VOICE LESSONS

Our vocal program offers private instruction in voice training for students ages six and up. We have many students who take voice or singing lessons at our schools. Students sing all kinds of music from their favorite artists to classical arias. Our voice teachers have a university degree in music specializing in voice or have an extensive professional background in performance and theater. They sing and teach everything from pop and jazz to opera. Just a sample of what a student will learn in singing lessons includes how to breathe properly, how to increase their range, proper pitch, how to project and stage presence. Our schools offer several optional performance opportunities each year with our Winter recital at Christkindlmarkt, Summer recital at Musikfest and many others. Older students may also opt to take part in: Band Coaching (ages 11-18) where they will learn the skills necessary to put their private lessons into practice with full 4-6 piece rock, blues, or jazz bands. Students work together to pick a reprotire, learn the songs as a band, and prepare for a live stage show. Classes are 1 hour, 1x a week (10 week session). $180/TLC students, $200 all others. Glee Club Voice (ages 13 - 18) - Group Lessons Inspired by the popular t.v. show, the Glee voice class is a group vocal lesson in the style of a show choir. Students learn to sing in a dynamic group with staging and choreography. Classes are 1 hour, 1x a week. (16 week trimester). $80 per month. ARE YOU A GROWN UP? No problem! Our teachers love their adult students. You're never too old to start learning new tricks. Interested in finding out more about available dates, instructors, etc.? Fill out this INQUIRY FORM and a Lesson Coordinator will contact you to discuss your lesson options. Lesson Rates $125 month - Four (30 min) weekly sessions. $250 month - Four (60 min) weekly sessions

VOICE STAFF BEN HILLMAN Benjamin M Hillman (or “Big Ben” as he is known by some) was educated at The University of Massachusetts at Lowell where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in Music Theory and Composition. He is a prolific songwriter and performing artist with nearly a decade of experience teaching private music lessons on piano, percussion and voice. In addition to emphasizing the importance of fundamental elements of music and a basic understanding of music theory in his lessons, Hillman also encourages his students to have fun using imagination and creativity to explore the sounds of their instrument, instilling in them a sense of confidence in their abilities and a deeper appreciation and love of music. In 2006 Hillman relocated to the Lehigh Valley, and has continued to perform nationally and internationally, sharing the bill with a number of diverse and well known acts, ranging from Jimmy Buffet to The Wu Tang Clan. Earning the nickname “The Professor of Funk,” Hillman went on to form his own group called Big Ben and The Royal Family, who currently can be seen touring around the northeastern US. VOICE/ SONGWRITING Coopersburg: Wednesday Bethlehem: Saturday     ERIN JIVIDEN Erin Jividen has just recently moved to the area after spending twelve years in New York City working as an actress, songwriter, singer and playwright. She has four fully recorded albums to date, has toured around the country with her band and most recently wrote and starred in her own one woman musical, Down The Rabbit Hole, which toured in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and last summer opened Off Broadway. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College with a double major in music and theater and is also a certified K-8 Teacher with a specialty in music in the state of New Jersey. VOICE/ SONGWRITING/ GLEE VOICE Coopersburg: Thursday     DEB LEAHEY Over the past thirty years I have dedicated my time and passion to all aspects of the art of music. Coming from a musical family I began flute studies at the age of eight and shortly thereafter I began guitar, leading to piano. Throughout the years I have continued learning and playing all three instruments, finally leading to vocal studies. By the time I was eighteen, I was well versed in composition, improvisation and theory and an active member of my schools concert band and marching band and was inspired forward onto my path of becoming a music teacher. I believe in enriching and furthering my musical knowledge and technique, as well as developing aspiring students who feel they need to make music an integral part of their lives. I can say that there is no style or genre that I have not explored in both my personal and teaching journeys. VOICE Bethlehem: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday     MICHELE LYNCH Michele is a general music teacher for grades K-8 for the Diocese of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley area. She earned her degree in Music Education from Moravian College and is looking to begin her graduate studies in Music Education and Vocal Performance at West Chester University. Michele has been heard in and around the Lehigh Valley for the past 10 years as she studied voice with Lise Carlson, Kelley Atwood, and Gregory Oaten. She also has studied piano with Martha Schrempel and oboe with David Diggs. Michele is involved in the StarCross indoor colorguard for which she is the primary instructor, StarCross drum corps, and works with the Northampton High School marching band. VOICE Bethlehem: Monday Coopersburg: Wednesday     SARAH SHOWN As a local teacher to the Lehigh Valley now for 6 years, Sarah Shown has concentrated her studies in all facets of both instruction and performance. Studied from her mother, Deb Leahey, she has been playing and performing on the piano and vocally for 20 years now. At the age of eight, begun flute studies, ranging mostly in the classical genre and at the age of 14 started violin. Although she concentrates her studies on Irish and gypsy fiddling, she is also classically trained on the violin as well. All of her lessons run with comprehensive musical methods to both theory, technique, rhythm, ear training, sight reading, improvisation and the science of how music effects the brain. She is a performer and aside from the instruments she teaches you may find her dabbling in bits of accordion and guitar and performing all over the east coast. VOICE Bethlehem: Monday, Wednesday Coopersburg: Tuesday     NICK MERENA Nick Merena’s lifelong passion for music started at age 7 when he discovered Van Halen’s “1984”. During high school he participated in orchestra, choir, musicals, percussion ensemble, marching band, jazz band, and excelled. After high school, Nick traveled the country in a troubadour manner, learning, sharing, and playing in bands. A deep and longstanding connection to music led him to a degree in Music Therapy. Nick’s Bachelor of Arts from Mansfield University was received in 2006, with a concentration on Saxophone, Guitar, and Voice. He is a key component of the four-piece DIY jam/funk band, The Big Dirty, and has played tenor sax onstage with New Mastersounds, Matt Butler’s Everyone Orchestra, and Dr. Didg, to name a few. VOICE Bethlehem: Thursday Coopersburg: TBA     TIFFANY TARLETON Tiffany Tarleton received her education from Cal State Fullerton, where she studied music education with a vocal emphasis. She currently is working on her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. After teaching public school music for 5 years in California, she has decided to move back to Pennsylvania to be closer to her family. She is excited to be working at The Lesson Center with the younger/beginner students, and loves watching them learn each week! VOICE Bethlehem: Tuesday Coopersburg: Monday     JUNE THOMAS June Thomas is an accomplished vocalist, pianist, and multikeyboardist. She earned a BA in Applied Music from East Stroudsburg University where she still serves as a keyboard accompanist for musical revues. She is working towards her MM in Jazz Studies at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Ms Thomas performs regularly with area bands, including the Rubel Street Band, PF and the Flyers and Nightfall duo. June works as an instructor of voice at the Lesson Center, Bethlehem and Coopersburg, PA. She has completed Level I of Somatic Voicework training under instruction by Jeanette LoVetri and looks forward to completing Levels II and III in 2011. June has performed with jazz artists such as: Jimmy Heath, Dave Liebman, George Young, Bill Goodwin, Steve Gilmore, Scott Lee, Phil Markowitz, Howie Collins, Duane Eubanks, John Swana, Bootsie Barnes, Jessie Green, and others. She has opened for Joe Henderson, Natalie Cole, and Woody Herman's Thundering Herd. VOICE/ ADVANCED VOICE Bethlehem: Monday, Tuesday Coopersburg: Thursday