What is your greatest passion or joy as a singer, voice teacher, or vocal professional?
My passion is the whole of the art, the whole body, voice, breath, and spirit. Combining Alexander Technique, voice, and experience in improv makes me feel like I am the most myself when I am singing and teaching. As a teacher, nothing makes me feel more energized than when a student lets go of expectations and starts to make music with their unique voice, body, and point of view.
Tell us the latest news about you, your studio, and your work!
I teach voice lessons in my home studio in Los Angeles and balance that work with teaching Alexander Technique at Chapman University and Mount Saint Mary's University music programs. I am also the Co-Artistic Director of the summer program, OperaWorks, where I teach Alexander Technique and improv for singers. It's a busy time, but nothing makes me happier than teaching!
What is an interesting or funny fact about you?
As a student of OperaWorks in 2004, I became curious about improv and how to bring it into my work. I spent years studying improv and have performed improv/opera hybrid performances with my longtime collaborator and mentor, Ann Baltz, all over the country, even for a live Tinder ad. Bringing improv into my work brings spontaneity and joy to my work and even led to me meeting my husband!
What led you to the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program?
Most of my training was in classical voice, yet most of my teaching has been in musical theater and contemporary singing. I wanted to refresh my teaching skills and feel more empowered when teaching various styles and genres, and a friend recommended this program. The freedom to attend class virtually made it accessible, and dedicating an afternoon to class became a highlight of each week.
What was your experience in the NYVC Voice Teacher Training & Certification Program?
I loved having a day in my week dedicated to my growth as a teacher. Justin Stoney was so positive, informative, and empowering that I was excited to use the tools I developed each week. As someone who teaches Alexander Technique and voice, I was especially pleased by Mr. Stoney's holistic approach to making a joyful noise.
What advice would you give to future participants of the Program?
Give yourself time to absorb the information and to apply your new tools to your teaching each week. Attend the Q&A sessions as much as possible and bring all of your questions; there are no dumb questions!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist, teacher, or vocal professional?
I have struggled with performance anxiety and negative self-talk in my career as an artist, teacher, and vocal professional. Improv and Alexander Technique help me stay in the present moment and let go of the judgmental voices that want me to worry about the future. I love working with singers who struggle with performance anxiety because I understand the struggle and I want them to feel empowered and unafraid in their artistry.
What was your greatest victory ever as an artist, teacher, or vocal professional?
There have been some wonderful career highs as a vocal professional, but right now, my students' successes give me even greater joy than my performances do. It is college acceptance season, and it is so exciting to see my high school students prepare for their next steps for college, and give the final performances of their high school careers. It's also the season to see my college students excelling in their spring operas and degree recitals. Every week is packed with student performances and celebrating student wins!
What is one piece of advice that you would love all singers to know?
Your body, your spirit, and your voice are all connected. It's easy to get product-oriented in a lesson and start to micromanage your technique, but everything that is a part of your sense of self is a part of your singing. How we think affects how we stand, move, breathe, and tell our stories, so try your best to stay curious in each moment and let go of the idea of a fixed position or product.
What is something you've learned on your journey that you would love other vocal professionals to know?
You are enough. If you stay present and curious in your work, you will positively impact your student and their singing.
How can we find out more about you and your work?
Please visit www.ATwithLaura.com and reach out!
