My goal as a singing teacher is to help singers of all ages; beginner, intermediate and advanced, find their natural voices and develop them to the best of their ability.

When people call to enquire about lessons, the story is often the same. "I love to sing. I sing in the shower, sing in my car and sing when I do the dishes". Parents when describing their children will say " She/He sings all the time. In their room, in the car and at school. They know all the words to the music (of their favorite artist)".

I am convinced that most of us have a deep seated need to respond vocally to our universe. A basic need to set up a vibration in accord with our surroundings. Whether it's the hum of a car motor, the cascade of the shower, the sounds of the street or our favorite pop/ rock/ jazz/ blues/ vocalist or band.

Songs are merely the stories of life supported by breath and rythm. We all have stories to tell. Even the youngest of us will rock, sway or bounce to a beat and offer up a hum(vibration). Mothers of all nationalities sooth their children with a little rocking. The humming of lullabies are common to all cultures.

Nations feel the need to express pride in their country by collectively singing their "anthem". We naturally express our emotions by crying out (vocalizing) our Joy, grief, amazement or revulsion. Religions have long realized the power of vocal expression through singing hymns, chanting collectively and singularly.

Humans are not the only species with a deep seated need to vocalize. Often in the summer, I'll run through my scales while standing in a screened room at our cottage. A chorus of warblers instantly join in and literally sing their hearts out. High "C"s are effortlessly and joyously intermingled on both sides. When our border collie hears the wolves at night on the lake or a train sound it's whistle, he responds by howling with gut wrenching abandon. The chipmunks chirp, the tree frogs resonate, bees buzz and the cat "meows" or purr their pleasure. The loons call to each other. Even dolphins cry out from their watery depths.

The need to vocalize is deep seated and natural. Our quest of vocal development should be a natural response to our need to express ourselves. It should rise up from our solar plexus and resonate through our bodies to join the tapestry of sounds around us. Listen to the sounds of life.