Vocal Tuition
I have 35 years experience of giving voice lessons to all types and standards of singers. I focus on teaching a bel canto technique - in an encouraging and supportive way.
I enjoy teaching and discovering the true voice of the person in front of me. I am patient and like to build a rapport with the student - everyone is treated as an individual. I have a range of exercises to suit anyone and focus on a belcanto technique.
I am happy to teach any level of singer and as I am an excellent pianist and linguist, I can also coach more advanced students on songs and arias.
Online Tuition
I have wholeheartedly embraced online tuition! it's not the same as a lesson in person but has its uses. It is particularly helpful for beginners or those with technical problems as I can focus on the technique very easily. I use Zoom, Skype or Facetime.
Graded Vocal Exercises
Coming soon!
My friend Brian Parsons and I have devised a graded set of vocal exercises for all voices and levels of ability. They range from Beginner to Advanced and contain much information such as breathing as well as the exercises themselves. They are delivered in an easy to assimilate conversational style and will be available in Autumn 2021.
Soprano & Alto (Deborah)
Tenor & Bass (Brian)
Vocal Exercises CD
My CD of vocal exercises has been very popular in the past few years. It contains many varied exercises for both high and low voices. It would suit singers of an intermediate and advanced standard.
A great teacher with infinite patience who nevertheless is prepared to push her students to get the best out of them. She has a wonderful knack of describing exactly what she wants from her students’ technique in a way that speaks to the individual.
Deborah has the uncanny ability to identify the vocal problem just from hearing a few bars of singing. She is focused and clear in her advice - which is not general but tailored to the individual in front of her.
Deborah is an absolutely wonderful teacher; she's incredibly patient, supportive, and charismatic to the point where I feel like I'm singing with an old friend. I highly recommend!
Please click below if you'd like to read more testimonials about my teaching.
My musical heritage and thoughts on singing...
My singing technique has its roots in the 19th century.
Although I studied the flute at the Royal College of Music, I also sang in many good amateur chamber choirs in my twenties and discovered that I had a talent for sight reading. I was also performing roles in Gilbert & Sullivan operas with Imperial College Operatic Society. However, I had no technique and so embarked on singing lessons. My vocal training started with lessons from Eugenie Triguez (or Mrs Campbell as we knew her) who had studied with international sopranos Luisa Tetrazzini and Maggie Teyte. I was then recommended Elisabeth (Betty) Fleming, a pupil of Joseph Hislop who taught the Swedish/Italian technique to the great Birgit Nilsson. Both Betty Fleming and Joseph Hislop drew on the techniques of the Italian bel canto school and both had a 'whole body' approach which kept the voice rooted and very physical. This has stood me in good stead, and although my top notes aren't quite so high these days, my voice is still flexible and working well.
