Vocal Instruction

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure to ask voice teachers whether or not they offer instruction in the genre of music that interests you. Also, make sure to ask if they teach vocal health - you will want to learn healthy vocal habits so you won't lose your voice or develop vocal damage. If you do any type of performing, make sure the instructor also will work with you on your performance skills. Ask for testimonials or references from other students.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Singing is not just a talent that some possess - it is a skill that is able to be learned by anyone. It is never too late to learn to sing, nor is it only something accessible to some. Singing requires practice, but it is something that anyone can learn.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Make sure to ask voice teachers whether or not they offer instruction in the genre of music that interests you. Also, make sure to ask if they teach vocal health - you will want to learn healthy vocal habits so you won't lose your voice or develop vocal damage. If you do any type of performing, make sure the instructor also will work with you on your performance skills. Ask for testimonials or references from other students.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My work stands out for a few reasons: 1) most voice teachers are only offering one technique and one genre of singing: classical. Most singers don't mind starting out with classical, but want something more. The Powell Method offers multiple techniques (after developing a classical base) which singers can use to adapt the singing voice to whatever genre of singing they are interested in learning. PLUS, we offer instruction in vocal health so they won't lose their voices and we also offer instruction in performance skills so that they know what to do once they have crafted the ideal sound. We are sort of a "one-stop shop". Not only that, but with The Powell Method, singers can study with a Certified Powell Method Instructor (CPMI) from anywhere using our convenient Virtual Voice Lessons. We stand out because we offer singers MORE than the average voice instructor and are committed to keeping singers healthy.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I come from a musical theatre performance background. My whole life, my mom told me I should be a teacher. This used to really offend me as an aspiring singer & actress! Ha! But then, a young teenager kept asking me if I could teach her how to sing like me. I finally decided to give it a try - I figured one student couldn't hurt. She then (without telling me) went to her high school's Fine Arts Director with my cheesy brochure and told him he had to hire me. Within months, I suddenly had 40+ students and was also working with a select choir. I was in love with teaching. Almost 9 years later, I made The Powell Method official by starting an online certification program for singers interested in teaching The Powell Method to their own students. Now, if given the choice to teach or perform, almost every single time I will choose teaching. I never thought I would do it, but I guess my mom was right! Ha!

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. For a couple years now, I have been travelling with the Powell Method Workshop Series. It started in NYC and was available to actors, singer/songwriters, musicians, and even amateurs. In 2010, we got involved with Talent Quest - a National Karaoke Contest with local and regional venues all over the country. We started bringing the workshops to the local and regional venues to get them prepared to compete. Most recently, the last two workshop series were held at regional competitions where they select 6 winners to go on to Nationals. In both of these competitions, 5 of the 6 winners studied with me in the Powell Method Workshop Series. Each of these winners won a trip to Nationals and also a package of lessons with me to help them prep for Nationals. We were thrilled to have had that kind of success twice in one month!

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Everything is becoming more and more accessible online in the voice teaching industry. At The Powell Method, we are about to launch two new programs: a Powell Method Singing Course and a Powell Method Instructor Course. The Singing Course will be a 6-month program designed for singers new to The Powell Method. They will receive an online video lesson once each month that will be full of exercises to practice for the month. Each lesson will build on the one before and singers will have the opportunity to work with a Certified Powell Method Instructor (CPMI) once each month to make sure they fully understand the lesson. It will be convenient to use at anytime and it will be much more affordable than studying weekly with a CPMI. The new and improved Instructor Course will start with the 6-month singing course and then move on to 20 weeks of learning to teach The Powell Method plus one month of 1-on-1 lessons with Founder, Katti Powell, and one month of teaching beginner students that they will be able to keep once certified. This new program will be much more thorough, very informative, much more interactive, and much more affordable than the current program. We are very excited to launch these new programs and anticipate doing this at the end of the summer of 2011.