Barbara Nyce Music Lessons

Making music is a natural act. Each student’s music-making is unique and worthy of respect. I help students fulfill their potential regardless of their level of ability or skill. I take a holistic approach to teaching – considering each student’s physical and emotional make-up as well as their learning style.

Voice Lessons

Voice lessons focus on posture, proper breathing and healthy tone production. Once these basic concepts have been mastered we start to work on repertoire (songs.) I teach a style of singing known as bel canto (beautiful singing). This is the healthiest style of vocal technique and it will help prevent you from doing any damage to your voice. You can apply bel canto to any type of music you wish to sing.

In addition to warm-up exercises and songs, each student studies ear training through solfege (do, re, mi, etc.). Any gaps in music reading will be filled in as we go along. If you don't read music at all, I will teach you that as well.

I recommend 30-minute, 45-minute or 60-minute lessons depending on what you want to accomplish.

Piano

I teach beginning piano students and recommend 30-minute lessons for piano students. Each lesson will consist of warm-up exercises, songs and music theory. There are many lesson series published and we will choose the one that is right for you.

I has been singing for as long as I can remember. It is my very favorite activity. I have transformed my love of singing into a career.

I have been teaching music lessons for over 30 years. I earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Moravian College and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Temple University where I studied with the late Klara Meyers. While at Temple, my coaches included Greta Csonka and Richard Raub for standard vocal repertoire; and Julianne Baird, Lucy Bardo and Ben Harms for Early Music. I have also completed graduate courses in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at West Chester University.

I served on the faculty of Suburban Music School for 17 years where I taught voice, piano and recorder lessons. I also directed the Children’s Choir and the Women’s Choir. I was formerly on the faculty of Delaware County Community College where I taught courses in the Music Department; and of Temple Music Prep where I instituted, developed and maintained a vocal program at Temple University’s Ambler Campus.

I have extensive experience teaching students of all ages. Throughout my teaching career I have taught students with varied backgrounds and diverse needs.

I was formerly employed as a chorister at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, DE where I the opportunity to sing for such notable conductors as John Rutter, Sir David Wilcox, Sir Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury, and James O’Donnell. Previous choral work has included singing for Dr. Ifor Jones and for Michael Korn.