What is your greatest passion or joy as a singer, voice teacher, or vocal
professional?
I am so grateful that I get to be around music every day. Whether I'm getting ready to sing or assisting my students in preparing their songs, it brings me immense joy. My greatest passion is helping other singers find freedom in their instruments so they can enjoy their gift freely and sustainably. Proper technique will help them achieve that, and it is my pleasure and joy to guide singers on their music journey.
Tell us the latest news about you, your studio, and your work!
In 2022, I was honored to receive, along with my studio (Radical Coaching Studios), the award for “Best Music Service of The Year” by Prestige Awards UK in a ceremony in New York City. It was such a thrill to come back to where it all began for the ceremony and see it coming full circle.
Also, in 2022, Radical Coaching Studios became a fully remote vocal studio, and since then, we have been experiencing a new season. This transition has allowed us to expand geographically with students from LA to NY, from Brazil to Alaska. This new format has also inspired us to develop even more ideas. We are currently developing stand-alone online courses, our app, and starting a podcast in the fall.
Additionally, I am really excited to share that I am pursuing my Master’s in Voice Pedagogy with a focus on Musical Theater from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, one of the world's leading schools of music. If you know me, you know that I am an incurable learner, and I know this program will unlock so much for me personally and for my students as well.
What is an interesting or funny fact about you?
I have wanted to be many different things in my life as I was growing up, but as I look back, I believe I was always meant to be a teacher. I cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn't teaching some kind of class—English, Chemistry, Biology, Bible Study, you name it. Now, I can't imagine myself doing anything else. Teaching is my passion, and I thrive on becoming better at it every single day to provide the best for my students, they are my greatest motivation.
What led you to the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program?
That is actually a very interesting story, but I will try to give the short version. My husband and I were both worship pastors at a well-known church, and he was browsing for voice courses to improve our singing. He found the program and called NYVC, not realizing it was a Teacher Training program. Upon discovering that, he thanked the person who gave him the information and explained that unfortunately, it wasn't something we could afford at the time. Little did we know it was exactly what we needed, and it was going to transform our lives forever. The next day, they called back, wanting to schedule a meeting with Justin. Puzzled, we went into the meeting not knowing what to expect. In the meeting, Justin, in his kindness and generosity, made an offer we could not refuse. A few months later, we left our jobs at the church, did part of our training online, then moved to Philadelphia so we could be closer to finish the training in person. In December 2015, we graduated from the Certification Program. That's when Radical Coaching Studios was born, and it is still one of the best gifts we've ever received. From there, we went on to pursue our bachelor's degrees from Berklee College of Music, where we both graduated with honors, and last year, we won an award as “Best Music Service of The Year” by Prestige Awards UK. We never get tired of saying that the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program and Justin Stoney changed the course of our lives forever.
What was your experience in the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program?
In a few words, eye-opening. At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the wealth of information. However, as I began to experience the techniques I was learning, I started to question how I could have possibly been singing without them my whole life. As the training days continued, I felt both mesmerized and inspired to continue learning and to share that knowledge with as many singers as I could. I knew it would forever change their approach to singing as well.
What advice would you give to future participants of the Program?
I would say come ready to learn. It might sound obvious but intentionally take your learning a step further: Think of it as traveling with an empty suitcase so you can bring as much as you can back from your trip. I have yet to meet a more generous and passionate teacher than Justin. Take time to study the graphics, the syllabus, take the quizzes. Take notes, study your notes, ask questions, take notes of the answers. To this day, I still go back to mine even as I continue my studies. What I have learned at the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program gave me the strong foundation upon which I have built a very successful practice.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist, teacher, or vocal professional?
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with many different singers, such as recording artists, actors, musical theater performers, but the bulk of my students are worship leaders.
They pose the greatest challenge because most of them have a hard time seeing themselves as artists. There's a stigma associated with that word. Subconsciously, "artist" equals celebrity, self-promotion; "performance" equals faking or acting, and those are not the goals of a worship leader, and I feel that this notion hinders their learning and their approach to vocal technique.
My goal is to show them that by nourishing their abilities they can have a stronger delivery of the message they are trying to convey and add longevity to their ministry.
So, helping them see themselves under an artistic lens and sharing the importance of honing their skills to improve their vocal quality and health has been my greatest challenge as a worship leader, teacher, and vocal coach.
What was your greatest victory ever as an artist, teacher, or vocal professional?
I feel that it was when I finally had that "a-ha" moment, when all the techniques came together, and I was able to unlock my full voice and find freedom in my singing. Experiencing that for my own voice, which I thought was past the point of no return, was so powerful. Not only had I gained my voice back, at that moment I had a full understanding of my vocal mechanism, I could execute it well, and I knew how to fully explain it. And then, seeing that moment, that same experience, replicated in each student over the years is a great victory every single time.
What is one piece of advice that you would love all singers to know?
Not everyone is going to love your voice, and that's okay! Different people have different tastes. As I participated in different auditions, I have been told that I really needed to improve on my tone, and a week later I was told they really loved my tone. Therefore, become the best version of yourself. Learn your instrument and the tools to achieve the sounds that you want to achieve, but don't do it to please others. Once you find your vocal identity and you develop a plan to keep it healthy, sing with passion and deliver your music like only you can! The people who appreciate you will love you for who you are!
What is something you've learned on your journey that you would love other vocal professionals to know?
Teaching voice is a HUGE responsibility, please don’t take it lightly. You are teaching an organic instrument that is inside a living person. Lead them towards an efficient and sustainable approach to using their instrument but guide them gently, respecting their learning styles and their personality. If there is ever something you don't know 100% how to achieve, don't try to teach it; educate yourself on the subject and come back to it. Finally, on that note, never stop learning. Vocal technique is constantly evolving with science; keep your technique fresh and up to date. Your students deserve and expect that from you. Have fun! You get to help others reach their dreams! ☺
How can we find out more about you and your work?
I enjoy networking and exchanging experiences with fellow vocal professionals. I’d love to connect with you on our social media accounts. You can find us under the handle @radicalcoachingstudios. For the latest news and to get to know more about us, you can visit our website www.radicalcoachingstudios.com.
