Now accepting new students in Baltimore City and via Skype! - September 2011!

PRIVATE LESSONS

I teach classical and music theater styles to all ages of beginning through advanced singers.  I have special experience with preparing the advanced high school singer for the university music school audition process in particular.  However, I have worked with professional music theater performers, amateur choral singers, jazz and rock performers and many others.  I provide an engaging, productive, and fun way to improve your vocal skills!   

PHILOSOPHY

 My teaching philosophy focuses on allowing pure musical expression by minimizing the technical obstructions to this process.   These hindrances may include vocal faults, dramatic ambiguities, or even personal insecurities and lack of confidence.  I work with each student to access their particular needs and to facilitate their artistic growth.  There is nothing more exciting than that challenge!

 While I believe strong, adaptable vocal technique is extremely important, my students are always reminded of the reason behind the work: communication of the ideas.  I believe technique grounded in classical training is the best way to achieve precise communication.  I begin lessons with breath support training that aims to reclaim the natural, free breathing style our bodies originally intended.  We work together to build consistent, focused tone that is responsive to artistic requests in all areas of the voice.  

 The improvement of vocal technique is the vehicle of artistic expression.  Along with technical matters, I discuss the poetry, diction, and dramatic intention of the music with each student.   I also like to remind my students that their voices, as musical instruments, are housed within their larger bodies. Any factor that affects their bodies can affect their instrument.  As a teacher I try to use this to my advantage, using an ever-growing number of strategies to encourage the growth of my students.  My teaching philosophy trusts that a combination of warm enthusiasm and clear instruction can produce responsive, respectable artists.    

High School Students' Accomplishments: 

Courtney Kalbacker is very proud of her students' hard work.  She has cheered them on as several have won major vocal competitions (including the  Boston District  H.S. Classical Singer Competition) .

With her guidance, Ms. Kalbacker's students have been accepted into top music programs at universities  across the country including Boston University, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music, Ithaca College, Oklahoma City University and University of North Carolina - Greensboro.