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From: Dean FH Macy
Organization: New England Talent, Ltd. - Epilogue Records
To: Vocalist <vocalist>
Subject: Qualified voice teachers for littles
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hello all,

Ever since Charlotte Church I have been deluged with audition tapes from parents who believe their
singing child is the best thing since sliced bread and far better than Charlotte. I listen to them
all, most times gritting my teeth. However there are a few, one out of 10 nowadays, who show
promise.

We are in New England and I do have students from Connecticut to Maine but many of the requests I
get for teaching are from elsewhere like NY or PA or NJ, too far for teaching. There are a number
of exceptional children who are without professional teachers; those who can teach technique to
children and not just help them to learn songs (which is what most child singing teachers do).

I am thinking (dangerous, I know) of setting up a database of teachers who are good and capable of
teaching correct principles of voice to children and who know what to teach and when, agewise. This
select group would have to be recommended by those who know them or have heard of them by
reputation. So I thought I'd start here, in Vocalist.

You may email your suggestions to me privately but you don't have to since I believe many of us
would like to share. We, at NET, will check their references and compile the list which will be
posted on the web. I imagine it will take some time for a complete list to be compiled but I feel
this is important to us all who 'fear' for children who might get a teacher who doesn't have a clue
as to what to teach children and when.

Some of the practices out there are mind numbing. I recently received a video of a child who
supposedly had four years of vocal training (since age 10) who could not maintain pitch, had
terrible intonation, no phrasing, no breath control, terrible diction, etc. whose mother paid $30
per lesson to this 'quack'. But the kid knew a lot of songs. Wow!

I cannot stop these 'vocal teachers' but I believe I can help by providing a list of qualified voice
teachers. At least I'd like to try.

We can start with Deanna Reitan, Laura Sharp(?), Laura Bernay and me. I need to know the territory
each covers. Also, I have probably missed a couple of you (my memory, ya know) so bring me up to
speed. Included should be an email address, snailmail address, telephone, and child ages covered.
If anyone can think of other criteria, please clue me in.

To start-
Dean Macy - all of New England except Boston
Children ages 5 through 16
Lesson period 45-75 minutes (depends upon the kid)
Costs $20-$60 per lesson (depends upon the kid and if in-home)
14 Granite Street - Studio Five
Peterborough, NH 03458
603 924-4412/4409 (800 # by request)

Okay- Next?

--
Dean FH Macy, Lit.D./Mus.D.
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"Specializing in Management of exceptionally talented youth in Music"
EPI Records - NetWork Films
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"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path
And leave a trail."