About
UPDATE: due to joining with a local studio, I am unable to take on anymore clients at this time. I will alert you all if that changes. Thank you!
I have had a long career in music encompassing a variety of styles. I have performed and studied musical theatre, country, jazz, metal, hard rock, folk, prog-rock, and pop realms. I teach piano, guitar, ukulele, songwriting and performance, as well as integrating voice production with all these various skills. My method focuses an emphasis on developing individuality. with a foundation of Bel Canto voice production.
I believe all talent is unique in nature, a blessing to be cultivated. I help my students find their voice, build and strengthen their musicality and their confidence as well as giving them the skill and training to keep their singing voice healthy all their lives. I encourage all my singers to learn an instrument to accompany themselves and deepen their understanding of music.
Many of my voice students are now guitar, ukulele, bass and piano players. I also teach those who have the inclination how to be the best songwriters they can be, knowing the positive effect having a creative outlet is for all the emotions young artists experience.
Physically, they will learn breath, stamina, tone, control, dynamics, ear training and how to pace themselves. Emotionally, they will learn how to bring a song to life.
I worked as private coach for middle school choir students at Vandeventer, Wester and Scoggins in Frisco ISD, at The Sound Foundation in Dallas, TX, and at For Those About To Rock School in Southlake, TX. I am thrilled to still be working with many of these artists online via zoom and skype, due to my relocating to my mother's farm in Kentucky and the ravages of the covid pandemic.
Many of my students have excelled at leads in their school plays and some have graduated to regional theater or have moved to NYC, LA, and NAshville to work on their careers. Several have carried their choir careers into high school and university, joining a cappella groups, winning awards and working towards careers in music education. Several students have created professional careers as solo artists or as a part of working bands, releasing albums, singles and touring.
I was trained the Bel Canto method by opera singer parents (who met at New York City Opera). I began performing professionally at age 13 and have never stopped. It has taken walking through the worlds of top 40, country, musical theater, pop, metal, progressive rock, folk, jazz, and musical creations that have yet to be categorized to culminate in the work I am living today.
I believe all talent is unique in nature, a blessing to be cultivated. I help my students find their voice, build and strengthen their musicality and their confidence as well as giving them the skill and training to keep their singing voice healthy all their lives. I encourage all my singers to learn an instrument to accompany themselves and deepen their understanding of music.
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Crystal G.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We find out what style of music the student loves best, what they wish to learn and accomplish. We discuss the proper techniques of singing, or their chosen instrument and begin the process of how to use those tools to unlock their creativity and strengthen their abilities.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been a professional singing performer since age 13. Both my parents were professional Opera singers at New York City Center Opera, and taught me the bel canto technique which ensures life long health of the vocal process. I am a graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston,Tx. I am a published songwriter with Peer/Southern in NYC and Polygram/Island in LA. I have traveled the country as a solo artist and in successful bands, released several records, and have decades of experience in multiple genres- pop, country, jazz, musical theatre, progressive rock, alternative, and metal. I have taught private lessons for middle and high school choir students, as well as working with young professional artists at The Sound Foundation and For Those About to Rock School.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Prices are negotiable, dependent on the frequency of lessons. This is a basic fee structure, a sliding scale is possible for those with special circumstance.
Once a month(or occasional appt) -
30 min = $40 1 hour = $70
Once a week -
30 min = $35 1 hour = $65
How did you get started teaching?
I began teaching in 2012, when I had left Austin, Tx. From the 80's til the 2010's, I had performed, toured, recorded, non stop. I relocated to the Dallas area, and started a new project. I began teaching a few private lessons, then two different rock schools asked me to join their ranks, and choir teachers I had met through my private students asked me to come to their schools and teach. When covid hit, everything went online. For family reasons, I relocated to Kentucky.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with professional recording artists, choir and theatre kids, young piano and guitar students, adults who wanted to join a band for the first time or just get more confidence in their musicality, and songwriters. Many young artists who came to learn to sing are now putting out records of original music. I have had students aged 7 to 70, all who wished to get better at expressing their musical creativity.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of my students is recording her first ep of songs we collaborated on, and it is magnificent. Another, who I've worked with since she was 6th grade, just had a feature in a huge Dallas magazine and is releasing her third record. Another is finding success at UCLA, has directed a film, in which she also composed the music, that is now being released. Another couple of wonderful artists I worked with are releasing music from Nashville. I recently had a reunion with my old band VELVET HAMMER at a big music festival in Ohio, we have rereleased 2 of our old cds, and I have a new record out for sale on my website.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
As Oscar Wilde once said, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken", my mantra is "Become someone you believe in." Learning how to connect with your creativity makes your world a better place. Have fun with it, it truly is a journey, not a destination.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What do you wish to learn? What is it that you love, and how can we, as your mentors, help you to create that which will give you satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment?