PATRICIA SHANKS VOICE STUDIO

pshanks@studioshanks.com

220 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, STE. 16

NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660

(949) 723-4473

View Larger Map

I teach people how to be competent singing musicians

February 2010

Congratulations!

Student Jessica for being cast as Belle in the Newport Coast Elementary School production of Beauty and the Beast!

Student Camille for being cast as an Emerald City Citizen in the Kaiser Elementary School production of The Wizard of Oz!

Student Emily for being cast as The Cat in the Hat in the Sierra Vista Middle School production of Seussical the Musical!

Student Todd for continuing successes singing throughout Hollywood and beyond with the band Forceps!

Student Angeliki for being cast as Tiny Tim in the South Coast Repertory production of A Christmas Carol!

Student Erin for your first successful performances singing with the band Jetpack Armada!

Student Ashley for being cast in a lead role in the Broadway on Tour production of Beauty and the Beast!

Students Abby and Sarah ... congratulations for being accepted into the Mater Dei High School Women's Ensemble for 2009-10!

Student Lydia for being selected to go on to the OC ICON (formerly OC IDOL) Semi-Finals!

Students Tallene and Gabrielle ... congratulations for being accepted into the elite Mater Dei High School Chamber Choir for 2009-10!

Student Ashley for being cast in the Broadway on Tour production of Once Upon a Mattress!

Student Kimberly for being accepted into the elite McAuliffe Middle School Studio Singers for 2009-10!

Student Tallene for successfully passing Level VI of the MTAC Certificate of Merit(TM) Evaluation.

Students Aditi and Ashley for performing beautifully in the local Exchange Club Search for Talent Competition.

What students are saying ...

"It's working!"

-  Amir B.

"Yesterday was awesome! Unexpected sounds came out.. it was like "wow"!!! I can't wait for next time. ..."

-  Marissa C.

" I'm pretty excited, and wanted to immediately share this with you...  I was shocked when I played the tape back - I actually liked 
the sound of my voice!!! ... What a difference!!! I'm excited because I can now imagine how well I'll some 
day be able to sing :-) Thank-you!!!!"

-  Tom B.

"... I now have the confidence to sing in a small ensemble at Church. Patricia makes this learning experience so much fun. She is helping me reach my dream. For that, I am truly grateful."

-  Julie H.

"Patricia is a rare find - a most wonderful teacher, of voice and life, who challenges and yet can laugh, and has patience beyond belief. As an amateur singer, I have learned to breathe (amazing how we forget), relax and trust myself. I look forward to laughing, as well as singing, every session. I highly recommend Patricia for anyone wanting to grow personally and vocally."

- Lydia W.

So little time ...

So many books and DVDs ...

Follow me on Twitter

http://twitter.com/PatriciaShanks

http://twitter.com/studioshanks

 
Visit THE MODERN VOCALIST.com

Voice Lessons in Orange County

Singing Lessons for Children, Teens & Adults

Beginners - Intermediate - Advanced

a progressive approach to healthy singing and technique that is easily applied to all styles of singing, including pop, rock, folk, jazz, musical theatre, classical and opera 

Dedicated and Experienced Voice Teacher and Performer

Supportive and Fun Environment 

Additional Study Programs Available
Music Teachers' Association of California Certificate of Merit™
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)
National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Evaluations

Other programs, festivals, workshops, audition and performance opportunities, competitions for prepared students ...

The Wisdom of the Studio

This is a studio for those who serve their art. This is not a studio for those whose primary concern is that their art should serve them.

The words "studio" and "student" imply "study."

Study requires self-discipline and the willingness to fail from time to time.

The sole rewards of study are acquisition of knowledge, improvement, pride in one's accomplishments, self-respect and heightened self-esteem. That's all. Anything else is gravy.

Self-esteem is not something someone gives you. It is something you earn for yourself.

It is not your teacher's job to entertain you.

It is not your teacher's job to give you life counseling.

It is more meaningful to learn much from a knowledgeable teacher, than it is to be entertained by a showman.

It is your job to acquire the music and tools you need to make your work and the teacher's job more effective and more efficient.

Think for yourself! Don't wait for someone else to supply the missing information.

You do your own learning, discovering, inventing ... The teacher is merely the guide. The singing teacher is a mentor and a partner in your growth. She is not your employee or your servant.

If you believe in what your teacher is teaching you, you will listen, do and learn.

Sure. Teachers are a dime a dozen. Good ones cost considerably more.

Go to the teacher's studio. Doctors don't make house calls anymore, either. In the case of both professionals, the reasons for this are many. If it would be presumptuous to expect the doctor to visit you, why would it not be equally presumptuous to expect the teacher to visit you? (See courtesy and respect, below.)

We see more entertainers performing and making big money than we see artists performing and making big money. An artist doesn't care. She sings anyway.

Cultivate common courtesy and respect. It's necessary for your success in this studio and in the world. How do you know for sure? Would you hate to miss an opportunity because you are rude, thoughtless, self-serving, unkind ... ? Speaking personally, I'd rather not take that coin toss.

If I could teach you all you need to know in a few, easy lessons, I would. I would be rich and famous. It doesn't work that way.

You don't add notes to your range. Your voice range pre-exists. Your job is to discover all of the notes in your range. The teacher helps you with that.

"Loud" comes later.

If you are focused on learning more than two major skills at one time, or you are participating in two or more major programs (such as soccer and singing) at once, and you are a normal human being, you are trying to do too much. One at a time is best.

You have one life. Don't waste it. Be accomplished. Don't be a slacker. Be smart, not cool. "Cool" is not a thing or even a state of being. It is insubstantive.

We must select the illusion which appeals to our temperament, and embrace it with passion -- Cyril Connolly (1903-1974)

Singing for beginners through advanced performers of all styles of music

Serving the communities of Newport Beach, Irvine, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin and nearby cities

The Listen & Learn Segment
The Science of Singing
Voice Scientist and Tenor, Ingo Titze
& Guest Tenor (completely mathematically generated - no sampling)

Last updated 2/26/10