Voice

About

Private lessons are open to children and adults of all skill levels. Our voice teachers are committed to spreading the joy of singing by helping each singer develop his or her voice and performing through positive reinforcement and appropriate performance experiences. In addition to lessons, there are voice area recitals, workshops, and masterclass opportunities at no additional charge. Our highly qualified faculty is committed to excellence and our goal is to help every student sing his or her best!

Private vocal lessons are recommended for students 12 and up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

  • 1 -

    To begin the enrollment process fill out an inquiry form or contact us by phone. You’ll need to speak with our Director of Education, who will work with you to place the student based on learning style, interests, schedule, etc.

  • 2 -

    Students enroll for once-a-week private lessons. Private lessons are offered 7 days a week, but availability of teachers/instruments varies by day. The fall term is 16 weeks long and begins in September. The spring term is 16 weeks long and begins in February. Private lessons are also available over the summer.

  • 3 -

    Students must register for a full semester of lessons (or the current amount of lessons left in the semester) but there is a three-lesson trial period. Students may withdraw for a partial refund before the fourth lesson.

  • 4 -

    Students can begin private lessons as early as age 6, depending on the instrument they wish to study. The Suzuki program allows students to begin flute or violin as early as age 4. Students may also begin in the group piano program as early as Pre-K.

  • 5 -

    Yes! Adults of all levels may sign up for private lessons. No experience necessary!

  • 6 -

    Generally, no. All lessons take place either at Kennard House or in select Brookline Public School locations. In rare cases of extenuating circumstances, certain teachers may be able to offer in-home lessons for an added travel fee.

CLASSICAL

Traditional voice lessons focus on building the skills needed to read and sing music. Students will learn about healthy vocal technique, including breathing, resonance, head and chest voice, and will learn songs appropriate to their musical level and vocal range from collections of classical, folk/world music, and Broadway songs. If the student does not already read music, we encourage a longer lesson to work on musicianship/theory.

JAZZ & CONTEMPORARY

In the jazz/contemporary voice studio, the main focus is on the fundamentals of vocal technique with an emphasis on jazz and contemporary musical styles and repertoire, including jazz standards, top 40 pop, and musical theater. We also cover topics such as vocal improvisation and arranging within each piece, allowing the student to explore many different timbres and colors of the voice and develop a unique interpretation of each song. Students generally choose their pieces and may sing from a lead sheet.

*Two years of classical voice lessons recommended as a foundation

AUDITION PREPARATION

Continuous weekly contact with a voice teacher is the best way to improve singing, and students are encouraged to sign up for the entire school year. However, for adults and those with upcoming auditions or performances we offer individually arranged lessons for less than a semester.

VOCAL PREPARATION

Students under 12 who may not be ready for private vocal study are encouraged to participate in group classes, such as Vocal Discovery for ages 6 to 11, and instrumental study to build general musicianship skills. Piano skills are particularly useful for singers. If you wish to arrange for an individual assessment of your child’s voice, please fill out a New Student Inquiry Form or contact the office.

Studio Class

Studio classes foster community and comradery among students who are studying with the same teacher. During studio classes, participants have the chance to practice performing for one another, to share their process on specific musical projects, and to offer feedback and encouragement to their peers, in a supportive environment.

Exclusive School-Wide & Department Events

Students enrolled in private lessons at BMS have the opportunity to participate in exciting BMS-exclusive events including masterclasses, special recitals, Salons, Dynamic Duos, and more, at no extra cost. More information about events can be found here.

"Brookline Music School is amazing. I mean it! We have three kids enrolled and it’s our home away from home.."

D.S., Brookline Music School Parent

Voice Faculty


HOW TO ENROLL


BMS makes a thoughtful match between each student and faculty member, based on information submitted by inquiry form and a follow-up discussion with our Director of Education.

Inquire

Please complete a private lesson inquiry form*. Our Director of Education will follow up with you to discuss learning style, educational approaches, scheduling and other preferences to help place you or your child with a teacher.

*If this is your first time using our online registration system, you'll need to create an account/password at https://bmsmusic.asapconnected.com/ This is a quick process.

Payment

Once assigned a teacher/lesson time by the Director of Education, log in to ASAP to pay (You must enroll before the first lesson).

Effective: September 1, 2023

2023-2024 PRIVATE LESSON TUITION INFO

Length Per Term (16 weeks) Full Year (32 weeks) Per Lesson
30 minutes $920.00 $1,840.00 $57.50
45 minutes $1,304.00 $2,608.00 $81.50
60 minutes $1,672.00 $3,344.00 $104.50

Details

  • Term - 16 weeks| Year - 32 weeks
  • New students may register on a rolling basis (depending on availability) after the start of a term
  • Tuition will be prorated based on the number of lessons left in the term
  • Students registered for classes in Fall Term are automatically reenrolled in Spring Term
  • For info on shared lessons, please contact the office at info@bmsmusic.org or 617-277-4593

Fees & Aid

  • There is a once-yearly non-refundable $45 registration fee per family.
  • There is a $20 fee per term for payment plans.
  • No registration fee is charged for summer study.

Contact Us

Brookline Music School is a nonprofit organization that has provided excellence in music education to the Greater Boston community since 1924. We rely on the generous support of our donors to benefit the community through music.

Brookline Music School welcomes students of all ages. Enrollment is open year-round so students may begin private lesson study at any time. Join us!


Regular Hours

Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8 am to 7 pm

See the Lessons & Classes or Early Childhood calendars for holiday schedules including flex days, make-up days and closures.