What Happens in an Amber Light Intro Voice Lesson?
No matter how confident you are about your singing abilities, your first voice lesson can be a little… nerve wrecking. So I decided to have my friend, Keli take a free Amber Light introductory lesson and tell us what happens. Keli is a good representative of many of the students who come to Amber Light. She’s had a little experience, she’s a little nervous, but excited to learn. The rest of the article is from Keli’s perspective.
Keli’s Perspective:
I went to a middle school for the arts, and I was in chorus class. The last time I sang publicly without an adult beverage was when I had to do a solo in front of the whole class. I started to sing, my voice cracked, and I ran to the bathroom and spent the rest of class there.
But I know I have a decent voice. I want to get a little bit more confident so I can sing Karaoke without liquid courage. So I “booked” a voice lesson with Andrea. Normally, you can call (323) 391-6093 but I just asked Andrea in person. She’s actually been trying to get me to do one since she first started Amber Light in 2012 so it was about time.
Initial Impressions:
Walking into Amber Light was so homey. When you walk through the front door you’ll probably see Jessy at the front desk. The waiting room is bright and comfy and they have fun books about the music industry to read while you wait.
There are four different sound-treated rooms and they’re all different colors. Jessy and Andrea designed them all! In the backyard, two recording studios are being constructed. The whole vibe is professional but comfortable. It was like the opposite of middle school, so my trauma already started to heal.
The Lesson Begins:
Before the lesson, I was asked to prepare 30 seconds of a song. Andrea said it could be “happy birthday” or something simple, but I’m not a “something simple” kind of person. So I used a song that I have been trying to master in the car: Lose My Cool by Amber Mark.
When I sat down in the blue room, I poured myself a glass of water. I ended up refilling three times during the lesson. Andrea gave me the choice, and I chose to have Amber Mark singing in the background to give me a little courage.
Andrea could sense my nervousness and made me feel comfortable. Then she pulled out the worksheet. She explained to me three different types of voice. She broke down the anatomy of the voice and how we make different types of sounds. She used highlighters and explained everything so clearly.
I was so surprised that I actually understood what she was talking about.I had always heard about the diaphragm. In middle school I was told to sing from the diaphragm. I had no idea what that meant. But Andrea broke down exactly how to do that and the science behind it. Then, she was able to explain to me out to take the right type of breath to prepare myself to make different types of sounds.
Singing my Song
I’m glad I didn’t end up going with happy birthday, because we kept singing the song over and over. So pick a song you don’t mind doing that with! She also printed out the lyrics to the song and we got the highlighters out once again. As we listened to the song, she pointed out places where Amber’s Voice changed from “head voice” to “chest voice” and “belting.”
She would play a portion of the song, break it down with her highlighter, and have me do it. Her corrections were incredibly helpful. If you’ve ever been to a good workout class, it was like that. She was able to tell me exactly what I needed to change, and how to do it. She was really encouraging but she would also tell me when I needed to do it again. By the end of the lesson, I was self correcting. I could tell when I wasn’t breathing correctly.
She would play a portion of the song, break it down with her highlighter, and have me do it. Her corrections were incredibly helpful. If you’ve ever been to a good workout class, it was like that. She was able to tell me exactly what I needed to change, and how to do it. She was really encouraging but she would also tell me when I needed to do it again. By the end of the lesson, I was self correcting. I could tell when I wasn’t breathing correctly.
In My Head
“50% of the job is telling people where they have tension, and reminding them to let go of it.”
Andrea has said that to me three or four times over our friendship, so I have it memorized. But it was really true in the lesson. I wouldn’t even know that I was clenching my teeth or scrunching my shoulders, and she could tell by the sound that I made. It was really weird, but cool.
When I’m concentrating on something, I can overthink it and mess myself up. Whether it’s a workout class or a work assignment, that’s my deal. Andrea was able to give me really good prompting.
Just Good Teaching
I am a former middle school teacher and I can say with confidence that Andrea is a good teacher. She tries to give everyone a “lightbulb moment” during their session (an Amberlightbulb moment hehe).
She gives good prompts and uses visual aides. And she has her method down. All of the Amber Light teachers are trained in this method and she is very selective about who she hires, and hands on with their training.
Because I’m her friend, I’ve also seen the behind the scenes moments where she coaches her fiance, Ben. Yes, he’s a producer and a voice teacher, but first and foremost he’s a singer. And he turns to her when he needs guidance for how to protect or warm up his voice.
Authenticity Matters
I’ve seen her practice what she preaches by drinking room temperature filtered water even though she prefers it ice cold. She’s big on thinking about your future self when it comes to your voice. Anyone who thinks that holistically earns my trust.
She doesn’t promise unrealistic results. I think that’s crucial. When people are trying to sell you something completely unrealistic, you should be wary. She can help people do near impossible things, but she will acknowledge the work that needs to be put in. She’s confident but humble about her own role.
She gives good advice on habits that will actually help you succeed. She recognizes the differences in her different learners. She can tell if someone needs a pep talk or some tough love. She will tell you if you need to do vocal rest, or if you need to sit up straight.
Pick Amberlight for Singing Lessons
If I didn’t live on the other side of the country, I would definitely take voice lessons from Andrea. I don’t want to be a professional singer, and don’t really do Karaoke all that much, but the experience was so cathartic. It’s been 15 years since middle school for me, but that singing experience was still impacting me. Voice lessons with Andrea are cheaper than therapy and way more fun.
I just remembered that Andrea does do skype lessons, too! So if you need singing lessons in Los Angeles, or singing lessons anywhere, do it at Amber Light. Tell them Keli sent you and your intro lesson will be free. JK it’s free anyway. Also, check out their Yelp Reviews for other perspectives!