VOICE DEPARTMENT

Traditional Study for Children through Adults
Promotes healthy use of your instrument

sample Private Voice Program:

Whether you are abeginner, solo singer, member of a choir, or would like to participate in your school's musical, our private voice lesson program is wonderful for aspiring/developing singers and their individual goals. Our voice program is designed to increase vocal flexibility and range and develop beautiful tone that will last a lifetime. Students will advance musically, learn to sing at sight and train their ear. The material used in our sessions is specifically based on age and each student’s particular stage of advancement. Lessons include proper technique instruction, relaxed breathing, posture, and diction/vowel formation, as well as clarity of speech, economy of breath, and proper articulation. Focus on proper breathing technique helps reduce stress and relaxes the performer, developing confidence in both musical performances and other areas (such as public speaking, etc.).

Our voice ensemble program is designed to help students learn about vocal color, harmony, and blend. Built into the private lesson program, it encourages students to work together as a team building camaraderie, confidence, and a supportive attitude towards other singers. Since it is a smaller scale than singing in a choir, students are able to use their solo voices in a free and healthy manner while blending with others.

Recommended session duration:

Young Children ages 5-7 and Beginning Adults: 30/45 minutes, Youth ages 8-14: 45 minutes, High School Students/Advancing Adults: 45/60 minutes

What age should students begin voice lessons?

The right age to start music lessons is when the child starts to show an interest in music. In the past, there was a misconception that teaching children's voices was dangerous. Our lessons for children are designed to keep unchanged treble voices healthy by staying within a child's natural range and lung capacity and focusing on healthy head voice singing, relaxed breathing, appropriate repertoire, music reading skills and ear training. Vocal training can greatly benefit students experiencing challenges with shyness and stage fright, and may help students with special needs.

Our Faculty:

Instructors on our faculty have oustanding credentials and years of performing and teaching experience. We offer the best in classical/traditional teaching while including repertoire in many different styles of music.

Fox River Academy VOICE INstructor:

KIRSTEN FYR

Kirsten Fyr, mezzo-soprano, is a current performing member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, singing under today’s best conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, James Conlon, Pierre Boulez, Bernard Haitink, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, Helmuth Rilling, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Sir Andrew Davis. Kirsten studied voice with Robert Orth, Theresa Brancaccio, Loretta Robinson and Amy Cofield Williamson, all of whom are active performers of opera, oratorio and art songs throughout the United States and abroad. In addition, she worked with mentor Wishart Bell, learning pedagogy and conducting as well as having vocal coaching with Dr. Bell during her singing and teaching career.

Kirsten has sung the alto solos in Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Bach’s Magnificat, Bach’s Jesu Meine Freude and Mozart’s Mass in C Major. In addition to singing with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, she sings professionally with Chorus Angelorum of Northwest Indiana and has sung with the South Bend Chamber Singers, South Bend Symphonic Choir, Vesper Chorale and Schola Cantorum.

As a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) which holds its teachers to the highest professional and ethical standards, Kirsten believes in bringing the best of her performing experiences to her students. She has over 10 years of experience teaching private and group voice lessons for all ages. By following classical principles of correct singing, she has taught her students to sing well in many styles including classical, early music, Broadway, jazz, folk and rock.

Kirsten’s unique private voice lesson program includes ensemble singing, harmony, ear training and sight singing using the Kodaly method of movable do solfege and rhythmic syllables. She is highly successful in teaching students to match pitch and develop a keen ear. With a firm belief that anyone can learn to sing, Kirsten motivates all of her students and instills confidence.

VOICE DEPARTMENT

Fox River Academy VOICE INstructor:

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