call us 206-634-1662

Voice Private Lessons

 

Laurie Riley

Voice, Harp, Guitar, Clawhammer Banjo, Bodhrán

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Saturdays & Sundays

Ages Taught: All

Levels Taught: All

 

Laurie is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter; her repertoire is drawn from many cultures and eras. Laurie has played harp with the Chieftains, sung with the Masterwork Chorus at Avery Fisher Hall, and been featured on American Airlines in-flight music and on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”. She believes that your singing voice is your most powerful way of communicating, and that learning the secrets of good vocal production can be life-changing. Laurie helps students learn to use their whole body as a musical instrument, expand their range and lung capacity, improve tone and volume, and enunciate clearly and sing expressively.

 

 

Deborah Shelton

Voice, Music Theory, Improvisation, & Rhythm Study

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Mondays, Saturdays, and flexible by appointment
Ages Taught: 16 and up
Levels Taught: All Levels

Deborah Shelton is a soulful vocalist with a passion for vocal improvisation who has sung in diverse styles and venues as a jazz vocalist, church soloist, and member of ensembles such as the folk quintet Womansong and the Tritones, an a capella trio inspired by Bobby McFerrin. In twenty years as a voice teacher and workshop facilitator, she has helped people to free their voice, sing from their soul, and experience the healing power of authentic self-expression in song, rhythm, and improvisation. Deborah empowers students to meet their own goals through teaching healthy vocal technique - breathing for supported singing and beautiful tone through your unique blend of registers - as well as practical musicianship skills and basic through intermediate study of music theory.

 


Tai Shan

Voice, Guitar, Songwriting

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Monday-Thursday

Ages taught: 6 to adult

Levels taught: Beginning to Intermediate

 

Teacher Biography: Tai Shan is a songwriter known for unusual chord voicing, wide sweeping melodies, and detailed lyrics. She graduated cum laude with her B.A. in Music from Cornish College of the Arts, and has performed throughout the West Coast and on nationally released CDs, international videos, and local TV and radio stations. Tai’s teaching often focuses on a combination of singing, playing, and songwriting, and she encourages students to record their songs onto CD. She specializes in folk, rock, and jazz styles, and has won praise for her supportive approach – as one student stated, "Tai gave me the courage to go out and perform.” Visit Tai's website.

 

Peter Spencer

Voice, Guitar, Electric Bass, Songwriting

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Monday and Wednesday

Ages Taught: 8 and Up

Levels Taught: All Levels

 

Teacher Biography: Peter Spencer was a founding member of the Greenwich Village Songwriters' Cooperative and contributing editor to the group's magazine Fast Folk, now being distributed through the Library of Congress. He is also a renowned fingerpicker and songwriter whose work combines jazz, blues, and folk in a unique way. Peter's lessons follow a path defined by the desires and directions of the individual student. His goal is to create players and singers who can have fun making music with their friends, their families, and in public, with a wide range of pieces available for them to play. Visit Peter's website.