Here’s my Teaching Rant

So, our house flooded in 2022. Our studio is downstairs, and she was out of action for nearly two years. This halted all singing lessons for that whole time. I started workshops and choirs and made an EP. I’m creeping back in to teaching now. I used to teach so very much, now it’s a little tricker. I filled  the windows up with projects! Hurrah!

I love teaching. It keeps me on my toes. The exchange of energy – new music floating through my ears, vocal techniques to sharpen and focus, all of the concepts you can work on are endless… Singing isn’t just singing… From music theory, to stage craft, mic technique, breath work, fine tuning your pitch, song writing, recording, auditions, high school, self confidence… The list goes on and on. And I love it all.

I can hear brains tick. Good singing teachers can hear your thoughts. And help you find keys to unlock yourself. I have my go-to keys. And I love finding new ones. Humans are intricate creatures. Story filled hearts. I hear peoples hesitations and held breaths. I hear people hiding from themselves. It’s such a pure joy to help someone find what their voice sounds like.

I save a spot for tutoring high school folks. The pure beauty of helping a young kid get through the maze of adolescence with singing. Hoo wee, the world is an everchanging place and I don’t envy what teens deal with now. I’ve seen eyes widen, as they find me… speaking a language they’ve been searching for. Don’t get me wrong… I’m old now… I don’t mean to say I’m young and hip and talking the talk. But I’m a musical influence that has been warmly welcomed to kids that were looking for musical freedom.

I’m far, far from the knuckle cracking mean old piano teacher from that movie that time… I’d rather help a student reach into the world of gentling self assessing with love and care.

Perfection is far from my mind. It doesn’t exist in my land. Before we think about what the HSC marker will mark you – What do YOU mark you? Let’s start with the funnest criteria first.

I attend many workshops and lessons on all kinds of things (singing, gospel choirs, African Dance, hula dance…) I love learning from how people teach and facilitate. It’s such an art. When you find a good teacher there is just so much to learn.

I promise to be honest with you, and to tread gently with you, as this sound of your voice, that you allow to share with me, is personal and is to be treated with respect, joy and love. I don’t want to get all Byron Bay-hippie on you, but I have been teaching and singing long enough to know that it can be really very scary, really very tremendous, and really very rewarding and fulfilling. I hope I can lead you into the maze, offer you some ways to navigate it, and I’m pretty sure you’ll amaze both of us.

I believe there is room enough in this grand old world for each of us to express ourselves and stand tall by that.

My Professional Vocal Experience

• Taking contemporary and classical singing lessons since the age of 14 years old till 23 years, with several different vocal teachers,
• Teaching all ages of vocal students since 1999,
• Gaining my Certificate in Music at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium in Lismore (1998),
• Completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music with Honours (Southern Cross University, NSW, 2003),
• Growing up in the Northern Rivers with constant and joyful encouragement to preform at local jam nights (Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Lismore, Eltham, Ballina, Alstonville, Bangalow, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and  Billinudgel),
• A committed participant in African dance and drum classes,
• Participating in World Music choirs, Gospel choirs and Community choirs,
• Learning (or constantly trying to learn…) Spanish,
• Learning about and researching speech and vocal therapy,
• Taking sporadic half yearly courses on: drums, bass, guitar, flute. Whilst quietly trying my own ideas on banjo, ukulele, piano, baritone ukulele and electric guitar.
• I’ve performed in large funk bands (6 to 21 piece bands), small pop bands, duo’s, trios, quartets and as a solo artist. I have studied jazz since before I thought I could ever understand it. All of which has brought me to where I am today. And through these processes I have learnt that I love to share all of this amazing language that is Music. I love to be part of the inspiration process – your inspiration and mine. I love singing and I love seeing a student and friend progress, develop and succeed.

Finding the Singing Teacher that’s right for you…

I highly recommend shopping around and finding the right singing teacher for you. I’ll tell you now, singing teachers are a truly unique bunch of nut-cases. But, like many things in life, you’ve gotta find the person that clicks with you. That encourages and/or pushes and/or challenges and/or safeguards and/or nurtures and/or … you get the idea…

I have learnt just as much from my least favourite teachers as my favourite. I learnt how I do not want to be perceived, let alone what I do want to teach.

If you’re with a teacher that makes you feel crap, GET OUT! You’re the Boss!

Sometimes my job is un-doing some stories from past singing scars… Don’t be that guy!

I really find the need to have fresh exercises, to stay inspired, to feed my inner artist on the holidays, to stay keen as a bean. But if you don’t click with me, I can give you an excellent list of people who might be great.

I’m not great at musical theatre songs, not terrible – but not great, I’m not amazing at super fast r’n’b melismas – keen and working on it, but not a pro. I know where my weaknesses lie, and I know my strengths, and I’m honest about it. Honesty is key. A lying singing teacher isn’t helping you, they’re just baby sitting. And that’s a high rate for a baby-sitter, so, no, get a teacher that can teach you what you want and need.

Ok. Was I nostalgic? Did I pedagogically rant? I think so.

Thanks for reading.

Lotsa love

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