MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST
Singing Lessons
“He is a fantastic guy, very creative and a superb teacher. The pupils really engage with him and respond well. He is very easy going and gets the best out of them. James is able to teach many different styles to all ages and is particularly strong at harmony work. Any school would be very lucky to have him on staff.”
- SARAH DORMADY,
PRINCIPLE, GOLDMANS STAGE SCHOOL
ABOUT
I am a singing teacher based in Brighton and Hove offering in-person and online private tuition for:
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Contemporary and Classic Pop vocalists
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Musical Theatre vocalists
Client home visits are also possible subject to availability and distance.
Additionally, I am a Vocals lecturer at Bimm University in Brighton and a former teacher at Goldmans Stage School, Bede’s Senior and Prep Schools.
Many of my private students work professionally both in the pop world and in the West End and some of my younger students have gone on to gain places at performing arts schools such as London Studio Centre, Bird College and ArtsEd. Having said this, a large portion of my clients undertake lessons for the pure enjoyment of singing with no burning desire to be the next Adele, they just do it for the love and to have a bit of 'Me time'.
LESSON CONTENT & OVERVIEW
Lessons are relaxed and informal and are tailored for all abilities. I have a very person centred approach to teaching where the individual’s abilities, experience and levels of confidence are all taken into account. There is no pressure to undertake exams, as for some, the prospect of assessment can dampen the enjoyment of singing. My main aim is to assist you in developing your understanding of your own voice and help you reach your own potential, whatever level you are at. Lesson content will cover areas such as:
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Breath control and power
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Extending range and Vocal placements
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Blending registers
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Genre specific technique i.e. Riffs and Runs
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Improving confidence
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Gig prep and Performance
So if you are interested in receiving vocal tuition or wish to purchase a Gift Voucher for someone else, then please do get in touch.
PRICES
Initial lesson:
1 hour - £45
45 minutes - £38
After the initial lesson, lessons must be booked in 4-week blocks to ensure availability.
(Initial lessons not only allow you to try before committing to a 4-week block, but also provide time to establish Student/Teacher compatibility as well as information giving surrounding vocal/physical health, your aims and objectives and lesson structure).
4-week block:
4 x 1 hour - £170
4 x 45 minutes - £140
Payment: Tuition fees should be paid via bank transfer 48-hours in advance of the initial lesson, or first lesson of each new block. Cash payment is also accepted on the first lesson of each new block.
Cancellations: One lesson per 4-week block can be re-scheduled if absolutely necessary provided at least 48-hours’ notice is given. This may also be subject to availability. Otherwise tuition fees are non-refundable. In the event of my own absence due to sickness or emergency, the lesson will be rescheduled to a convenient time, ideally within the same week of absence.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
In 2003 I obtained a degree in Theatre and Visual Art at University of Brighton before moving on to study Contemporary Vocals at BIMM (Brighton Institute of Modern Music) in 2004 where I received training by the internationally renowned Carleen Anderson. More recently in 2021 I obtained Level 1 and 2 in Estill Vocal Technique which is implemented within my teaching.
As you will see from the other Music pages on my website, throughout my career in the music industry, I have worked in live and recorded sessions for television and radio, both home and abroad, as well as touring internationally as a lead and backing vocalist. Some notable performances and venues include:
ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing, Juice FM, Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scotts, Secret garden Party Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Komedia, Brighton, Concord 2 Brighton, Brighton Dome, Effenaar Concert Hall Holland, Tivoli Concert Hall Holland, Hill Country Live Washington DC, World Café Live Wilmington Delaware, Hill Country Live New York.
“He is very popular with the pupils, who enjoy his enthusiastic approach and well-grounded technical expertise. He chooses really appropriate repertoire for all the age-groups and is hugely encouraging and pro-active with each student, building up their performing confidence… thinking carefully about the way to develop young voices and also making the lessons fun and musically beneficial. As an expert in contemporary vocal techniques and repertoire, I find his advice and opinion most helpful and extremely reliable. I recommend James most highly as a musician, as a teacher, as a colleague and as a person.”
-JANE PENDRY, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC , BEDE'S PREP SCHOOL
