What is singing? If I were to summarize it in three simple words, I’d say it’s “a melodic exhale”. We take in a relaxed breath and then vocalize as we exhale, much like we do when speaking. We may vary the pitch, loudness, endurance, or timbre of our words, but we’re always making sound on the out-breath. That’s it. It’s not as complicated as people think. It’s not a case of “you either have it or you don’t”. If you can breathe, hear, and talk—you can sing! And guess what? Just like any other physical skill, the only thing that separates a beginner from a virtuoso are the number and quality of your “reps”, or repetitions. This is why people hire coaches: to train under the guidance of a professional and to get from Point A to Point B faster and more easily. So what’s Point B? Well, it depends on your level of experience. · If you’re only just getting started, it might mean learning to manage your breath and match pitch. It might mean developing an awareness of how your voice feels inside your body at different points in your vocal range. It might mean building confidence. · If you’re an experienced singer, but struggle with certain stylistic elements, it could mean learning to belt high notes consistently and safely. Or connecting more authentically with the emotion in a song and really making it your own. · If you’re a touring professional, it could involve acquiring strategies to care for your voice even under the demands of frequent back-to-back gigs. The needs of a singer change throughout the artistic journey and I would love to guide you through all these transitions! ***** BIO: My name is Luca. I’m a Croatian-Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist, currently writing and recording my debut album. For over a decade now, I’ve studied both classical and contemporary voice and honed my craft in the folk, jazz, pop, and world music genres. I’ve performed in a variety of languages and on stages in Canada and Europe. Over the past couple of years, I’ve also studied vocal pedagogy so that I can help others reconnect with their voice. I started my teaching practice as a coach in October 2023. Here are some reviews from my students showing the ways in which I've helped them: ***** LESSON BREAKDOWN: Singing lessons last an hour, which is roughly divided into the following: · Bodywork for tension release, e.g. physical stretches (10-15mins) · Vocal warmups, e.g. lip and tongue trills on various ascending and descending scales (20-30mins) · Repertoire chosen by you (20-30mins) This structure acts as a general guideline only, which may vary depending on individual needs. Usually beginner singers will need to spend more time on basic technique at first before being able to tackle repertoire for half an hour. Experienced singers will typically spend more time on repertoire, but might need guidance on vocal stamina when touring or mastering advanced techniques like mix, belt, and twang. Sometimes I might have to step outside of the lesson plan to explain an anatomical concept or address an issue such as performance anxiety. So there’s plenty of flexibility built into the sessions too. Repertoire you choose can be performed in a variety of languages, including English, Croatian / Serbian / Bosnian, French, Spanish, Italian, or German. I speak most of these languages either fluently or conversationally, and I have sung repertoire in all of them. So I’m comfortable working with them. In terms of musical accompaniment, my students often use backing tracks found on YouTube. If that is not available, I can arrange a simple accompaniment on guitar. Singers who are musicians may likewise choose to accompany themselves on their instrument. If a singer does not play an instrument but is interested in pursuing that, I can offer some guidance on beginner to intermediate guitar or basic piano. For those interested in artist development, I also coach beginner to advanced songwriting strategies, with a specialty in lyrics. Lastly, singing can feel a little vulnerable sometimes. Though I am not a therapist, I am a trauma-informed practitioner and can provide a safe space for you to express any emotions or thought patterns that might pop up during lessons. If something appears in session that I am not qualified to address, I'm happy to refer you to the appropriate medical or therapeutic practitioner. And that's it! Please let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to answer them. Looking forward to working with you!