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Testimonials
What a gifted teacher you are! You're such a bundle of layered talents -- discerning of both technical and emotional issues, articulate about big picture principles AND fine details, and unfailingly gracious, warm and encouraging, finding SOMETHING sincerely positive to say to each person who stands up! No wonder singers of every level are happy to come back again and again!
You are a rare and beautiful soul, making the world a kinder and safer place for so many.
-- Barbara Slader, student
Paula Byrne is gifted singing teacher. She has an amazing ability to zero in on specific aspects of my voice and explain to me exactly what I was doing, and what needed to do and to practice in order to create the sounds that I wanted. She also has the ability to clearly explain the many aspects of vocal jazz performance -- phrasing, rhythm, dynamics, etc., so that a lesson with her is not just a lesson in voice but also jazz performance. Her feedback is always kind, always specific, and always encouraging. Anyone who has the opportunity to study voice with Paula is lucky. I know I have become a much better singer because of her, and I am not alone.
-- Suzanne LaGrande, student
Paula Byrne is a wonderful voice coach. She has a direct style that hones in on ways to improve your singing voice using tools and techniques she has learned and developed over the years that have helped her grow into a seasoned sought after jazz singer. I noticed a major improvement in my singing after just the first session.
-- David Schwindt, student
Paula Byrne was my vocal coach for over a year. When I came to her, I was petrified to sing in front of other people. Through her gracious, kind, and clear guidance, I now sing well and with confidence. Paula willingly and expertly shared her extensive background in voice training with me. She was both kind and direct. She coached me in voice techniques (breathing, vowel conformation, navigation of breaks, etc.) with honest and constructive critiquing.
Paula was a very devoted and generous teacher, giving me her undivided attention throughout each entire session with her. I always looked forward to my time with her, not just for how much I learned each time we met, but for how much fun I had with her.
I highly recommend Paula as a vocal coach.
-- Sally Wilson-Rolle, student
Paula has this wonderful, magical way of helping me feel safe to explore my voice, while also challenging me to stretch my abilities. Voice lessons with her are not only instructive and insightful, but FUN! Her intuitive understanding of voice, music, and performance combine with her gift of teaching to make an amazing vocal coach. I highly encourage anyone interested in taking voice lessons to work with Paula.
-- Kendall Crosby, student
Paula seems to know intuitively where to place the focus in a lesson. Within a few minutes she knew that I needed to work on breathing in order to build on other techniques. It feels great to know you've made the most of your time and had fun, too.
-- Chris Trevett, student
Working with Paula opens my entire body, essence, and is a gift for what is possible. Even outside of the magic of singing, I feel deeply connected and alive after each session with Paula Byrne. Thank you for helping me connect to a deeper part of me, and open a channel I never knew was there.
-- Jennifer Alyse, student
When I started working with Paula I was literally choking off my own voice. Paula's patience, reassurance, relaxed but professional style played a crucial role in regaining my ability free up my voice and begin the process of reconnecting with my instrument.
-- Keesje Hoekstra, student
Paula's Scat Lounge workshop was so much fun, even for a person like me who is very shy about singing in front of others. It felt like a very supportive environment of people and her tips were spot on, giving us something constructive to work on.
It gave me and others like me the opportunity to work outside our comfort zone so that we can grow. I truly believe that attending this workshop on a continuous basis will help me to brave other areas of my life.
-- Rachel Pobi, jazz pianist
Paula, thank you so much for the lesson. I learned so much. You are an excellent teacher because you just hone right in on what's needed and I can't tell you how helpful it was. I feel excited and more powerful as a singer.
-- Andrea Holzner, student
I had such a wonderful time last night at the Scat Salon. As a beginning vocalist, I am intimidated by the whole experience of not knowing what is going on. I love to scat and last night was more of a party than a class. I felt free to play around and get a little crazy with my voice and stumbled across some things I did not know I could do. It was a confidence builder for sure.
