Canary Instructor Sought

July 2, 2007 1:37 PM

Can you recommend a voice teacher in the Bay Area?

We're trying to find a voice teacher on the Peninsula or in the South Bay (94040 or thereabouts).

My wife very much wants to learn to sing from a professional, but we have no real way of evaluating teachers. We're hoping some of you can provide recommendations based on personal experience.

Our requirements are that the teacher be willing to make house calls on evenings and/or weekends, be exceedingly patient, be willing to start from zero, and understand that her student's goal is to sing tunefully with her child, not necessarily audition for the opera. We'd prefer a female teacher, but that's ancillary, at best.

Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated: recommendations (for or against!) based on firsthand experience are like unto gold for us.

posted by scrump to Education (5 answers total)

You may have some difficulties fulfilling your first requirement...most established voice teachers have their own studios, and for them to leave their studio and drive to and from your house will take twice as much time for them as a typical lesson (And would necessitate a much higher per-lesson rate, I'd imagine)
posted by sdis at 1:47 PM on July 2, 2007

What kind of singing does she want to do?
posted by miss lynnster at 2:02 PM on July 2, 2007

Response by poster: She just wants to, in her words, "be able to sing with my son". I think that translates into basic vocal training, with a strong focus on staying in key.
posted by scrump at 2:03 PM on July 2, 2007

My voice teacher is awesome, works well with kids of all ages and adults, and is very good about teaching to each student's needs. However, she has her own studio, and I don't think she does house calls. The studio's in downtown Mountain View, at Dana and Hope Sts. Her lessons are usually 3-9pm weekday evenings. I've been with her 2 years, I am a pretty amateur singer, but my voice is notably better since I've taken lessons from her (and not just from the consistent practice- I've been singing about once a week for the past 5 years. the last 2 with her have actually been useful).

Her name is Amy Sundberg, and her website is here.
posted by sarahnade at 5:51 PM on July 2, 2007

I found an excellent voice teacher (in LA) on craigslist by searching for "voice" in the lessons section.
I emailed all the tutors listed and just went with the one that was least pretentious and fit my schedule/ location - it was pretty easy to interpret from the responses I got who would be good (and fun!) to work with. I think there's a reasonable amount of bona fide musicians/ singers out there who teach part-time that'll fit your bill, and really, for what your wife wants to achieve, I don't think it so essential that you find a world-renowned tutor: like you say she's not auditioning for the opera. And I'm sure were you to find one the cost of lessons would soon add up.
posted by forallmankind at 12:26 AM on July 3, 2007