Features
Feature Stories pertaining to VoiceWorks
Musical Theatre Class Comes Bridgewater!
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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
Impulse Handbell Ensemble and Pitch Black debut at Count Basie Theater
On December 17th 2010, VoiceWorks’ two elite ensembles, Impulse Handbell Ensemble and Pitch Black made their debut performance at Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Both under the direction of Managing Director, Ryan Guth, these 9th-11th graders met critical acclaim as a part of Nancy Scharff’s “Christmas is Love” benefit concert for LOVE Inc. LOVE Inc. is a recognized charitable organization who helps the poor by meeting their immediate needs, such as finding food shelter and housing, and also teaching life-skills to those in need.
The evening’s program featured solo and ensemble works by members of an ecumenical and children’s choir made up of singers from Monmouth county churches, an orchestra, as well as professional vocalists. Pitch Black’s program featured an arrangement of the Irish melody “Love Came Down at Christmas”, featuring soloists Lindsay Duva and Kyle Hayes. Impulse Handbell Ensemble played two up-tempo arrangements of the familiar French carols, “He is Born the Divine Christ Child” and “Now the Green Blade Riseth”. They also combined with the ecumenical choir, orchestra, and audience for “Carol Fantasia”, a rousing medley of familiar Christmas carols.
Both Pitch Black and Impulse members were met with compliments from audience members, production staff, and musicians on both their musical sound and professionalism.
VoiceWorks seeking members for elite vocal jazz/a capella choir
Starting in September, VoiceWorks will begin rehearsals for PITCH BLACK, our newest ensemble class. Under the direction of Ryan Guth, they will be a choir that specializes in vocal jazz and a-capella music. Pitch Black members will get together for weekly rehearsals, perform both locally and nationally, participate in competitions, and tour in the summer with VoiceWorks’ bell choir IMPULSE HANDBELL ENSEMBLE.
We are currently seeking vocalists, in grades 9-12, to audition. Pitch Black is a “mixed” choir, with spots available for sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. In order to maintain high quality and balance, space is limited.
To schedule an audition, please contact us at support@voiceworksnj.com or call (908) 248-4884.
You wouldn’t see a mechanic for your upset stomach, would you?
…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
VoiceWorks Introduces Advanced Handbell Education
Are you a high school student in the Marlboro, NJ area? Would you love to sing more, but don’t have the time during the school day? Do you miss singing in a group with friends? Are you an aspiring singer or actor? Do you love the thrill of performing in a group or by yourself? Do you just want to do more singing or acting than you do now?
In an effort to expand the opportunities for high-school-aged students that love to sing, act, or play handbells, area choral conductor, Ryan Guth, founded VoiceWorks; A full service training center for student musicians. VoiceWorks will be offering programs for the recreational singer or aspiring professional singer/actor, beginning with ensembles such as a Handbell Choir, Vocal Choir, Acting Classes (see below) and soon expanding to provide private voice instruction, a musical theater ensemble for talented solo and ensemble singers, acting and improvisation classes, and audition prep. and theatrical career coaching.
The First Classes of VoiceWorks: Advanced Handbell Education, VoiceWorks Chorale and Fundamentals of Acting and Improvisation
Advanced Handbell Education
Improve your overall musicianship by studying the art of handbell ringing. Currently, VoiceWorks is taking registrations for an advanced bell choir (yet to be named) to begin in January. Students must be ages 14-18 and have prior AGEHR Level 3+ ringing experience or a significant musical background. This class’/ensemble’s aim is to gain an advanced music education, perform locally, and eventually record and tour in the summer.
Students will…
- learn advanced ringing techniques, such as shelley, four-in-hand, advanced malleting, and more, to take them to a new level of ringing expertise
- learn to conduct an ensemble
- improve music theory skills
- have fun performing for local events
- engage in team building
- and most importantly, look good on a college application!
Meeting Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 PM from Sept-June. (Limited to 11 ringers) $10/hr.
The class will be taught by Ryan Guth.
Want more individualized instruction?
VoiceWorks recommends Private Voice Lessons.
Would you still like more information?
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Feel free to browse our website! We will be constantly updating it as VoiceWorks expands to meet the needs of our members.
