Vocal Coach/Singing Lessons in Toronto: Highly Specific Needs Edition
July 3, 2019 3:27 PM Subscribe
For various reasons (transition hormones, years of heavy weed and cigarette smoking, sheer lack of practice) I can no longer sing like I used to. This is really bothering me in general and **really** bothering me as I prepare to apply to rabbinical school; once upon a time I had a nice sort of voice for a rabbi to have and right now I have an uncontrolled mess of raw material that I don't know what to do with. Here's what I need from a teacher:
- They need to really, **really** understand genderqueer voices. I did not complete a full medical transition; I spent one year on testosterone (2016-2017), which left my voice significantly lower than it used to be but not nearly as low as it was while I was still taking T or as low as it would have become had I stayed on T. My voice also doesn't work like it did while I was taking T and doesn't quite work like it did pre-T either, and that's a big part of why I have, like, no vocal control right now. So I need a teacher who understands what to do with that, or who can at least figure it out with me, and also who won't be a jerk to me either about being genderqueer or about kinda-sorta-detransitioning.*
- They need to specialize in a style that will work well for leading Jewish services. I was briefly working last summer with an amazing queer vocal coach who specializes in barbershop (very blendy and quiet with minimal enunciation of consonants), which is, like, the absolute opposite of what I need to be learning how to do. Someone whose focus is either Broadway-style or classical/operatic singing would be a better fit; the point is to be able to command a room with my voice. (And I used to could do that! I really used to! I mean I was never cantor material, but the voice was loud and it was nice! I just need to learn how to do it with my now-voice.)
- They need to be able to work with atypical bodies; I have a connective tissue disorder that occasionally makes physical instructions that are easy for most people surprisingly difficult for me. I can usually find workarounds, but I need a teacher who will be patient and understanding about that.
- They need to be affordable. I mostly live on ODSP payments, and I intend to pay for lessons out of the small savings I've accrued from freelance gigs here and there, but the cheaper the better as I don't have much cash on hand.
*extra special bonus points if they can also help me with a bit of voice training--I'm pretty dysphoric about how my speaking voice sounds when it gets loud, and I'd love to be able to address that with a singing teacher
Is this possible? Does my magical dream teacher exist somewhere in the city? Do you know of someone who checks most but not all of my boxes? Please tell me who they are and how I can find them!
- They need to really, **really** understand genderqueer voices. I did not complete a full medical transition; I spent one year on testosterone (2016-2017), which left my voice significantly lower than it used to be but not nearly as low as it was while I was still taking T or as low as it would have become had I stayed on T. My voice also doesn't work like it did while I was taking T and doesn't quite work like it did pre-T either, and that's a big part of why I have, like, no vocal control right now. So I need a teacher who understands what to do with that, or who can at least figure it out with me, and also who won't be a jerk to me either about being genderqueer or about kinda-sorta-detransitioning.*
- They need to specialize in a style that will work well for leading Jewish services. I was briefly working last summer with an amazing queer vocal coach who specializes in barbershop (very blendy and quiet with minimal enunciation of consonants), which is, like, the absolute opposite of what I need to be learning how to do. Someone whose focus is either Broadway-style or classical/operatic singing would be a better fit; the point is to be able to command a room with my voice. (And I used to could do that! I really used to! I mean I was never cantor material, but the voice was loud and it was nice! I just need to learn how to do it with my now-voice.)
- They need to be able to work with atypical bodies; I have a connective tissue disorder that occasionally makes physical instructions that are easy for most people surprisingly difficult for me. I can usually find workarounds, but I need a teacher who will be patient and understanding about that.
- They need to be affordable. I mostly live on ODSP payments, and I intend to pay for lessons out of the small savings I've accrued from freelance gigs here and there, but the cheaper the better as I don't have much cash on hand.
*extra special bonus points if they can also help me with a bit of voice training--I'm pretty dysphoric about how my speaking voice sounds when it gets loud, and I'd love to be able to address that with a singing teacher
Is this possible? Does my magical dream teacher exist somewhere in the city? Do you know of someone who checks most but not all of my boxes? Please tell me who they are and how I can find them!
My queer jewish friend recommends either Ruth Rohn at the Narayever, or Aviva Chernick https://avivachernick.com/
posted by PinkMoose at 6:10 PM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by PinkMoose at 6:10 PM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is a really tangential route, but my daughter spent a year in Newchoir, and Dr. Robin Williams was an amazing leader. I am not sure he is the person that will tick all of your boxes - he is most definitely queer-friendly in our experience, and he "holds bachelor degrees in music performance and education, a master’s degree in sacred music, and a doctorate in musicology from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome" - so think he understands the need to project. He is also a champion bodybuilder, so I think he may have some understanding of bodies, and there were people in the choir with differing physical abilities. He was amazing, super kind, and so great with my daughter, who was the youngest person in the choir. We couldn't continue this year, as she wanted to focus on her first year of high school, but she hopes to re-join some day. I am not sure he gives private lessons at all, but I am recommending him because he may be the person that gets you to the right person for you. Maybe look him up?
posted by peagood at 6:21 PM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by peagood at 6:21 PM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
My high school BFF is a very well-respected vocal coach in Toronto. I haven't spoken to hear in many years but she is by all accounts excellent. Her name is Jeannie Wyse but unfortunately I don't know how to contact her. You may be able to get her through someone at that link though.
posted by biscotti at 6:30 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by biscotti at 6:30 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Would you consider a speech language pathologist instead? Many specialise with singers and many work with trans voice - there must be some who overlap!
posted by kadia_a at 11:15 AM on July 4, 2019
posted by kadia_a at 11:15 AM on July 4, 2019
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posted by stray at 4:40 PM on July 3, 2019 [2 favorites]