Dori Levine
My Approach
Throughout my 20 years of teaching voice and coaching singers I have developed my own approach to the art of teaching singing and continue to be pleased by the DRAMATIC RESULTS that I get, often within the first session. I specialize in a “voice as an instrument” approach. That is to say, you learn to play your instrument (voice) as an instrumentalist learns to play theirs. This includes exploring the range, sound, textures & nuances of your voice along with developing STRONG TECHNIQUE and MUSICIANSHIP.
I have created my own BODY, BREATH, VOICE, WARM-UP as I see these three elements as inseparable. The warm-up encourages relaxation,effortless vocalizing, a positive singing stance, whole-body breathing and brings an awareness of “you” as your instrument.
I work with developing MUSICIANSHIP SKILLS and EAR TRAINING which are also tremendous CONFIDENCE builders, so necessary for singers. I have developed tools for OPENING YOUR VOICE so that you can utilize your vocal instrument to its POTENTIAL with all of its colors, range and power.
My teaching method combines traditional exercises that focus on specific skills such as strength, flexibility, intonation, range and breath support with exercises to free the voice. We will explore vocal possibilities in search of your own personal sound and style. I encourage expressing your own originality. We’ll find what is special about you and expand upon it.
Teaching voice is a vast subject. For some students a few lessons are enough as the first handful of lessons are especially powerful. For other students who prefer to go more deeply the work can continue for years. My 20 years of teaching experience has given me the ability to quickly assess the needs of my students and many wonderful tools with which to address vocal issues. It’s up to you as to how many lessons you take. Lessons and vocal exercises are personalized according to your needs.
PRIVATE LESSONS
How to WARM-UP; Mind, Body & Voice -
Gentle body stretches, relaxation & awareness work
Breath work & exercises to warm & open the voice
VOCAL TECHNIQUE
Breath Support
Strength & Projection
Range
Intonation
Flexibility & Fluidity
VOCAL EXERCISES
Traditional exercises to work on developing & improving specific skills
Improvisational exercises to explore the voice searching for personal style, nuances & colors & your own language.
Exercises that challenge your ear while working your voice
EAR TRAINING
Where are those pitches…really?
Singing intervals and chords
Developing relative pitch
Hearing beyond the obvious
PERFORMANCE SKILLS
Coping with Performance Anxiety
Microphone Technique
Internalizing your material
Communicating with Accompanist; terminology, counting tempos
Intros & endings
Creating basic arrangement
Singing the “story” of a song
Reaching your Audience
Getting your book together, choosing YOUR tunes
The importance of clear lead sheets in YOUR keys
Affirmations & Visualization
IMPROVISATION (when appropriate)
Spontaneously creating music in the moment; freely or within the context of a tune
Phrasing, Re-creation of melody
Extended Vocal Techniques
Experiencing vocal freedom
Creating a scat solo
COACHING
For performance & recording – why settle for merely good when GREAT exists!
Get that coaching BEFORE you spend all the money on recording or invite all of your friends to come and hear you live…it’s a very worthwhile investment!
Lessons are usually an hour and divided into three parts: warm-up, vocal exercises, developing repertoire & performance skills but can be varied to suit individual needs.
SPECIALIZATIONS
Jazz & Scat Singing -
Enjoy the beauty of singing Jazz standards, often referred to as the Great American Songbook that include timeless compositions by some of our greatest composers including Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Rodgers & Hart, among others. Study the work of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and other historical singers from whom we draw our inspiration. More advanced students might study the work of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and other modern composers and musicians.
Scat singing is a wonderfully freeing use of the voice popularized by Ella Fitzgerald in the 1940′s and has been evolving ever since into modern times. Come and find your own “scat” language and learn to re-create melody lines as would an instrumentalist and take a solo.
Some areas of focus include:
Getting your book together- the importance of clear lead sheets in YOUR keys & finding the tunes that feel right for you
Interpreting tunes YOUR own way – Improvising, phrasing, re-creating melodies
Scat Singing-creating your own solos-build vocabulary-sing instrumental solos played by great improvisers-Scat with Confidence!
Vocal Exercises & Ear Training designed for Jazz Singers
Communicating with your Accompanist
– terminology,
– counting out tempos,
– intros, endings
– creating basic arrangements
Singing “the story” of the song
Coping with Performance Anxiety
Microphone Technique
How to Warm-up, mind, body & voice
Tools to prepare you to be a CONFIDENT JAZZ SINGER!
Vocal Improvisation – For All Genres -
Improvisation is an important part of Jazz and also can do wonders to enhance other styles of singing. It offers the singer a chance to express their own artistry, originality and to express feeling while experiencing a new level of vocal freedom. Learn to spontaneously let your creativity flow, so important for all genres of music!
This work can be applied to all styles of singing (except classical). Singer/songwriters, R&B , Blues, Gospel, Rock & Pop singers can all benefit by learning to improvise.
Also (click below):
- Singer-Songwriter, Instrumentalists
- Public Speaking – for Business, Presentations, Life
WORKSHOPS
Introductory Vocal Workshop
Curious about the diaphragm? What is this business about breath support? Where are the resonators in your body? How do you “sing from your gut”?
This is a Basic Vocal Workshop designed for beginners, singers who have never had voice lessons, singers who want to refresh and/or add information to what they already know.
I will lead you through a warm-up which is designed to bring awareness to you/your voice, as the instrument it is. The warm-up encourages whole body breathing (what’s that?), relaxation, opening, loosening and releasing your voice. It gives you tools that you can use for the rest of your life!
We’ll do Vocal Exercises with the piano that focus on a variety of skills and ear training. Once we’re all warmed up and have become more aware of our vocal/breath apparatus we’ll try out out voices with some improvisation, which is freeing and fun!
Click below for other workshops:
- Vocal Improvisation Workshop