Voice Teachers for Children
Berkeley Parents Network >
Reviews >
Classes & Lessons >
Voice Teachers for Children
June 2012
I have an 8-year-old daughter who loves to sing. But she can't sing on key,
and
it's slowly driving me mad. I don't think she even hears she's out of tune.
Is
there someone who can help? We have NEVER told her she's off key, so she's
not
self-conscious about it. She actually says she'd enjoy singing lessons, she
just
doesn't know why we're asking her about them ... Looking for a teacher from
Berkeley northward.
anon
Cary Sheldon is a great singing teacher in Berkeley.
caryannalia@gmail.com
I (Professor Sludge) am a music teacher but not a singing teacher per se. However
I'm good at helping people find their singing notes by learning melodies on an
instrument - guitar, piano, etc. and then matching their singing to the notes they're
playing. I sing a lot, and in bands I've always sung the odd harmonies because I'm
good at finding the more difficult notes. My belief is that anyone can be taught to
hold a tune. It may take a lot of patience and proceeding very slowly, (and the
singer must be willing to put in the effort), but it can be done!
Eric
I know the perfect person for your daughter! Michele Voilleque teaches people to sing
and she is so fun and playful and funny and sweet that your daughter will love it.
Michele won't judge her, but will take her from where she is and gently guide her
into tunefulness. Her motto is ''if it's not play, it's not working'', which is just
how she is. She is near the Colusa Circle, so very convenient too. It'll be so
wonderful when you finally get to enjoy your daughter's singing, while she's enjoying
herself too!
Cynthia
There is an organization called Pacific Collegium that offers singing and
violin lessons with the idea that playing the notes helps with singing the
notes and vice-versa. While the singing program is only open to boys, the
violin program is open to girls and currently has another girl in it about the
age of your daughter. You need to be willing to go a bit farther south to St
Paul's Episcopal Church near Lake Merritt, but it is an amazing program and
Erika Miranda does a great job with the string program. Call 510 473 7736 for
info.
Dec 2011
My daughter, 8 years old, is in a choir (multi-lingual) and
I am looking for a vocal coach near north Berkeley who works
with children. Thank you.
An enthusiastic recommendation for Michele Voilleque,
http://www.mvmusik.com/mvmusik.com/Home.html
Michele is the director of the Youth and Children's Choir at
the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, is a
wonderful singer herself, has two children of her own, and
is fun, compassionate, and a wonderful teacher.
Albany Dad
Contact Michele Voilleque, a voice teacher with a lot of experience
teaching children to sing. She lives and works in North Berkeley.
Phone is 510.552.8160 or email singermv@gmail.com
David
Dec 2011
My daughter is 6 and she loves to sing. She is not
naturally musical but she loves it, and I believe she has
the capacity to learn and improve and hopefully achieve some
degree of competence. I am interested in recommendations
for lessons or teachers who focus on kids like this. I'd be
looking for someone who knows how to encourage kids to
develop some of the musical awareness and voice control that
come naturally to others, and who could understand why
someone might want to work on a skill set that is not among
their natural strengths. I imagine most music teachers are
naturally musical people, so I'm thinking it's the unusual
one who *gets* the non-natural and can meet them where they
are. Anon
Michele Voilleque is a natural at connecting with people, playing with
them and making singing fun and natural-feeling without judgement. She
goes for the joy of singing while teaching how to find the notes.
Definitely give her a call at 510-552-8160 or email at
singermv
Dec 2011
My daughter will be auditioning of OSA in February and I
would like to hire a voice teacher to help her prepare for
her audition. If you have any recommendations around the
Berkeley area please forward them to me. Thanks so much!
mc
I highly recommend Michele Voilleque of MVMusik.com She has worked
with at least one other girl who was accepted to OSA a few years ago.
She is terrific at building rapport with kids (and adults)!
Lisa
My daughter is now in college majoring in voice but before that her
voice teacher was Erica Maier d Ambrosio ( Trinity voice studio) in
Berkeley near San Pablo and Gilman.She is very kind and encourging and
my daughter and I like her very much.My daughter got so much out of
these voice lessons and her singing improved greatly.
Ellen
My 8 year old daughter has been taking weekly singing, voice lessons
for almost a year now with Lauren Woody, a lyric soprano. You can
read about her bio etc. on her web site: http://www.laurenwoody.com/;
what I can add here is that she is very nice and fun and that my
daughter *loves* her lessons with Lauren and is looking forward to
them every week, for both, I think, Laurenb0506>Voice teacher for 9-year-old in Lamorindas professionalism and her
personality. She is very good with children; she understands what my
daughter likes and is accommodating to that, while at the same time
teaching her music and singing fundamentals. She is giving us what I
always hope to find in a learning experience for my children (and
myself): joy and real, fundamental learning. Barbara (510) 704 9456
I want to recommend our amazing music teacher in North Berkeley (near Cedar
Rose park). Her name is Regina Pontillo and she is a gifted preforming jazz
musician who teaches beginners to advanced level vocals, piano, guitar and
ukulele. She has been teaching my 13 years old son piano and my 11 year old
daughter guitar for the last three years and they adore her. But I know she
also has a vocal group for girls. She is fun, engaged, and finds the best way
to communicate with each child according to his/her temperament and music
preferences. Last summer they spent a whole month on a summer camp she led,
where the children filmed the original Willy Wonka movie. This included
learning script, preparing art work, dancing, singing . . . It was so
creative and they had so much fun all day, and Regina was great in giving
them a fun, warm, family-like feeling.
