, taking them to red carpets, events and even putting them up onstage to perform. She remembers having piano, voice and songwriting coaches, and being frustrated in voice because instructors were not addressing issues that needed to be addressed. This is why she creates a positive and comfortable, safe environment so students can open up and progress quickly. Fawn moves straight to the heart of the matter and gets whatever needs work figured out, so students can move on to what their goals and dreams are. She has helped actors be able to sing parts for their TV shows, helped popular bands be able to have good stage performances and presence with precision dancing and singing and has helped vocalists find their true voice. She is able to get piano students as young as 5 to a high-level Concerto level of playing with in 3 years, completely reading the pieces on their own. The youngest person she has ever taught was 3 years old and blind. The oldest person she has ever taught so far taught was 89 years old, after suffering a stroke. She was able to help her get her voice back within 20 minutes of her first lesson. Fawn also does vocal rehabilitation, vocal therapy, and music therapy. She has worked with special needs children with Downs Syndrome, ADHD, ADD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pit Hopkins Disease and more. As far as being a songwriter, Fawn generally writes words and music at the same time but she has also written lyrics and music separately, as well as composed instrumental pieces. Fawn trained with Pat Pattison and Grammy winning Lyricist Marty Panzer in lyric writing and she is a master at producing, recording and editing vocals, and is happy to help you with your recording projects, as she owns Terrace Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA.

Brief Synopsis of Professional Experience:

- Platinum and Gold Award Winning Vocal Coach
- Began in the Entertainment Industry at age 6 months, starring in several National TV Commercials
- Recording Artist and songwriter of Billboard Top 10 Hit song "Wish U Love"
- Recording Artist and songwriter of Top 10 Hit song "Solitude"
- Recording Artist and songwriter of Top 10 Hit song "Where Has Your Love Gone"
- Award Winning Songwriter/Lyricist
- Grammy Winning Vocal and Songwriting Clientele
- Berklee College Of Music
-Seasoned Jazz, Pop, Blues and Commercial vocalist
I can get them to Concerto level in 3 years, completely reading music on their own and self sufficient. I teach all of the important fundamentals for a strong foundation, but to the PERSONALITY of the person, because each of us has different styles, different points of view, different things that block us, different things that inspire us. I teach the same, important fundamentals necessary for a strong foundation, but tailor make it to each individual. I teach all styles of music.

I love working with individuals and groups who want to meet their musical dreams, achieve success in their entertainment careers and/or take their abilities and talents to a higher quality level. I have been known to take some of my students on red carpets with me as well as get them performing opportunities and put them in high level networking situations as well.

- Patient
- All ages (have taught 3-89 so far!)
- Great with kids (of all ages!)
- Studio Session Vocal Coaching
- I teach children and adults with special needs
- Injured Chords/Vocal Therapy/Voice Rehabilitation
- Live Performance and Stage Presence
- Music Therapy for special needs

SONGWRITING
Learn song form, tighten lyrics and melodies, get inspired when you don't "feel" like writing, good prosody, copyright, legalities, how to place songs in film and TV, record your finished song in the studio.

PIANO LESSONS
Emphasis on reading music, classical training, music theory, fingering, improv, chords and ear training. All styles of music are taught-Classical/Jazz/Ragtime/Pop/Broadway/R&B-Chord Charts, How to Accompany a Singer, Compose Music, Write songs and Play Piano while Singing. Learn about the origin of music, composers, how styles of music evolved.

VOICE LESSONS
"Make A Stop at the Vocal Shop"
Learn correct breathing, how to put emotion in your voice, how to connect with your fan base and audience, how to expand your vocal range, style a song, address pitch problems, microphone technique, ear training, how to change your voice for different styles of singing, Opera/R & B/Pop/Jazz/Gospel/Broadway/Jingle singing - Studio singing vs. Live singing, performance, songwriting, lyric writing, stage presence, recording artist packaging, preparation and auditions, recording studio vocal coaching for studio sessions. I have also studied with Seth Riggs and teach his methods. For people who are tone def, or completely off pitch, I can get you on pitch with in 3 lessons.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Recording Studio:
Complete professional home studio with vocal both. Equipment confidential, but includes piano, guitars, microphones, vocal booth, music stands, step master and much more.
Billboard Hit Song, Best Dance Album of the Year and Best Dance Single of The Year Recorded there, as well as many other songs for film and TV.

