About
Originally from Denver, Colorado, singer-songwriter Hallie Spoor has been teaching voice, guitar, ukulele, and piano since 2011. She has a BA in classical voice from Loyola Marymount University in LA, and has produced, written, and arranged three studio albums. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of sparking curiosity and passion in her students. Making music should be fun; and should promote healthy expression of one's’ emotions and creativity. Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, Hallie most recently appeared at Rockwood Music Hall and the famous Sunny’s bluegrass bar in Redhook with her Americana band. She released her third studio EP, New Ground, in January 2020, and has over 70K streams on Spotify.
I love providing a space for people to gain confidence in themselves- and accomplish their musical goals. There's nothing more rewarding than helping people feel excited about expressing themselves through music. Especially related to songwriting- it is such a special thing to help someone craft their lyrics and life experiences into something tangible like a song.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Upon working with a new student, first we will outline what the student's goals are. Do they want to just sing for fun? Are they preparing for an audition? Are they looking to start songwriting? Then we will craft a customized lesson plan to address their goals, increase confidence, and grow their joy for music. Every student should have different songs/ genres they are learning because they should be performing what they love and enjoy.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Voice from Loyola Marymount University. I have taken classes in vocal pedagogy (the art of teaching voice), as well as music theory, performance, etc. I have been a working professional singer and musician since 2011, specializing in operatic performance, and folk/ rock songwriting.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge an hourly rate of 65$ per hour, 50$ for 45 min, 35$ for 30 min- this does vary slightly if I am travelling to you.
For webcast lessons, I reduce rates because of the ease of non-travel.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching children in 2011, and since then have taught all ages, including adults- songwriting and voice being my specialties. However I can also teach beginning/ intermediate guitar, piano, and ukulele.
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
My album release show at Rockwood Stage 3 this January! We sold out the venue, and I had full band arrangements on my music: guitar, bass, drums, violin, cello, and 2 back up vocals.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would say the most important thing is to find someone you gel with- that makes you feel excited to play/ sing, and that makes you feel happy and confident. Nothing can kill joy like a negative attitude, or feeling of insecurity. Look for a teacher that can pivot if something is not working. For example, I had a guitar student who was really struggling, but he had a knack for singing and writing songs. So instead of focusing on making him an expert guitar player, we leaned into his strengths and stregthened his songwriting/ singing- and because of that- he improved leaps and bounds on guitar because he was practicing his own songs.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
-What are your goals? Do you have anything tangible you'd like to accomplish, or level of expertise you are looking to reach?
-Do you have any past experiences/ traumas that the teacher should be aware of? (For example, do you have stage freight, or are you dealing with an emotional experience you'd like to put into a song/ process?)
-Who has been a wonderful teacher in your life? What made them so successful working with you?