The singing voice is a “castle in the air”. Imagination is its architect. Nerves carry out the plans. Muscles are the labourers. The soul inhabits it. – Giovanni Battista Lamperti
The voice is our first instrument. It is unique, non-transferrable and a direct reflection of our personality and emotions, of our conscious and subconscious mind. Therefore, the best we can do for our voice is to develop better skills to help it express itself. I’ve heard it say that technique limits our spontaneity and expressive freedom, but this is certainly untrue: well applied, it helps us to develop our full expressive potential. Singing technique makes us free!
I’ve been working as a voice instructor and music teacher since 1998 in Spain (my native country) as well as in the US (where I studied). I am currently a faculty member at L’Aula de Música Moderna i Jazz del Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona, a professional music school linked to Berklee College of Music, where I teach private voice instruction and ear training and lead the school’s Choir for Modern Music.
Furthermore, I offer private instruction to voice professionals and music students who wish to improve their skills, as well as to amateurs starting off in the fascinating world of music (previous assessment required): the singing and speaking voice, solfeig, ear training and harmony; guided preparation for concerts, auditions and proficiency tests for music schools and colleges in Europe and the US.
I teach in English, Spanish or German according to the student’s needs. Private voice instruction includes the following aspects :
- Body-voice relationship
- Breathing, phonation, resonance and articulation
- Widening the vocal range and managing register changes
- Psychological aspects of the speaking and the singing voice: unblocking, expression and creativity
- Particular features of the different styles of modern music: jazz, blues, soul, gospel, RnB, Latin jazz, bossa nova, etc.
- Sound, rhythm, expression, intention and phrasing
- Musical qualities and diction in different languages
- Vocal improvisation techniques in different musical styles
- The stage: stage fright, pose, communication
- Singing with and without a microphone