Kitchen and Bathroom. 400 square feet. Seating for additional guests, parents. Lighting and Disco ball! :)

*** Travel Equipment ***
Amp, Microphone, Teaching Materials, Video Camera, iPad, recorder, other

*** Specialties ***
*Voice-I specialize in Body Programming, Vocal Rehabilitation, Music Therapy, as well as Seth Riggs's technique. I combine those two techniques, plus my own experience of being in the entertainment industry since the age of 6 months old. Some of the things I cover are range, singing correctly, finding your mix, finding your middle, strengthening your head voice, strengthening your chest voice, vocal placement, correct breathing, singing with feeling, singing in different languages, opera, jazz, pop, Broadway, jingle singing, scat singing, blues, rock, hip hop, r and b, children's, and more.
*Piano-all genres are covered with an emphasis on classical, but I also cover-jazz, pop, songwriting, ragtime etc. Theory, technique, ear training and more
*Songwriting- good prosody, melody, lyrical meter, chords and more.
*I teach what is needed, and tailor the lesson to the personality and individual goals. All students have are given a strong foundation to build on.

e. There I kept studying vocal technique, solfege, classical guitar and music harmony.
I moved to LA 11 years ago and attended Musician's Institute earning a diploma in Vocal Studies and Vocal Performance and then I attended a Composition & Songwriting Program at UCLA for 2 years. I refined my vocal technique studying at Berkley College of Music for a summertime in a special program for Jazz Vocalists and I have been an Alexander Technique's student for now 10+ years.
I am a performing artist, I sing and teach privately for a living and, on the side, I help an Opera Touring company promote their tours. I have performed all over the country in some beautiful venues such as the Getty Center and Pantages Theater to name a few. Guitar is my second instrument but I accompany students with my piano during vocal exercises. My personal style of singing is modern, not operatic, I love many kinds of music but especially pop, jazz, and musical theater.

***Lessons Details***

**Singing: Teaching Adults**
There are two sides of singing that I like to work on with my students.
The first is vocal technique, which is first and foremost the study of how to use our instrument, our whole body, in the best and most useful way to avoid strain ad create beautiful sounds. I believe that when we relax and use the right posture, meaning the most natural one, then our bodies and our breathing mechanisms act as they are supposed to, and singing magically happens at its best. When we learn to use our bodies without strain, the right "singing" muscles are automatically engaged and exercised and we feel at ease. So I try to encourage a non-forceful way to use diaphragmatic breathing, which I have learned by studying Alexander Technique, which is a technique that teaches people how to stop using unnecessary levels of muscular and mental tension during any activity, especially during an artistic performance of any kind.
I try to notice bad singing habits the student may have formed throughout his/her life, (hopefully none!), and gently help them correct them. The vocal exercises I use are drawn from the Bel Canto tradition, a classical tradition, but I mix them with more modern vocal exercises to develop popular techniques like "belting" for example.
The second side of singing is simply to pay attention to song interpretation, to convey the message we would like to convey. I encourage the student to choose songs to work on they truly love, and I welcome any style of music. I give the students vocal exercises CDs to help them practice at home.

**Singing: Teaching Children**
What I described above is also true for teaching children, however I like to teach them "by ear" with simple vocal exercises and vocal games at the beginning of the lesson and try to ease them into the sound they naturally make. I like to create a positive environment in which the student can feel successful about even small achievements, whether it is standing in a relaxed way or having practiced the beginning of an exercise or part of a song. To help the student practice at home and keep the motivation alive without feeling overwhelmed I record each lesson (or let them record it) and give them the accompaniment for the song of their choice so they can have fun at home.

*** GUITAR ***
I teach young children using fun songs, games and classical guitar technique. I also teach adults and specialize in contemporary guitar. I welcome many styles of music, pop, rock as well as folk genres of Latin America. I emphasize good posture, tone and musicality, and always a high level of enjoyment with the process!

*** RECITALS ***
I plan and host 2 wonderful Recitals a year, one in January and one in June. I encourage all my students to participate, no matter how they may feel about their instrument level and preparation. Working towards a performance is one of the most effective ways to solidify your ever growing skill!

*** Studio Equipment ***
For students who come to my home studio, there is private guest parking right outside my building, in a gated complex of buildings and in a safe neighborhood just north of the 101. My studio is conveniently located just a few blocks from the freeway entrance. I have a comfortable sofa for parents and siblings to attend the lessons and a keyboard to use for accompaniment. Also, I periodically offer my students the chance to record one song in my studio, equipped with nice microphones and a professional recording system.

*** Travel Equipment ***
For singing lessons I bring my small and light master-keyboard and laptop or I can use the student piano/keyboard. For children's lesson I ask my students to bring a notebook to keep track of practice assignments.

*** Specialties ***
Music theory and Songwriting. Stage performance and how to feel comfortable on stage. Additionally I teach vocal jazz improvisation, Broadway singing and Italian song repertoire.

r chosen repertoire. Utilizing both vocalise and song literature of your choosing, we will go through very pragmatic and utilitarian methods that will generate an easy, free and uniquely individual sound.

🎥 🎶🎙 STUDIO EQUIPMENT 🎥 🎶🎙
Main teaching studio is 14'x14'
800 sq ft recital & class space
Microphones
Sound System with:
iPhone/iPod dock
Standard 3.5mm input jack for other phones/players
"Old School" cassette tape recording
Full Library of Classical, Musical Theatre, Pop Music

🎥 🎶🎙 SPECIALTIES 🎥 🎶🎙
✓ I have served as a vocal consultant on many professional recording sessions
✓ I have nearly 20 years experience working in all genres - POP/Rock, Opera, and Musical Theatre. I have a long client list that includes many celebrities all the way to beginners who are dedicated and ready to embark on a systematic process.
✓ In order to gauge your progress, I also provide performance opportunities through quarterly recitals and studio classes.

