I see a great number of students of varying age groups all wanting something different from their lessons with me. They want to sing louder,  higher, lower, better breath control, brighter sound and some just want more confidence.

One of the the most important and often lacking factors I see in students both beginners and professionals is an ability to 'connect' with a song. Emotion is crucial to any song, be it a heart-felt jazz ballad, uptempo soul number or aggressive rock song.

I encourage all my students to listen to singers and songwriters from different era's of music to really explore their connection with what the songwriter is trying to convey in a song. All the great singers know how to do this.  Inspirational singers for me who really connect with emotion in song are: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Shirley Horne, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. But they are just some of my choices. You will find your own. Explore, listen and enjoy!