Text Box: FAQ What will I learn? For the beginner, I teach the basics of vocal production -- proper breathing, vowel resonance, pitch-placement and basic reading and rhythm skills. I gradually build technique and range depending on each individual’s vocal characteristics. More advanced students concentrate on resonance, placement, technique and repertoire. All students receive music reading, theory and history appropriate to their skill level and the fundamentals of singing in Italian. I also teach techniques for minimizing performance anxiety and maximizing overall musicianship. Note: as a voice student progresses through the first year, more time is required for building repertoire. Therefore, the first year beginner will have a 45-minute lesson once a week. After the first year, and for intermediate to advanced students, 1 hour lessons are necessary. What is your teaching style? I use a combination of techniques that have been developed by leading voice instructors and coaches. My primary emphasis is on breath control, how to find the correct vowel resonances for each student’s voice, learning how to read, hear and place intervals and the fundamentals of bel canto. I take a holistic approach that deals with each student’s particular needs and involves low-impact yoga and other mind-body methods to minimize performance anxiety and enhance the overall musical experience. What is bel canto, and why must I sing in Italian? Italian is used as the preferred language for teaching beginning voice lessons because it has pure and unambiguous vowel sounds and very straightforward pronunciation rules. Bel canto is a vocal technique that evolved from the earliest operatic styles. It emphasizes evenness and clarity of sound throughout the vocal range along with the agility and flexibility necessary for singing the operas of the late 18th century to today. Learning the basics of bel canto will prepare you for singing any style of music from opera to rap. Do I need a keyboard or a piano? Having access to a piano or keyboard will definitely help you learn your music. I do provide practice CDs, but if you’re serious about learning to sing, basic keyboard skills are a big plus. You don’t necessarily need a piano; today’s electronic keyboards will help you find pitches and learn the theory. I offer a 20% discount for combined piano and voice lessons. What is music theory and why do I need to learn it? Simply put, music theory teaches the “why” behind the way a composer wrote a piece. Understanding music theory helps you learn new songs more quickly because it helps you anticipate how the piece will sound. It also helps you develop your own interpretations of the music allowing you to make your performances more meaningful to you and your audience. How long are your lessons? Piano, flute and beginning voice lessons are 45-minutes long, once a week and require a one-time deposit for books and materials. Intermediate-advanced voice lessons and all composition lessons are 60-minutes long once a week,. Text Box: Andrew J. Glick Music Studio ♪ 25437 Beresford Drive ♪ South Riding, VA 20152 map 703-327-5517 email