🎥 🎶🎙 BIOGRAPHY 🎥 🎶🎙
In addition to a rigorous performing career, Mr. H. has also been the principal associate vocal technician to world renowned master clinician Joann C. Zajac for the past fifteen years. Known for unearthing talent; building voices from inception; and guiding and managing the well trained singers through the inherent difficulties of a performing career: ZajacStudio has earned a coveted reputation for providing a meticulous regimen that builds a robust and consistent singer with a "complete package" ready to take on the difficulties and rewards of a major career. Students have traveled from as far as Hong Kong to work with these down to earth and practical technicians, and they encompass every genre including pop, musical theatre, and opera. Using Ms. Zajac's exceptional approach, clients have garnered both critical and popular success working on Broadway, London's West End, and in opera houses all over the world. The ZajacStudio client list also includes recording artists and an extensive list of top celebrities.

Working with the concept that all performance art is pure storytelling, Zeffin is also an accomplished director and acting coach. He is the co-founder of Singing Actors' Lab, the production and group class arm of ZajacStudio. The mission of SAL is to bring the best of both worlds from acting and classical singing to a "no compromises" well-rounded performance where acting choices support the vocal technique and vice versa. SAL has produced many full productions of operas, legit musical theater, also a series of concerts at Le Petit Greek Los Angeles, and a countless array of master classes throughout the country. As a stage director Mr. H.'s productions have been on the stages of Opera Las Vegas; Los Angeles' Dell Chamber Opera; Larchmont Concert Opera; California State University, Northridge; Wichita State University; and also recently at the Off Broadway Theater, The Lambs.

Zeffin has sung over 90 leading roles at many of the country's most significant opera houses including Dallas Opera, New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Pacific, Opera Theatre of Pittsburg, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Delaware, Toledo Opera, New Orleans Opera, Dicapo Opera Theater, and also at Hungary's Szeged & Pecs National Theaters. Mr. H. has had the pleasure of many orchestral appearances as a soloist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic; Lincoln Center's Little Orchestra Society of New York; Westfield Symphony; Palm Beach Opera Orchestra; Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra; Owensboro Symphony; Bear Valley Music Festival Orchestra and Rome's International Chamber Orchestra. His signature operatic roles include Scarpia (Tosca), Escamillo (Carmen), and Jack Rance (La Fanciulla del West). Mr. H. also represented the USA as John Proctor in the award-winning production of The Crucible broadcast to 46 countries on Mezzo Television.

training. I specilized in vocal training with Robert Austin and in San Francisco with Richard Nichol of the Garcia-Marchesi Institute. I sang with the Palm Beach Florida Opera Company. I am a tenor with a 3.5 octave range. I also sang and performed in Musicals and Operas and Sacred Oratorios from Maui to Florida. I am the proud "dad" of two high school aged children who are excellent students!
I teach voice (beginner to professional levels), guitar (acoustic and electric: beginners to Intermediate) and basic piano. I have been teaching private lessons for 7 years. I also offer voice or guitar classes at St. Cecelia's School of Music in Canoga Park, and privately in my home Reseda. I focus my instruction on "correct" breathing and proper singing. My time-tested techniques will improve and protect your voice from injury.and produce a beautiful tone and wonderful performance. I teach guitar chords, reading standard musical notation as well as tablature. For beginning piano students of all ages I teach you how to read music, play scales, strenghten your finger strength and play cords and song.

ow my students to be as open-minded as possible. I look forward to meeting you and helping you reach your full potential as a musician!

ottom!

Lesson Topics:
Breathing technique, vocal technique, artistry, ear training, diction, volume control, microphone technique, vocal range, warming up the voice, studio etiquette, performance skills, stage presence, repertoire, audition and performance preparation

** Professional Bio **

Sophia developed her passion for music at a very early age, growing up in a home environment filled with singers and musicians. Her father is singer Joe P. best known for his vocals on “Never Gonna Let You Go,” the 80’s hit from acclaimed Brazilian musician, Sergio Mendes. Mendes is also Sophia’s godfather.

Sophia graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. While at Berklee, she also received the prestigious Cleo Laine Scholarship Award.

Sophia performs under the stage name Sugar Joans. She was a member of Team Pharrell and a top 12 finalist on Season 7 of NBC’s “The Voice.”

A member of SAG-AFTRA, Sophia’s professional vocal credits include on and off-camera performances on several episodes of the television series, “90210.” She also sang on the soundtrack for the movies “Hairspray", “Sing”, and her vocals were also featured on the musical film "A Cinderella Story: If The Shoe Fits". Sophia was the lead vocal on a TV spot for the California State Lottery and recently sang on and off screen for a National Honda commercial.