Seeking remote voice lessons - concerned about cost; also I'm old
February 4, 2023 11:23 AM Subscribe
I would like some voice lessons. Issues:
-- I'm 72 and my voice is croaky and maybe I need somebody who would understand that coaching me might not be the same as coaching somebody with a young, nubile larynx;
-- I don't want to go to anybody's house at this point (still Covid-concerned) so need this person to be set up to give lessons remotely;
-- I can't break the bank on voice lessons right now, so I'm not looking for The Most Prestigious Voice Teacher In The World; I think I just need somebody to give me some guidance, because:
-- I was an undergraduate music major, I play the piano and other instruments, I've had some voice lessons in the past (well, not many), I was a music therapist, I write my own songs and sing them, etc. I used to have a nice (if not the most powerful) voice (a nice voice to sing folk songs and some standards e.g. "You Made Me Love You," and my own songs as I accompany myself on the guitar) -- so I'm not looking for a fancy teacher who coaches professional opera singers or anything like that.
-- Here is me singing one of my own songs a few years ago. My voice is MUCH CROAKIER than this now! and I would like to do something about it before it's too late. Thank you.
-- I'm 72 and my voice is croaky and maybe I need somebody who would understand that coaching me might not be the same as coaching somebody with a young, nubile larynx;
-- I don't want to go to anybody's house at this point (still Covid-concerned) so need this person to be set up to give lessons remotely;
-- I can't break the bank on voice lessons right now, so I'm not looking for The Most Prestigious Voice Teacher In The World; I think I just need somebody to give me some guidance, because:
-- I was an undergraduate music major, I play the piano and other instruments, I've had some voice lessons in the past (well, not many), I was a music therapist, I write my own songs and sing them, etc. I used to have a nice (if not the most powerful) voice (a nice voice to sing folk songs and some standards e.g. "You Made Me Love You," and my own songs as I accompany myself on the guitar) -- so I'm not looking for a fancy teacher who coaches professional opera singers or anything like that.
-- Here is me singing one of my own songs a few years ago. My voice is MUCH CROAKIER than this now! and I would like to do something about it before it's too late. Thank you.
I have found that aerobic exercise (swimming for me), as long as I don't overdo it in cold air or get an ear infection or cold, makes a huge difference in my voice quality.
Sorry I can't make a better recommendation, other than maybe looking for someone who understands jazz, blues, or rock.
(They all say that their techniques can apply to all styles, but an operatic coloratura may get super focused on aspects other than expressiveness.)
posted by amtho at 11:54 AM on February 4, 2023
Sorry I can't make a better recommendation, other than maybe looking for someone who understands jazz, blues, or rock.
(They all say that their techniques can apply to all styles, but an operatic coloratura may get super focused on aspects other than expressiveness.)
posted by amtho at 11:54 AM on February 4, 2023
I won't recommend you mine since I don't know where you live, but most people here seem to be on East Coast time, and mine is on the West Coast and young, and that might not be what you are looking for. But I'll say I pay $100 for a month's lessons and that's been quite reasonable, and we work over Zoom. What you're looking for is probably findable in your time zone somewhere, I think.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:58 AM on February 4, 2023
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:58 AM on February 4, 2023
How's your insurance? Apparently insurance may cover vocal training to prevent vocal cysts or something? Singers are one of the categories of people likely to need this (also people who have to project their voice a lot, and people who have to alter their voice a lot). Worth asking your doctor for a referral if insurance will cover it.
posted by aniola at 12:12 PM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 12:12 PM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I believe aniola is referring to this recommendation for how to get insurance to cover vocal training for transfeminine people. Not sure if it will work for you, but it might?
posted by sibilatorix at 12:30 PM on February 4, 2023
posted by sibilatorix at 12:30 PM on February 4, 2023
If it’s suddenly croakier, maybe a doc taking a closer look and then perhaps referring you to an SLP if needed is a good idea… I’m having trouble that way too (fear nodules, now wish to act), and these articles seem like good starting points in terms of thinking about just how to approach things. (Apologies for messy links, my phone never lets me do them right.)
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/nodules-62963/
Maybe a coach trained by this coach would be more affordable? I think her take is legit.
https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/i-had-nodules-and-this-is-what-i-learned/
This person’s experience seems useful. (Acid reflux contributed to her problems.)
Cyndi Lauper lost her voice for a year in the 70s, Katie Agresta is who helped her. (Again maybe someone affiliated with Agresta could be worth checking out?)
I don’t think “croakiness” is always or necessarily a natural consequence of aging, though of course it does happen, and it all depends. But maybe just make sure it’s not something else first.
posted by cotton dress sock at 1:04 AM on February 5, 2023
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/nodules-62963/
Maybe a coach trained by this coach would be more affordable? I think her take is legit.
https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/i-had-nodules-and-this-is-what-i-learned/
This person’s experience seems useful. (Acid reflux contributed to her problems.)
Cyndi Lauper lost her voice for a year in the 70s, Katie Agresta is who helped her. (Again maybe someone affiliated with Agresta could be worth checking out?)
I don’t think “croakiness” is always or necessarily a natural consequence of aging, though of course it does happen, and it all depends. But maybe just make sure it’s not something else first.
posted by cotton dress sock at 1:04 AM on February 5, 2023
The symptom you describe could be related to GERD -- doing _all the things_ to treat that condition really helped my voice.
posted by amtho at 4:15 PM on February 5, 2023
posted by amtho at 4:15 PM on February 5, 2023
Response by poster: my god I completely forgot about my GERD. Yes. Diagnosed. Definitely. And, when I was singing sporadically (years ago) my voice got bad. Now I've barely sung in a couple of years. And I'm not THAT croaky. I exaggerated. Really it's around the "Break." The chest voice is fine, the upper register is a little weak...just that middle part "croaks" like a pubescent boy's. I will have this all checked out, and thanks for the recommendations.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:45 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:45 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you do still need therapy, I happened upon this person, who seems worth a shot!
https://lotusvoicestudio.com/
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:39 PM on March 8, 2023
https://lotusvoicestudio.com/
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:39 PM on March 8, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
BTW, regarding remote vs in-person: My MBP has a good built-in mic and camera and Zoom remote is absolutely fine. YMMV if either you or the teacher you choose has bad equipment.
posted by JimN2TAW at 11:45 AM on February 4, 2023