VoiceWorks is proud to offer a new class for Bridgewater-area singers: Musical Theatre Coaching class, with Aaron Lenhart. Monday nights, starting in January, students will meet weekly to refine their skills as a “singing actor”.  The class will put together their own revues and perform for the public.
This class will cover:

• Audition Skills
• choosing repertoire
• finding a “cut”
• formatting a resume
• headshots
• etiquette
• Acting Technique
• Vocal Coaching
• Performance Practice
• …and more (of course)

To register click here – Class meets from 7-9pm each Monday through June 2012. $89/month

Aaron is also offering a limited number of Private Voice Lessons.  30/45/60 minute slots are available.

For info on Private Voice Lessons, contact us directly.

Classes held at Martinsville United Methodist Church
1949 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836

…So, why would you go to just anyone for voice lessons?

If you’re an aspiring singer, your voice is your most precious possession.  It’s yours!  It cannot be replaced! It’s really easy to destroy!  And, once the damage has been done, it’s very expensive to fix! (If it even can be fixed, that is…)

In my experience as a middle school vocal director, I have been to many recitals, heard lots of stories, and done a TON of cringing!  When I hear stories about 10-year-old girls with voice teachers that make them sing SCREAM the hits of the late Judy Garland or Ethel Merman, or call themselves “belters”, I just sit there with my mouth agape and my stomach in knots.  I cannot believe that their parents are actually PAYING hundreds of dollars to have their child’s voice destroyed! They are going to need that money for the costly surgery to remove the polyps from their daughter’s vocal folds.  “LOUDER” DOES NOT EQUAL “BETTER”!!!

The problem is…Kids hear their “idols” singing on the radio and television and think that it’s natural for them to be able to sing like that without the years of practice or the age that these idols have under their belts. The scariest part is that there are voice teachers out there that claim (by word or practice) that it is possible for anyone’s kid to be able to sing like that.

One of my favorite voice professors once said, “I wasn’t born to high jump. I’m not built for it. You could teach me, but I’ll probably hurt myself”. The same goes with singing. Spectacular singing is not for everyone. It cannot be forced out by even the best teacher. Sure, they will come away with a decent foundation of knowledge, and maybe even sing a bit better, but if they don’t have a quality instrument, they can only go so far.  This is why renowned violinist Itzhack Pearlman doesn’t use a Wal-Mart brand student model violin.

If you are a parent of a voice student, I have some questions for you. Note: This is not a comprehensive list of questions. Hopefully, they will get you thinking.

• What qualifies this voice teacher to teach YOUR child? (A “Yes” to all of these questions would be preferred)
  • Degree in Vocal Pedagogy, Performance, or Music Education?
  • Performance Experience?
  • Studying with a renowned teacher(s) themselves?
  • Background in various styles?
• What techniques does he/she use? Do they talk about…
  • low (non-clavicular) breath?
  • a balanced use of head and chest registers?
  • proper posture and alignment of body around the spine?
  • use of proper diction as it relates to producing a healthy tone?
  • achieving a supported sound by using the muscles of the abdomen, ribs, back, chest, and pelvic floor?
• Does this voice teacher…
  • have the ability to demonstrate concepts vocally?
  • use the piano as a tool, not a means of drowning your child out?
  • teach singing in varied genres (classical, Broadway, folk, jazz, etc.) to create a well-rounded singer.

  This is just the beginning… There is SO much more that goes into a proper vocal education.

A good voice teacher should be able answer these questions with a resounding “YES”. Unfortunately many voice teachers, when presented with this short list of questions, wouldn’t have any idea what you are talking about.  The general public doesn’t realize that ANYONE can call themselves a voice teacher. There is no certification process, degree requirement, or mental health exam. With so much at risk, that is SCARY to me.

–Ryan Guth

VoiceWorks’ motto is “Sing for Life!”, because our teachers can be trusted by their students. They can feel confident knowing that they will have a voice to use for their entire life.

Interested in lessons with a VoiceWorks teacher? Contact us

From ImprovEverywhere: Their latest mission, a 13-member handbell choir provided some unexpected accompaniment for a Salvation Army bell ringer on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

1. You get to be loud. Always feel like you’re being shushed by teachers and adults? In choir, you’re actually encouraged to make noise.

2. Friendship. More than 42 million Americans sing in choruses, so you’re sure to make some new buddies.

3. See the world! Many choirs go on tours to exciting and faraway places.

4. Begin the path to stardom. Mega-celebs Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake started their careers singing in school and church choirs. Even President Obama was once a choral singer.

5. Bring home A’s. Research shows that students who sing in choruses get better grades than students who don’t.

6. Make your college application shine. Admission folks will love to see that you’re involved in
extracurricular activities–especially an activity like choir, which develops teamwork skills and self-discipline.

7. L’amour. Lots of singers date people they meet in choir, because music is the food of love, after all.

8. Back rubs. Yeah, that’s right: back rubs. Many choruses do them as part of their rehearsal warm-ups.

9. No schlepping. Singing does not require carrying around heavy instruments or gym bags. All you
need is your fab voice.

10. Bragging rights. Not everyone can say they’ve been in the spotlight, but you’ll be able to because singing in a chorus gives you the opportunity to be front and center, baby!

Copyright 2009, Chorus America “Choral Impact Study”

As I sauntered out of the choir room with my back hunched over, and head down, memories from the past three years overwhelmed my mind. It was over. Three years of opportunities I felt I could receive nowhere else. Three years of experiences that I would never forget. Three years of strenuous, demanding rehearsals. Three years that shaped my personality and brought out the best in me. Chorus, as I found out, is so much more than just a group of musicians singing together. It’s been months I left the middle school and yet my feelings have not change in any way.

The choir was a huge part of everyday life. My life revolved around it: after-school rehearsals, competitions, concerts, try-outs for solos, class time, lessons; all my friends were in the choir. Not only did I sing outstanding music and learn theory, but I walked away having learned lessons that are extremely beneficial to any aspect of life, whether I end up a musician, or not. For instance, anything can happen at any moment, so never long for what you don’t have or downplay what you do, because if you look left and right, there’s always someone who has it worse. Cherrelea Morgen once said, “Life’s not always fair. Sometimes you can even get a splinter sliding down a rainbow.” I learned about dealing with rejection, perseverance, and pursuing goals even when the odds were stacked against me. I learned that a bump in the road should never end your journey, but instead, motivate you to keep on trudging.

No one can teach you better than the man behind it all; who shows you that you can always do so much more than you think you’re capable of; whose been there himself; who has impacted the lives of hundreds of aspiring students one by one. Mr. Ryan Guth. His wide range of experience in the music field brought us students further than we ever expected. During my time as a choral student under Mr. Guth, we received dozens of awards, even a most honorable one, the Esprit de Corps, representing the spirit and professionalism that represents the true spirit of choral singing. We came home with  awards for best overall choir, multiple best overall solos, and “superior” ratings at renowned competitions. Not only that, but he also provided us with chances to engage in concerts with nationally renowned musicians and music groups.

I will never forget feeling at the end of the every song; watching as the conductor gestures our release, ending on a well-balanced chord, watching the audiences jaws drop in awe as they burst with applause and cheers of satisfaction. It is the most unbelievable feeling that I know; so unbelievable there has not yet been an adjective invented to describe it. Singing in a choir presents us with feelings and opportunities that cannot be gained in other ventures. Choral singing, like all music, screams the words and actions that we cannot explain.

And as our conductor lifted his arms to prepare for our final song at graduation, my eyes scanned every member as they gleefully smiled with excitement, anticipation and pride. These were the people that would always be my confidants and friends. I felt truly home.

–S.H.