I came to Claudia at a time when I was particularly vulnerable. I've struggled with technique from the time I started singing -- always felt like I just didn't or couldn't get it -- and after several frustrating months with my last teacher (who was dear and supportive but whose fundamental concept of placement just didn't work for me), I was actually thinking about calling it quits. I thought I just didn't have the chops. Well, after 6 months with Claudia, I was singing better than ever, and with much more freedom. Claudia has great ears, more knowledge of the anatomy of singing than anyone I know, communicates well, and is kind, generous, and a master in the art of objectivity. After years of trying to make my voice do what countless teachers wanted it to do (and tying my throat in knots in the process), I'm finally learning to get out of its way and let the voice do what it wants. "The Liberated Voice" isn't just a catchy name for her blog -- it sums up her goal and her whole process: to release the voice (and the spirit) from the fetters of placement, habit, bad posture, judgment, and emotional baggage through simple, practical exercises aimed to achieve clear phonation and easy breath flow, and to help a singer change their mental self-speak, encouraging utter objectivity and freedom from judgment.
It would be difficult to overstate how much I believe Claudia has helped me progress over the past couple years. She combines highly articulate insight with an attentive and humble spirit that makes her studio a remarkably fertile place for risk-taking and growth. Her methods reflect her keen interest in anatomy, and under her guidance I have begun to understand for the first time the extent to which the various motor processes involved in singing can be considered and exercised in isolation, leading to ever greater coordination and vocal freedom.
Five years ago, I began working with Claudia during a time when my vocal development needed fine tuning. First and most important, she helped me find my vocal freedom. With that, I have access to flexibility, range, release and optimum breath, and expressiveness. Each lesson Claudia explores my capabilities, while making a solid technical foundation for what is uniquely my voice.
Claudia has an amazing ability to hear exactly what's going on with my voice. Whether I'm struggling with a particular musical passage or more general vocal technique, she always gets me on the right track to easier, more open singing. The exercises she's taught me are also extremely effective diagnostic tools for me to self teach when I'm working out of town. Claudia is the reason I've consistently stayed healthy performing eight shows a week over the eight years I've studied with her.
After years of having a highly successful musical career in canada, I was growing weary of being limited by the kinds of singing roles I was getting, based on my vocal limitations. I was really looking for a teacher who could open up my voice in the higher register, as I had previously been a belter. I can honestly say that after a lifetime of searching for a teacher who could help me, I found results with Claudia after our first Skype lesson and continue to reap the benefits and joys of singing healthfully, skillfully and wholly. My voice has utterly blossomed and grown with weekly Skype lessons and dedication. I have opened up career opportunities I could only secretly dream of before.
Claudia is a straight-forward, highly skilled and massively supportive teacher who always gently encourages her students to be true to the sound that THEY have innately and works to grow that personal sound. Her technique is simple and precise, based in a two pronged ideology of release and thought. She is kind and intuitive, high skilled and generous. I can say without a doubt that Claudia has changed the was I sing, I am filled with the joy of singing again.
I thought when I first started taking on line singing lessons might be challenging given our physical distance but I actually found it incredibly freeing. We have only ever had Skype lessons as I live outside of NYC, and my training has not suffered, but expanded because of it. Claudia is professional and practiced in regards to the technical aspects of online lessons and was very helpful in getting our sessions technically flawless. I am deeply grateful for her expertise.
Paul Richardson, baritone
Claudia Friedlander is a truly great voice teacher. She understands the mechanism and how to systematically free it. I always feel accomplished and like a better singer, when I leave a lesson. Whether you want to sing lullabies to your kid, Heavy Metal, Broadway show tunes, or Opera, she will help you in your endeavors.
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