Her phone numbers are: 510-558-8960,510-332-2150.
Nona
Aug 2011
I am looking for recommendations for a fun voice teacher for my
daughter who loves singing contemporary pop music and musical
theater. Any recs in the Berkeley/North Oakland area?
Thanks!
mom
Erica Maier is a great voice teacher - she works on Gilman
and is good with all ages.
She's at (510)225-5380
anon
Michele Voilleque is a voice teacher in North Berkeley, a great music
educator, and a lot of fun to work with. She has a lot of experience
teaching singing to children. Her contact information is on her website,
http://mvmusik.com/mvmusik.com/Home.html
Please feel to contact me if you want more information.
David Ourisman ourisman@yahoo.com
Our 14 y.o. is really enjoying Michele Voilleque:
http://www.mvmusik.com/mvmusik.com/Home.html
We find her lovely, with reasonable fees, and a very user-
friendly website which allows us to book appointments over the computer.
She's in a great location in Berkeley/Kensington right near the
Kensington Circle, and Solano Ave.
Beryle
Oct 2010
Does anybody know a great voice or vocal coach for children
and teens in the Berkeley area?
Michelle Voilleque is a exceptional voice teacher. I take
singing with another teacher, but would use her in a second.
She is accomplished and very fun at the same time. suzanne
arca
I am pleased to recommend Kathy Post as a voice teacher for
teenagers. I don't think she works with kids under 12, but
she is great with teens. She is very encouraging and warm.
She uses lots of different techniques to help people get in
touch with their bodies which you need when you are singing.
I am very self conscious about singing in front of people,
but Kathy's open and encouraging style put me at ease. She
teaches during the day out of her house. You can reach her
on her cell at 684- 4684. Laila
ERica Maier D'Ambrosio is fantastic and located right off of
gilman. She does a lot of work with kids and teenagers.
(510) 225-5380 anon
The person you want to call is Michele Voilleque. Michele
is one of a kind. She gave our daughter confidence in
herself. Helped her explore her passion for singing and get
accepted to Oakland School of the Arts. She is gentle, fun,
positive and above all, incredibly professional. Her
contact info: mvmusik@earthlink.net www.mvmusik.com
510-552-8160 Yaron
I HIGHLY recommend Tamsen Fynn. She is very skilled, dynamic and
professional, and a lot of fun.
If you want any details contact 415 302 6257
tamsenfynn@yahoo.com She charges $60 an hour or $40 for 1/2
hour. She also co-leads a singing circle on Thu nights at
The Freight & Salvage. She can teach in her home or at The
Freight & Salvage. Kristen
May 2006
I am looking for a super nice voice teacher for my 9 year old
daughter in the Lamorinda area. She is a bit shy and a
beginner. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
rachel
Diana Partovi (dpartovi@comcast.net) just started giving voice
lessons out of her home in Lafayette. A couple of my daughter's
friends are taking lessons from her and I've heard great things.
Plus, she is singer for a band that I've seen a couple of times -
she has a great voice, is very patient and loving with children
(she also helps coach my daughter's Odyssey of the Mind team), is
upbeat and full of energy. If my daughter were interested, I'd
definitely send her to Diana.
Kristen
Dec 2000
I heartily recommend Mary Triest. She teaches voice and piano, adults and
kids, male and female. She has a warm manner and kids love her. She has
taught me, my daughter, and I have recommended her to lots of friends. She
is in Oakland off Lakeshore and her number is 836-0295. Feel free to tell
her I gave you her name.
Dawn
August 2000
For the girl that wants to sing: We love my daughter's singing teacher,
Marcelle Dronkers. She teaches kids of all ages. She is a wonderful
positive force in my daughter's life. She really makes music fun.
Jenifer
If your daughter likes to sing, consider having her audition for the SF
Girl's chorus, which is a world renowned organization. The chorus has 4
levels in the chorus school and 2 advanced levels. They perform all over
the Bay Area in local events, including Willie Brown happenings, and have
appeared in some movies. Chorissima, one of the advanced levels, travels
to other countries, Japan, Europe. There are auditions in Fall and Spring.
Call the chorus to find out when the next audition will be - 415-673-1511.
One of the best things about chorus is that it keeps your daughter busy and
safe, which is great for teens.
Toby
I've recommended Suzy Yu's music studio before, and I'll do so again in
response to Rona's query. Suzy teaches classical voice and piano, is
both rigorous and nurturing, and has done wonders for the musical talents of
our eleven-year old. She's in Berkeley and her number is 558-1310.
Julia
I like Lisa Houston. She is near Star Grocery in Berkeley. 428-2238
My daughter has just graduated from the Kairos Youth Choir, founded
and directed by Laura Kakis, and I recommend it highly. It meets two
afternoons a week, now at Hillside School (Berkeley Montessori), from
4-6, and offers astonishing opportunities and wonderful training in
classical and international music as well as original compositions.
Kids are 8 to 15 (boys with unchanged voices only), with a new high
school girls ensemble forming this fall. Some of the staff also give
private lessons. I would be glad to talk to any parents with
questions about Kairos.
Sally
Ellen Hoffman, pianist and host of Singers' Open Mike at Anna's Restaurant,
teaches vocal jazz lessons. She also is the music director for Berkeley
Broadway Singers. She is a joy to work with and lots of fun. Her phone
number is 524-6220.
Lisa
this page was last updated: Mar 10, 2013
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.
Copyright © 1996-2013 Berkeley Parents Network