Become a confident singer!

Her university years at Durham (Psychology) were spent mostly in the theatre where Hannah was involved with over 25 students productions: touring, performing at the local Gala theatre and at the Edinburgh Festival. It was then she decided to formalise her love for theatre and performance, applying successfully to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Graduating with a distinction in Musical Theatre, Hannah’s vocal training at the RCS with the likes Scott Harrison, Ros Steen, Bill Wright, Jean Sangster and Pat Hay opened up her mind as to the endless possibilities of the voice and the actual science behind what is a very delicate, emotional creature at times.

Influenced by Estill, Bel Canto, SSL, CVT, Husler, Nadine George, Alexander Technique and the Laban Movement, Hannah’s style of teaching combines a number of ideologies which are tailored to suit each individual pupil. No-one is exactly the same in the way they learn, and in this sense, no one ‘school of thought’ will 100% satisfy every pupil and singer. Her research is bolstered by her own career as an actor and her degree in Psychology, aiding her teaching methods from both a methodical and practical perspective.

As a performer, Hannah has performed across the United Kingdom in musicals, plays and everything in between.

For more information, visit www.hannahhowie.com.

She also plays violin and piano, loves cats and a good challenge!

His extensive vocal training qualifications give him the ability to perform everything from classical music to chart-topping pop in a way which is captivating and genuine, whilst retaining his own personality throughout. With over 7 years of experience as a one-to-one vocal coach, Gordon employs a literal and research-based approach to his teaching, having completed level 1 & 2 courses in Estill Voice Training, and subsequently spent hundreds of hours applying it in practice both himself, and coaching at levels ranging from beginner to degree-level musical theatre study.

His passion for singing and performance is undeniable and in many ways infectious. Stepping into the studio with Gordon you will find yourself in a relaxed environment where mistakes are encouraged, and where he is guaranteed to make even stranger noises than the ones he’s asking you to produce! Rest assured though that whatever your goal, your voice is in safe hands with a teacher who understands what it’s like to stand on a stage and deliver top-quality vocal performance. Gordon can help to maximise your potential as a vocalist, whilst maintaining safe vocal practice and planting the technical seeds required for vocal longevity.’

We have so many influences musically caressing, bombarding and affecting us every day. It is no wonder that sometimes you can think – what does MY voice actually sound like? Accent and locality come into it, your life experience, vocal anatomy and set up, along with your vocal choices and skills which will increase with lessons. But ultimately, it’s all to do with confidence. The more confident you become in the sound your produce, the more authentic your sound, story and style will become.

One of the most common complaints is running out of breath during songs, especially towards the end or as the melody intensifies. A lot of this is to do with you not releasing properly between phrases, so the tension in your body firstly parasites some much-needed energy, and secondly, the diaphragm doesn’t release enough to allow a vacuum to open up and the automatic inhalation to rush in. Release and relaxation techniques can help you get through that song and live to tell the tale!

Dust, smoke, pollution, dehydration, curries, coughs, colds, medicines, the pill, menstruation, depression, allergies, poor voice technique or sports injury. All of these can affect your voice massively. Did you know some decongestant medicines strip all the moisture from your vocal chords? Did you know that your vocal chords thicken up during your period? Did you know that depression can lead to or be linked with voice loss? All of these questions and concerns can be answered by Hannah, and she can instruct you how to live a healthier vocal life.

If you go to the gym, you warm-up, right? So why do we not warm up our voices every morning? Consider this – 1) your voice is another muscle/group of muscles which produce and create your sound, and 2) it is likely you will speak, shout, cough, sing and hum throughout your day, ie: use this muscle! Hannah can teach you quick, simply warm-ups to get done every morning for ten minutes to waken up the voice and get you ready for the day.

You can have all the enthusiasm in the world, but no structure – that’s where Hannah comes in. She will provide you with a detailed post-lesson email outlining all your progress, all the new work and the all the things to practise complete with MP3s to sing alongside. And of course, she will on the end of a phone if you have a burning question. Structure = sorted!

How many times has your voice been needed in an intense situation, and you felt let-down? Job interviews, work nights out, vulnerable moments, commanding a room…your voice becomes unsteady, unreliable and ‘gives you away’. By confronting your fear head-on in taking singing lessons with Hannah, you’re already half way there! The rest is about building technique, pushing yourself beyond what you thought capable and investing in your bank of confidence so that when the time comes, your voice will be right there with you.