The "Sliding Scale"
For vocal coaching and voice lessons, I work on a “Sliding Scale”. This is meant to accommodate the variable employment situations and incomes of the entertainment industry and New York City. Some singers I have are currently working on Broadway. Other people may be experiencing a slow period financially. New York is a very expensive city. My goal is not to make huge profits off of performers who want to improve their craft. It is to help them achieve their goals. Thus, I have created this system to help the performer decide what they are able to pay. The choice is always yours. You decide what you would like to pay within the scale at each lesson. No questions ever asked. And, you can feel free to change what you would like to pay at any time.
Vocal Coaching/Voice Lesson
What’s The Difference?
In short, Voice Lessons train people how to sing well. Vocal Coachings help trained singers to make specific auditions, performances, or recordings shine.
Voice Lessons are sessions that focus on the mechanics of singing. These lessons are meant for professionals and serious beginners who are looking to improve their vocal technique with a knowledgeable and experienced vocal technician (voice teacher). Voice Lessons focus on vocal exercises related to breathing, placement, alignment, vocal strength and flexibility, ease of singing, vocal health, registration (chest voice, head voice, mix, belt, etc.), and overall tone quality of the voice. Also, Voice Lessons focus on applying good vocal technique to songs in the style that the singer desires to sing: Pop/Rock/R&B/Country, Musical Theatre, Classical, Jazz, etc. These lessons are for the purpose of helping each singer to discover the versatility, freedom, and potential of their instrument. At New York Vocal Coaching, Voice Lessons are tailored to each individual to help them discover the voice that is most authentic to themselves, their needs, and their goals.
Vocal Coachings are for singers (typically professionals, but not always) who aren’t seeking improved vocal technique from their sessions per se, but rather a place to refine their audition material, recording studio material, or performance material. It is often the case that singers seeking Vocal Coachings will already study with a separate voice teacher. Vocal Coachings focus on stylizations, musicality, performances skills, repertoire building, acting choices, song selection, audition prep, microphone technique, recording studio prep, industry counsel, accompaniment, musical arrangements, transpositions, sheet music preparation, and more. Singers should leave Vocal Coachings feeling more confident in the auditions, recording projects, or performances for which they are preparing.
At New York Vocal Coaching, repertoire and performance preparation is certainly addressed in Voice Lessons. Likewise, vocal technique is incorporated into Vocal Coachings when appropriate. But, the difference mostly has to do with the needs and focus of each singer. Professionals or amateurs looking to improve the beauty, freedom, and quality of their voices should opt for Voice Lessons. Professionals or amateur performers or recording artists looking to prepare for individual projects or auditions should seek Vocal Coachings. Every singer is welcome to book Voice Lessons or Vocal Coachings as their needs or careers dictate. For more information on these topics, please look at the SERVICES section of this site.
Vocal Coaching: $100 per hour
Voice Lessons: $100-150 per hour
Consultation or Introductory Voice Lesson
A one-hour Consultation/Introductory Voice Lesson is available for $80. This special offer is for serious students (both professional and beginning) that are seeking a vocal technique instructor for long-term study, but would like to have a trial lesson or consultation before beginning their studies.
These sessions must be paid in advance via PayPal.
Piano Lessons/Guitar Lessons
Many singers enjoy adding a little piano or guitar training to their voice lessons. This is especially helpful for composers, singer/songwriters, recording artists, and Broadway performers looking to accompany themselves.
Piano Lesson/Guitar Lesson
$80 per hour
Accompanying You to an Audition
Audition Accompaniment means that I travel with you to your audition and play for you. This is often helpful if you think that the accompanist at the audition may have difficulty playing your music or if you are doing something special, unique, transposed, or challenging. I include the time I spend rehearsing your music into the fee, but it does not include separate rehearsal time that you may need.
Audition Accompaniment
$80 for travel, performance, and up to 1-hour wait
Recordings, Live Performances, Music Direction Etc.
Recordings, live performances, accompaniment for shows holding auditions, music direction, or things not specified above are negotiable. Since there are often more hours and specialized work involved in projects like this, I like to discuss this on a case-by-case basis so that we can find a personalized rate that we both feel happy with.
"Scholarships"
Every once in a while, I will have inquiries from a student or performer that, for whatever reason, simply does not have the financial means to study singing in New York. If this person has a deep passion and commitment for pursuing their craft I can sometimes offer “scholarships” or lower rates. Please keep in mind, this offer is only for extreme and rare situations and should not be thought of as a “discount”. The need must be very great and the commitment must be vastly and impressively greater. I limit this special scenario to a small number of students, but I don’t want to discourage anyone who is truly passionate about singing, but simply cannot afford it. Moreover, scholarship lessons must be given on a less frequent basis than regular lessons. This being said, if you have an extreme need and there is absolutely no means of affording lessons at the provided rates, please contact me and we can discuss possible plans to help you meet your goals.
Cancellation Policy
New York Vocal Coaching and Associates do enforce a 24-hour Cancellation Policy. All sessions cancelled within 24-hours of the appointment must be fully compensated. Due to high demand for sessions, appointments cancelled with less than 48-hours notice will be charged a $20 fee. New York Vocal Coaching and Associates respectfully request 72-hours notice when canceling appointments, but there is no fee unless cancellations are made with under 48-hours notice.
Clients are encouraged to understand this policy on a variety of levels:
It Makes Teachers Better
Cancellation policies protect the time, energy, and devotion of hard-working teachers. This benefits students because teachers are better able to maintain a high level of passion, devotion, and energy to teaching and helping students achieve their goals. It is courteous to value teachers’ energies by giving them ample notice for cancellations and compensating their time when you cannot.
It Makes Students Better
By placing importance and responsibility on high-level training and lessons, students maintain a deep commitment, strong work ethic, and understanding of professionalism. All New York Vocal Coaching Associates are professionals that have also been students for many years. We understand that cancellation policies sometimes are difficult and can even seem unfair or frustrating. Nonetheless, rest assured that every New York Vocal Coaching Associate has learned the value of treating lessons with deepest commitment and has respected their own teachers’ throughout the years by observing their cancellation policies. This is a very important part of showing teachers that their time is valuable. Respecting the hard work and time of fellow artists is paramount to being successful as an artist.
It Makes Other Artists Better
Lesson times fill up very quickly. New York Vocal Coaching teachers can sometimes find their schedules fully booked 2 weeks or more in advance. There is also often a waiting list for times. Since this is true, a cancellation policy is even more important. Students often need sessions at the last minute for major auditions, recordings, performances, or opportunities. It is impossible to help students achieve success when cancellations are given with little notice. By striving to give 72+ hours notice for cancellations, students can help fellow artists succeed by allowing them access to unused lesson times that may be very important to them.
Your understanding of the Cancellation Policy is greatly appreciated. New York Vocal Coaching and Associates make great strides in providing a fair situation to all students. Please know that we care, love, and respect each and every student very deeply. Enforced cancellations are not meant personally, but are simply a part of high-level studies in any leading New York voice or music studio. We encourage you to view it as such and also to read the thoughts above with our utmost respect to you, your goals, and your individual situation. Thank you again for respecting your teachers by following the Cancellation Policy.
© Content and Design Justin Stoney 2008