Faith Statement: The following is an honest depiction of my vision as
a Christian for singing. However, if you are not a Christian, no
problem at all, feel free to skim below. I will work with you based on
where you're at, and teach you with total respect to your beliefs
and on a strictly scientific, professional level. Many facts below are
obvious to anyone regardless of their personal beliefs.
It
is my firm conviction that the amazing instrument inside your throat
is capable of far beyond what you have dreamed of yet. There really
are no limits to what the human voice was created to do! The vast
arena of different singing styles across cultures and decades alone
can support this theory! Thus, it is my belief that everyone who loves
to sing should pursue the finest singing voice they can develop,
within a range of multiple styles, because the instrument itself is
worthy of being shown forth in all its multi-faceted beauty, glory and
power.
That doesn't even begin on the worthiness of
the Creator of the voice, for Whose glory it was created....what kind
of song and sound is HE worthy of, my friend? Just...“well, I can
sing, maybe make a joyful noise, but you know...it's not real
great, sometimes even the shower closes it's ears!”? Mary
Magdalene could have washed Jesus' feet with just water and oil, but
no; she broke her alabaster box and poured out the finest of perfumes
on Him, likely her life savings in a bottle...because He was
worthy!
The power of the voice as the main means of human
communication, and the primary expression of the soul and spirit...is
unprecedented! The Almighty Creator spoke with His Voice “like mighty
rushing waters,” giving the commands that framed and brought the
worlds into being. In all the Word of God, you'll see the people
of God had an understanding of the power of their voices lifted in
praise, thanksgiving, worship and powerful declaration! In many
battles in Scripture, the singers were primary, lifting their voices
in praise, or in mighty battle cries of victory...declaring with their
VOICES the victory God would give them! The sound of their singing was
so glorious and powerful, it created sheer terror in their enemies,
causing them to flee before them. One whole tribe of the 12 tribes of
Israel, the first nation God covenanted with, was set apart to focus
entirely on ministering to the Lord in the temple, a large
part of their duties being that of music, singing and worship!
Revelation describes Heaven as being full of the sound of singing, of
praise and adoration to The Father that just never ends! (Can you
imagine?!!)
The Word says...“the power of Life (and death)
is in the voice!” There's a power in a beautiful singing voice
that can literally bring healing to both soul and body. If you play
Pavarotti singing some of his glorious tenor arias, you will often
find even babies crying in silent reverence, hearing it for the
first time. It reaches a place in the soul that knows it was created
for Glory, for Heaven, for The Indescribable Lover of All, and awakens
something there! Even if you're singing a love song, or a jazz or
folk song, just the hormonal fluctuations alone that happen in the
listener's brain, are amazing enough to study!
It is
therefore my goal as a teacher, to inspire my students with a new
understanding of the amazing incredible worth of their own voice, and
the wide open horizons of potential that lie before them as they begin
to sing. And then to proceed, in methodology tailored to each unique
student, to give them all the tools they need to mold, form, undergird
and transform that voice into their dream or calling for it.
I
believe the voice should be like a brand new bungee cord, strong,
powerful, supple, seamless, and well supported from top to bottom of
the range (which should be extensive). Though all of us may come into
singing with the same weaknesses (i.e., breaks, cracks, vocal fatigue,
small ranges, tightness when singing high, no middle voice, too much
air, running out of breath, etc), this does not mean we are destined
for these weaknesses, nor that we should accept them as “normal” or
“cope” with them. No one is born knowing how to read, they must be
taught, and in whatever way needed for them to learn well!
I
have accumulated the insights and methodology of many wonderful vocal
coaches and artists over the years (though my primary one is still
Cornelius Reid), but my pledge to my students is to always address
their particular vocal weaknesses individually, applying one tool
after another, or researching and studying for new ones if those I
have are not working, until that voice has reached its full
strength!*
I believe God is raising up many wonderful and
powerful singers in this day! I am thrilled and excited to partner
with Him in this!
*Note: I do refuse to teach styles that
are destructive to the voice, i.e. screaming, rasping, whining
styles or those primarily in the vocal fry.
© 2026 Hopewood Voice Studio