-- Martin Buel, student
Paula is a facilitator with unparalleled smarts, savvy, humor, heart, and musical chops. Her bright focus, attuned intuition, and warm presence pairs beautifully with her years of experience in curation and teaching. Paula's events are nuanced journeys of exploration through body, mind, spirit, and voice, and the spaces that she creates are remarkable in their ability to provide safety and initiate healing and growth without feeling "solemn" or "serious." I so appreciate the depth of intentionality and integrity Paula brings to her work. Every moment of our time together was a revelation of presence and pleasure! Paula's your gal if you're ready to unlock a deeper sense of joy, awareness, and connection to body, brain, voice, and spirit.
-- Sophie Lippert, concert pianist & entrepreneur
I had such a wonderful experience in Paula's Vocal Showcase Workshop. It was helpful to work on a handful of songs, each a different style, over the course of several weeks. Being in the workshop with a consistent and small group of singers allowed me to learn a lot just from observing others as well, and I appreciated that it ended in a showcase with a clear goal to work toward.
-- Ashley Coates, singer
I'm new to singing and performing, so participating in Paula's vocal showcase was a true challenge! For six weeks, there were six of us getting four songs ready to perform live. I appreciated that Paula made clear suggestions on how to accentuate what sounds good and she offered clear and interesting suggestions on how to deal with the tricky parts. She had a playful way of pushing me past my comfort-zone so I was able to grow and try new techniques that I never considered or even imagined. I learned a lot about interpreting songs as each member of our group played with different tempos, timbres, poetic emphasis, and dynamics. After this creative "makeover" process, I felt confident that my song choices and interpretations would work with a live audience, and I was able to get out there and perform. Despite feeling and dealing with stage fright, I got out there and sang, it went really well, and I learned so much and had a really great time! I highly recommend working with Paula if you want to take your singing to the next level.
-- Kara Kinley, singer
Paula's showcase was a fun time of interactive singing, full of great tips and feedback from Paula and the instrumentalists. The energy from everyone in the workshop was supportive and encouraging. The live show was a kick for all of us, and the audience had a great time. Highly recommended!
-- Jason Woodrow, singer
If you want BANG for your singing BUCK, take a vocal lab with Paula and in 5 sessions learn 5 times more, not just from your songs, but your comrades. Singing is supportive with Paula and I challenge you not to have a huge 'ah ha' (or more) in each and every class. She sees your next baby step, and teaches you how nail it -- right on the spot!
-- Later-in-Life Troubadour, Charla Hathaway
Paula Byrne has a beautiful voice, is a seasoned performer and an excellent coach and voice teacher. I started taking voice lessons from Paula about 6 months ago and have found her to be gracious, kind, fun and very supportive of her students' aspirations.
As a teacher, she is generous with her knowledge, and is able to diagnose any problem I may have by approaching it from different directions. I find her way of demonstrating a solution easy to understand and very helpful.
As a coach, Paula always offers fun, hip and interesting choices related to song interpretation and phrasing. She's been a big help in song choice, performing and working with other musicians as well as providing a professional environment full of encouragement, inclusivity and fun!
-- Kathy Horvath
What is most amazing to me about Paula's teaching is her ability to diagnose whatever is limiting a particular singer's performance and to work with that singer so she or he gets at least a basic sense of how to work past the limitation by recognizing the internal physical sensation of singing beyond the obstacle. It may be that her history as a dancer helps her understand the physicality of singing. I have heard several singers say things like, "I've never before been able to reach that high (or low) or I did not know I could sing like that."
-- Warren Bull
Paula Byrne is a natural teacher, and I say that with the utmost respect and appreciation. Her enthusiasm to nourish and to share is palpable, immediately making people feel welcomed and setting them at ease to join her in the incredible journey of finding individual voice and exploring jazz. She delivers a perfect balance of encouragement and solid knowledge-based information and feedback. The energy and attention she devotes to each individual student is admirable. She is clearly in it 100 per cent, ready to demonstrate options with breadth of experience and agility. It is a total joy to learn from her. She is an outstanding vocal artist with a passion for life and for the open and creative path of story-telling that vocal jazz provides. I am grateful for teachers who generously share their knowledge, give of themselves altruistically. Thank you Paula, for being such a teacher. I am enriched.
-- LaRae Zawodny, vocal jazz student
Paula is a gifted teacher with a lazer-like focus and the ability to convey useful nuggets of feedback with a splash of humor.
-- Sue Westby, student
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