Voice training can benefit people of all ages!  Of course, as we age, our voices age too.  However, through the exercises you will be applying and the knowledge of the voice you will gain - you will continue improving your voice, bringing added joy through your singing now and in the years to come.  In addition, the classes are designed for those who have and have not had previous study, so there will be invaluable information and application for all!

I say a hearty "YES"!  These classes will help you develop the voice you have been given, allowing you to make significant strides toward freedom, richness, flexibility, and warmth in your sound.  In other words, voice study is one of the best things you can do for yourself at any age!

Although the old saying, “use it or lose it” is often quite true, the wonderful thing about the voice is that by consistently incorporating well-chosen, healthy exercises, and by applying sound vocal principles, you can restore an amazing amount of your voice.  So even if you have been away from singing for quite some time, by incorporating the exercises and techniques taught in the class, your voice will certainly respond.  It really is not gone, just out of shape and older.  Will you notice some differences in your older voice?  Yes.  But the techniques you will learn will help you strengthen your voice, make it more supple and flexible, and channel it into the most beautiful place for you to sing.

A thousand times no!  In fact, it is one of the best decisions you can make, as voice training brings such wonderful benefits to your entire body, mind, and soul.  By using the techniques you will learn, your posture will be better, your breathing deeper, your mind and memory sharper, your communication more articulate, and the list goes on!  On top of that, you will be adding a source of beauty and aesthetic appreciation that will only enrich your life.   

Absolutely!  As you learn and apply sound vocal principles, you will understand how to support, free, shape, lift, and project your voice to offer your "best self" to your choir.  Trust me, the more you know - and are applying without your director having to tell you - the happier he/she will be!

Students are never required or expected to sing by themselves in front of the class.  They are welcomed to do so, however.  In many cases where there is a bit of "solo trepidation," students often sing with each other in duets, trios, or quartets, which is great!  Otherwise, we are always singing as a group.  Bottom line, these classes are to help you make progress in your singing - not to scare the daylights out of you!

Singing for Life classes run for either 8 or 10 consecutive (or nearly consecutive} weeks.  Each class is one hour long, with the first 20-25 minutes devoted to vocal technique instruction and exercises delivered in a systematic fashion that reinforce skills and principles precept upon precept.  During the remaining time, participants then apply the learned techniques to favorite songs spanning a wide variety of genres.

Singers will see dramatic improvement in their voices by consistently applying well-chosen exercises and sound techniques for as little as 10-15 minutes per day.  Of course, the more time devoted to the strengthening, supporting, and freeing of your voice through both exercises and application to songs, the more substantive will be your progress.   

The class uses songs from many different genres, including folk songs, classic music theater, old and newer popular songs, sacred, patriotic, and others.  The songs are chosen to build vocal technique while also appealing to the class membership - so all will enjoy what they are singing, which is great incentive to practice!