Barbara Ryan

Offers remote services

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Student age

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Introduction: I trained classically for 10 years with high powered teachers that included Metropolitan Opera singers and students of the late, great Todd Duncan. None of them prepared me for singing day after day, week after week in difficult acoustic environments, and I strained my voice, necessitating a long, silent recovery time. Once I started recording, I learned a great deal about what goes on in the vocal instrument and sat down to completely restructure my approach to singing. The result is my teaching method: an ergonomic understanding of the instrument, with an emphasis on using the body's natural acoustics in conjunction with breathing techniques, relaxation and overall fitness. I'm also a mother and grandmother and have learned how best to draw out my students' strengths and interests. For students who are seeking improvement in their speaking voices rather than just singing (voice overs, theater et al) I can help you there as well. If you would like references, please let me know. My students!!! We always become friends because a successful teacher takes the time to learn so much about every one.

Overview

Hired 47 times

Background checked

1 employee

36 years in business

Payment methods

Cash, Credit card, Square cash app

Social media

Facebook

Top pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

Jan - Jun

Featured Projects

11 photos

Specialties

Interested musical styles

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Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and value.

Exceptional 5.0

21 reviews

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Josh G.

Jan 5, 2015

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Hired on Thumbtack

Singing Lessons

Nanese A.

Oct 28, 2017

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Hired on Thumbtack

Barbara Ryan's reply

Wow! Thank you so much, Nanese! How ARE you? I miss you!

Singing Lessons

Stephen W.

Nov 4, 2015

Barbara Ryan brings a lifetime of knowledge and experience to her voice students. Moreover, she brims with warmth, drawing us into the mysteries and rewards of the vocal apparatus: a musical instrument we can surely feel and obviously hear, but cannot actually see. Barbara envisions it for us. She speaks of the porpoise blowhole and the crystal tube we each possess. Repeatedly she reminds us to take a nice, deep, larynx-dropping breath. This shorthand soon forms a daily habit, an awareness she instills; offering memorable guideposts to conscious singing. I speak here as a professional musician, my full-time occupation now for more than four decades. May I spend whatever years I have left as a vocalist under her watchful embrace.

Barbara Ryan's reply

Lo these many months past, I just want you to know how much I appreciate all your successful efforts to improve: I am SO proud of you, Steve!

Patricia M.

Aug 30, 2010

When I projected into the future, I decided it would be to my benefit to try to strengthen my voice. Since Barbara is an accomplished singer and a long-time friend, she was my choice. And I chose well. I have learned a great deal from her (as her slightly deranged dog rests at our feet) and her outsized personality insures that the lessons are pure pleasure.

Janine A.

Aug 31, 2010

I have been taking voice lessons from Barbara for over a year now. She has helped me improve my control, help my transition points and taught me how to sing at almost any volume level without pain and in several different styles. While I am not a professional singer, I think she can help almost anyone improve the quality of their voice for long term use. The lessons are also thoroughly enjoyable and I plan on continuing my music education with Bodhran lessons. I highly recommend Barbara as a teacher!

Credentials

Background Check

Barbara Ryan

FAQs

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I teach each student about his/her instrument from the first lesson. One of the greatest obstacles in leaning how to sing is not realizing that your voice is an instrument - the only one that can't be seen or touched - and needs to be understood through conceptualizations that suit the learning style of each student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Ten years of individual study (1972 - 1982) followed by a professional singing career that dates back to 1982. If you sing professionally, you must either train or be trained. My own singing career and students keep me at my teaching peak.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
Singing chose me and I had to go along for the ride.