Ultimate Online Learning Experience

  • Receive mentoring from Rachel Velarde
  • Easy webcam assignment recording
  • Always available personalized session

... go beyond YouTube and DVDs

Initial Voice Assessment (free)

Starting September 10, 2009

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Why do I have questions to ask?

Not all singers fit with all voice teachers.  This is a collaborative relationship where I help you to find the best vocal production you can.  This means that how I teach needs to blend with your learning style.

I will tailor each lesson to YOU and your needs, but the way that I teach may not fit with how you learn - this has happened on occasion (although rarely).  This assessment will help us both to decide whether or not we will be a good fit.

My job as a voice teacher is to provide YOU with the tools to make positive change in your vocal production.  This means that there is interactive discussion between us, as well as me making sure that you understand how and why we are doing the exercises we are.  If you don't know how it works, how can you practice and perform effectively?

So, I will be asking you to think.  I will be posing Discussion Questions at the end of each exercises for you to answer.  The answer "I don't know," if it your true answer, will help me to know in which direction we will take your individually tailored lessons.

So, click on the next section to find out what I need to know from you, so we can start our journey of vocal discovery.

Rachel Velarde

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I have been teaching private voice lessons since 1993. I came to Arizona State University because of a graduate teaching assistantship in voice - teaching voice lessons to music majors for college credit. I am an internationally known singer and continue both performing and increasing my knowledge of the voice. I have an annual 20%-25% success rate with my high school students at the Regional Honor Choir auditions. 20% of those then audition successfully for the Arizona All-State Choir. As a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), my students sing annually at the NATS Student Auditions and the NATS Music Theater Student Auditions. I grew up attending the Indiana University Children's Choir, the Indiana University Young Pianists program, and the Indiana Univerisity Young Dancer's Ballet Program. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with a music major from Smith College. I have two Master of Music degrees from Arizona State University - one in Vocal Performance, and one in Vocal Pedagogy (the science of teaching the voice). I continue to study, perform, practice, and improve both my own voice and my teaching skills. My students are able to compile a personal “toolbox” of vocalizes and techniques that enable them to practice specifically and successfully on their own. Each student becomes aware of his/her own voice and is able to allow it to be free and develop into the instrument that it was made to be. Through practice, listening to their lesson, attention to detail, and individual guidance, my students realize their vocal abilities.