Katherine Dobbs

Do you have an interest in either beginning or continuing your vocal journey? Would you like to discover your very own individualistic artistic self?

 

As a BM in Vocal Performance, I look forward to educating others in the beauty of music and singing. As your teacher, I will not only cover healthy vocal technique. I will also guide you towards being an expressive performer, and eventually your own teacher, which is the hardest feat of them all. How do you interpret the text given to you? How do you express this text in a meaningful way, especially if it's in a different language? Most importantly, how do you do all this in a vocally healthy way? These are questions I strive to answer with you.

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For me, I hope to create a welcoming environment for all students, no matter where they are in their vocal development. I want my students to be in a safe environment to play with expression and performance, without judgement or harsh criticism. Through reasonable challenges, I will push my students to explore their own artistic abilities, and to express themselves not only through the voice, but also through their acting. While I primarily specialize in operatic performance, I would be willing to work with a student in different genres, such as jazz and musical theatre. However, I do believe that all students should have a foundation of classical singing technique.

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I am more than happy to provide both in-person and virtual lessons, both of which will offer the same level of engagement, workload, and aid. While I know from first hand experience that zoom lessons can be tricky, there is still so much we can learn through this format.

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What's Included With Me?

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My lessons are open to all voice types and ages. No matter where you are on your journey, I am here to help! Each week, you or your child will receive an hour-long session. Because I believe that each student requires different attention, and that this attention can evolve or change over time, there are many different things I am open to including. One week we may focus on performance, while the next week we may work on languages. Here are some options:

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• Musical and technique work (I recommend at least 30 minutes of this each week, as this is the foundational work!)

• Performance coaching (Can be 15-30 minutes)

• Language/diction/IPA work (Can be 15-30 minutes)

• Music theory/piano work (Can be 15-30 minutes)

• Career Consultation/Discussion (Can be 15-30 minutes)

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• • Weekly personalized updates ​(sent out via email immediately after each and every lesson) with a summary of what we covered in the lesson, what I would like to see for the next week (assignments), and a list of any trouble spots that I would like the student to pay extra attention to

  • A vocal warm-up packet curated towards the student's skill level. This will be given to the student when they first start with me

  • A practice guide to help you or your child practice intentionally and efficiently, as this is one of the hardest things to understand when starting out. This will also be given out when the student starts with me. Self-sufficiency is crucial to have as a singer

  • A repertoire sheet for you to fill out to help you learn more about each new piece you are given. These will be regular assignments, and will help you learn more about composers, time periods, styles, and more

  • End-of-season progress reports, and hopes for the future

  • In-person and virtual performance opportunities and preparation (these could take the form of concerts, competitions, etc. in your area)

  • A bi-annual studio performance. This is so students can see each other's progress and encourage each other

  • A monthly newsletter sent out to each student or their parents, detailing local opportunities for them or their children. There will also be fun musical activities provided to foster musical growth

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• A first lesson FREE of charge!

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My Teaching Philosophy

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"Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time." 

- Jean-Michel Basquiat

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For me, I believe art is the manifestation of the human perception. While art is not technically necessary for survival, at least in our modern day, it gives our lives purpose and meaning. Art is used to celebrate the good times, and to commemorate the bad. There is a reason we sing after a great victory or tragedy. Therefore, I believe that anyone who wishes to develop their vocal skills, regardless of skill, age, or experience, should have access to lessons. As exhilarating as the art of singing is, I know from personal experience that it is also a meticulous and challenging skill that requires strong and intimate instruction from a qualified vocalist. There are many things to learn about the art of singing, some of which don't even have to do with singing, such as music theory and musicianship, marketing yourself, and piano skills. I also truly believe that, if each student brings dedication, preparation, and a positive attitude to each and every lesson, they will find immediate success. However, I do believe in cultivating a safe, open environment for every student. I understand life has its ups and downs, that good and bad days come and go, and that it is impossible to be prepared and focused 24/7. The voice is very much the instrument of the body, and being sick or harboring any upsetting emotions will affect your instrument, even if you try to work around these things. To be vulnerable and share your instrument with me means the world to me, and so I hope that all of my students can see me as a source of support in addition to being their teacher, both inside and outside of the studio. These are the following goals I intend to help all my students reach through the various lessons in my studio:

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• Vocal technique (healthy warm-ups, managing vibrato, agility of the voice, intonation, phrasing, breath support, etc.)

• Basic music theory (chords, progressions, systems of labeling, etc.)

• Basic musicianship (solfège, finding pitch, sight-reading, ear training, rhythm, etc.)

• Piano skills (chords, arpeggios, scales, progressions, playing your vocal line, accompanying yourself as a singer, sight-reading, etc.)

• Stage presence (confidence, posture, introductions, vocal tone, performance attire, how to walk on and off, etc.)

• Habits to keep a healthy voice (exercises, performance diet, how to recover from (and prevent) sickness, etc.)

• Languages/diction (Italian, German, French, and English)

• Acting skills (facial expression, gestures, motivation, character goals, etc.)

• Entrepreneurship (how to market yourself, resume/repertoire list work, determining what competitions/concerts/performances to go for, networking, etc.)

• A knowledge of the business

• And much more!

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Lesson Pricing

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• An hour long session (which includes technique work and other training): $30

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• 45 minute technique only lesson: $20

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While I highly recommend weekly hour-long sessions, and believe that the other assets I have to offer are crucial parts of you or your child's artistic development, I am also more than willing to offer 45 minute technique lessons without any additional work, if that is the most financially feasible option for you or your family. I am also more than happy to offer lessons on a non-weekly, less frequent basis, if weekly lessons are not financially doable for you or your family. Please feel free to reach out to me if either of these secondary options are of interest to you!

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What story do YOU have to tell?

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Contact Me Below!

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Please contact me through the form found here. If you are interested in enrolling in voice lessons, please do message me and I will reply to you via email as soon as I can! I will be more than happy to discuss specific logistics, schedules, and prices that will fit your needs.