Thornton, PA Singing Lessons

When I first begin teaching a student, I tell them that everyone has the ability to sing well no matter his or her experience. I also tell them that there are four things that a good singer must have: breathe control (air is your fuel, and must be used efficiently and effectively to give you the best sound), posture (in order to have access to your air and prevent vocal damage you must practice good posture habits), diction (how you pronounce words when singing can impede or improve vocal tone, as well as help or hinder the audience in understanding the lyrics) and finally and most importantly, passion. Passion is how emotionally connected you are to music and is what really allows the singer to connect with his or her audience.

I have been teaching for the past 8 years and am passionate about healthy, comfortable singing. My lessons are structured to include vocal warmups/technique exercises, sight singing to strengthen musicianship, and then the working of repertoire. I will have suggestions for repertoire, but also am happy to work on anything the student may be interested in.

As a professional opera singer and recitalist, Rachel uses her first-hand experience in the business to guide her students and to teach them healthy vocal technique. Her students find her to be energetic, warm, and one of her biggest goals is to make her students feel more empowered when they leave than when they arrived. Music is a transformative art form and she hopes to enrich her student’s lives.

Learning proper singing technique is essential for the health of singers of all ages and genres. And YES! Everyone can sing! Rachel personalizes each lesson to her students' needs and provides a safe and fun atmosphere that is essential to creative learning. Musicianship, better intonation, breath control, support, tone quality, freedom of sound, and a love of music are all topics covered in voice lessons.

As a classically trained opera singer, I know all about the challenges that come with learning how to sing. As a voice teacher, I value the student/teacher rapport--there must be a mutual trust between us that will allow for a safe environment where asking questions and taking risks is encouraged! I combine high expectations for my students while also supporting them with positive and helpful feedback. I want to make the most of our time together, which means efficiency and consistency.

The contemporary approach to singing lessons differs from classical in that there are more sub-divisions of music styles such as Pop, Rock, Country, R&B and Jazz. Additionally, with contemporary vocal lessons there are differences in tone production, rhythmic phrasing and embellishments.

I meet with the student in the first vocal lesson to discuss goals in detail, which then becomes the framework for the student’s study program.

Making music gives me so much joy and I want to share it with you through my teaching. I have a BMus from McGill and a MMus from the San Francisco Conservatory. My background is classical voice but I am also comfortable in music theater and popular styles. My lessons are individually tailored to suit your needs, whether you want to focus more on the acting and performance aspect or simple gain confidence in your sound. No matter what genre of music you want to sing, I teach classical techniques with a focus on diaphragmatic breathing and pure vowels. These techniques are the foundations of healthy singing and will enable you to be successful in any genre.

I'm a classically trained pianist and singer with a music degree from Temple University! I studied opera for many years but received my degree in jazz voice.
I I believe that music is the most powerful tool in connecting and communicating across diverse cultures and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels accepted and appreciated. I love working one-on-one and truly customizing the experience for each individual student. Whether you want to focus on music theory, technique, warm-ups, expanding your repertoire, or all of the above--please shoot me a message to see if we'd be a great fit!

Pitch. Tone quality. Breathing. Vocal training. This will be a great experience and asset to your musical career. I have been professionally trained and worked with many artists on all different levels. Lessons, coaching, mentoring, you'll get so much more than a teacher. You'll be getting a complete support system of you, your goals and your career.

I've been singing since I was two went to music school for 8 years and even auditioned for the voice I am patient when teaching fun and guaranteed to teach my singing skills to the best of my ability

As a professional singer of over a decade, I love the stage more than just about anything. It is a thrilling lifestyle but I am equally inspired every time I am just an audience member. I work with my students towards improving their vocal technique, musicality, and confidence so that they can become the types of performers I enjoy listening to! My background is varied, covering classical music, jazz, and other contemporary styles. This enables me to give input to students with a variety of musical goals. Alongside my experience, I have a neverending quest for deeper and refreshed knowledge of vocal mechanics and pedagogy which helps me guide each student through their unique issues.