I am a pianist as well as a singer, so I can accompany you while you sing. I love to explore music with my singers. It is an endless thrill to enter this artistic world. The composer has left us a blueprint – the score – and through that blueprint, we are able to participate in the work of art. It’s like stepping into a painting which comes to life as we work.

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I like to work on technique through repertoire. Scales and vocalises are important, of course! But technique exists to serve the music and your personal expression, and I want to make sure you don’t separate the means from the end! I sometimes work ‘backwards’ with technique: we start with a song or aria and if we find a ‘problem spot’, I’ll devise a technical exercise to tease out the issue.

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I’m a problem solver – bring me your audition piece or the ‘hard bit’ of your solo – I am used to working with professional singers who have to work to deadlines and to the requirements of conductors and stage directors. More often than you might think, singers in their opera house dressing rooms will reach out by text or Skype for some last-minute advice, a warmup, or a pep talk before a performance! Singers are like athletes in this way – we all need a trusted coach. I work with one eye on the long term and the other on the task at hand.

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Voice building, or vocal coaching? My approach to your lesson will depend on your age, stage, level of ambition and the sort of music you want to sing. For people who are new to singing, I will work with you to explore your voice; to extend your range, resonance and breathing, and to calm or loosen up your vibrato.  For those who are established professionals, I will focus on fine-tuning and performance-ready preparation. I don’t want you to go back to the drawing board and change your whole technique. You tell me what works and what doesn’t and we’ll go from there.