The Steps
1. Request a free 15-minute Zoom Discovery Call
The studio is currently fully booked and we are not accepting new clients until Spring 2025. To be added to the waitlist and find out more about our studio life, fill out the questionnaire below and we can find a time for a complimentary Discovery Call.
2. Get invited to have a 45-minute Fit Session
This is where we dig into the current state of your voice or acting and come up with a plan of action! We will also talk business at this session and see what type of lessons are right for you. At the end of this session we both get to decide if we want to work together.
3. Join the flock and schedule those lessons
Whether in-person or online, this is where the good stuff happens.
In-Person and Online Lessons
In-person lessons
In-person lessons
In-person lessons
Rare Bird Studios is a bright cheery space, with plenty of space for music making!
Online lessons
In-person lessons
In-person lessons
Did you know Leischen is a tech head? Yes! She is an early adopter of technology and has been teaching online for over a decade. The studio has all the gadgets needed to create a fabulous online experience and a teacher who understands how to adapt lessons to this format. Leischen teaches signers all over the world, NYC, Israel, Brazil, Los Angeles and Canada! Fun fact, she has taken voice lessons online even longer so she understands both how to teach and be taught online.
Is this all new to you? Let's start here.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in a voice lesson? Each voice lesson is customized for the individual. We generally begin with a tailored set of technical exercises that are used to strengthen your voice and enable it function at it's fullest! The second half of the lesson is where we sing music, learn to read music, or work on speech or acting. In short, your voice lessons are specially designed for you to help you achieve your goals!
How long are lessons? How much do they cost? Voice lessons are available in either an all-inclusive tuition package or by single drop in lesson. Lessons are generally 45 minutes in length. Tuition packages generally are comprised of a 3 to 1 lesson model, which includes 3 private lessons a month and one group lesson a month. Drop-in rates are $76. Due to the package nature of the tuition model, prices are discussed during your initial fit session.
What is the benefit of a group lesson? Group lessons allow us the ability to practice performance in a safe and guided space, with positive peer support our confidence can sky rocket. We learn that everyone gets nervous, those feelings are normal, and don't have to detract from our singing. Evaluative listening helps us hone our ears for our own singing. Overall, with a good attitude, it can be fun!
What should I expect to learn in a voice lesson? You should expect to learn how to drive your instrument! We learn about all the sounds that are possible for a voice to make--high or low, loud or soft, long or short, sweet or intense. We also spend a lot of time learning how to keep our instruments healthy and well taken care of. Some things are specific to each client, such as reading music or being able to sing music at sight. Some people really want to learn about different styles of music while others want to deep dive.
How often should I take a lesson? This depends on the singer more than anything. An adult professional may need only a tune-up from time to time; they can take what they need to do and implement it on their own. Younger or novice singers may need regular weekly lessons to keep them progressing. How often a particular singer should have a lesson is discussed in our "InitialFit Session," since it is so specific to each singer.
Where is your studio? The studio "nest" is located in the West End of Tacoma, near Tacoma Community College and Tacoma Musical Playhouse. We have a lovely large and bright studio space, that was remodeled in 2021. It's pretty fancy!
Can I take lessons online? Yes! Taking lessons online is a breeze! Using Zoom technology we can come together, no matter where you happen to be. In fact, Leischen is a bit of a tech head and loves all kinds of technology. She has been taking and giving online lessons for a decade and enjoys students all over the globe, including Israel, NYC, Brazil, Los Angeles and Canada.
Does it matter what voice teacher I use? Yes! It most certainly matters! Voice teachers should be trained in how to teach you, not just in how to use their own instruments. Each student comes to the table with different gifts and challenges and if a teacher hasn't trained in the art of teaching, they probably don't know how to help you as effectively or efficiently as they could.
What kind of songs do people sing in your studio? A lot of different things! Variety is the spice of life for this voice teacher! I specialize in musical theatre, beginning and intermediate classical music, and popular music. Musical theatre is my personal forte and I even have taught it at the collegiate level. Classical music is beautiful and I mainly teach that to high schoolers looking to go to singing competitions. I love working with singer-songwriters and helping them actualize what they hear in their heads. Popular music is a big old category, but I have received specialized training in this style of music, so I can do that too! Most of all, I specialize in how the voice works and making sure that it has the skills to sing whatever style of music YOU enjoy.
Are voice lessons fun? They had better be! My favorite lessons include a lot of laughter in the midst of learning. Creating a safe and enjoyable environment is really important to me, so I will do my best to make that happen.
Returning Clients
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