Boulder Voice Lessons

Joshua South, lead teacher of Boulder Voice Lessons, has performed with 50 Cent, Paul McCartney, Kelli O’Hara, Kelsey Grammar, Brian Dennehy at world class venues like Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has been a member of a number of world class vocal ensembles, including The Clarion Choir (2017 GRAMMY nomination for Best Choral Performance), St Thomas Men and Boys Choir, New York City Opera Chorus, New York Choral Artists, the Bard Opera Chorus, Trinity Wall Street, and has sung on numerous SAG/AFTRA major motion picture soundtracks.

Boulder Voice Lessons is a world class vocal building and instruction studio located in Boulder, Colorado.

Please visit our webpage at www.bouldervoicelessons.com for more information and to schedule a lesson.

Happy Singing!
Best,
Joshua South
Boulder Voice Lessons

Be extreme in your daily quest for greatness

I have always been a person that goes to extremes. If I were going to practice stretching I would stretch until it hurts. If I were to work out by lifing weights I would lift the heaviest weight possible. Basically any technique, I would take it to the nth degree, because that’s how to do it best, right? Wrong. 

Something has changed in the last year, though. I don't know if it's because I'm just getting older, if I'm getting further along in my jiu jitsu practice, if I'm getting older as a father, or what, but I've had a pretty seismic idea, extreme, if you will, of being extreme..

Maybe it occurred to me these past couple weeks as I've been working out almost every day at the Opera Colorado office. It’s not the greatest gym in the world, but, if you just work out with what you have, and keep on the slow and steady grind on this campaign of self-improvement, one begins to see results. If I just come in every day and work and go through the motions and lift the weights do my stretches my injuries heal, my body strengthens, and I feel overall, better.

The same thing can be said regarding our singing. In the beginning of your singing journey, you are building your voice, much the same way as you are building an instrument. You can't play a violin unless it's built, and you cannot sing to your full extent unless the muscles that are directly in control of producing the sounds have been strengthened...

The muscles allow you to sing softly, loudly, to add emotional textures to your voice, to add caricature textures to your voice, singing dark, singing light, singing clear, and have a ringing tone. All of these things are the standard, the baseline, the foundation of what it takes to add artistry to your song, to your band, to your life....

Once again, we come to this idea of extreme. I can't tell you how many students I've seen in the past few years that want a major change in one lesson. It doesn't happen like that. Expecting a change in one lesson… that is extreme. One must recognize that one needs to build the muscles that are directly responsible before producing those sounds over a period of YEARS! it took Arnold Schwarzenegger a long time to get that Mr. Universe body. It's the exact same way with the voice.

Slow and steady. Steady. Steady. Constant and disciplined workouts will get you to your goals.

Oh, and by the way, I can help get you there!

Singing Lessons schedule is a bit wackadu for a little while, but sign up on the Boulder Voice Lessons website for available lesson times.

Free Piano Lesson and Daily Piano Warmups

Boulder Voice Lessons Daily 7 minute piano warm up will make you a better piano player.

Daily Piano Practice will make you a better piano player!

If you don’t know what to practice, or if you are sick of practicing your assigned song, just do this simple 7 minute warm up, and you’ll continue to improve.

It’s like 7 minute Abs, but for your fingers.

Check it here:

How to Audition

The other week my rambunctious twin boys auditioned for their first professional theater company. They were going for the role of Tiny Tim. We worked really hard for about two weeks to get them ready.... (There was lots of bribing involved)

The big day came... they had resumes and headshots in hand as they each strutted into the audition room without me, handed their music to the pianist, proudly announced their names and their selections and sang their piece.

I was trying as hard as I could to be the ultimate “stage dad” with my ear against the audition door listening for their cute dulcet Tiny Tim voices. And, after everybody in their group was finished with their own additions, they called the whole group back into the room to work on a new song.

A NEW SONG???? But they are only six years old....They can’t even read yet, let alone read music.
(Internal eye rolling, internal palm to the face)

“Why didn’t I prepare all of Tiny Tim‘s music for my kids!!!” I yelled at myself in the silence of my own brain.

Welp, neither one got the role.

Lesson learned. Learn the whole role if you really want to be considered.

This goes for six-year-old singers auditioning for musical theater, stage actors auditioning for Hamlet, opera singers auditioning for whatever, and grade school kids auditioning for their school play at Mesa Elementary, Bear Creek Elementary, Fairview High School, or Southern Hills Middle School, or any BVSD school.. The more you seem prepared, the more the producers will trust you. After all, you worked hard to get this far, why not learn that extra piece and impress the audition panel.

If you’re interested in working locally with me, sign up for a lesson at www.bouldervoicelessons.com, or drop me an email at info@bouldervoicelessons.com.

How prepared you have to be?

The show is tonight!

Peace!
Joshua South,
Boulder Voice Lessons,

#BoulderVoiceLessons Instagram Feed

Singing Lessons Near Me has never been nearer to YOU.

Boulder Voice Lessons Instagram Feed is going to give you a :59 second singing tip as often as possible.

How to Sing Like a Top 40 Star is the theme for this “course.” We’ll give you great tips on mic technique, smokey sounds, chest sounds, belts, etc.

Singing Technique for all ages, all types, all genres of music.

Check it out!

Peace!

Joshua South

Boulder Voice Lessons

Had a blast taking bjj class with @easton_online today!

Movement and music class to fill the soul today. 2:30pm Mountain time. Sign up on the website, bouldervoicelessons.com #dance #danceclass #lessons #bouldervoicelessons Link in the description.

Clear as Mud

I spent the past weekend in South Alabama working as the Director of Photography (did you know I’m also a photographer/videographer??) on a short documentary for the Lyman Ward Military Academy. I grew up in Alabama and have sorely missed that deep swamp-like humidity since moving to the bone-dry climate of the Wild West.

I love Alabama. Love the culture, the FOOD, the people, the language, and the “isms”!

“Now that’s a gear we ain’t gonna get into right now.”

“Bless your heart.”

“That’s about as clear as mud.”

And I “sure get tickled” every time I hear a new one.

A LOT of great singers come from the South, probably because of the language/accent/chest-dominated speaking voice, but there are some GREAT singers here in Colorado too.

One of them is a singing student right here at Boulder Voice Lessons, Darrow Klein. She is killin’ it all over town and is being featured as the Title Role in the Diary of Anne Frank at the (UNION-HOUSE) Arvada Center.

The Arvada Center is LEGIT, folks, and so is Darrow. I’m so happy to help her along in her vocal and artistic journey.

Y’all check out the article in the local paper, the Daily Camera, featuring Darrow taking a lesson with Boulder Voice Lessons.

https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/04/28/fairview-student-in-professional-production-of-the-diary-of-anne-frank/

Boulder Voice Lessons has availability for new Singing Students, if you’re interested…

We’ll quickly diagnose your singing technique and git ya on track to accomplish your singing goals!

Singing Technique lessons here:  https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule

Y’all take care now and tell yer Mama I said hey!

(Roll Tide)

Joshua South
Boulder Voice Lessons

Boulder Voice Lessons and Artistry

Voice Lessons this past week were fantastic! Ranges are expanding, textures are improving, volume and intensity is growing, and most importantly, ARTISTRY is blossoming.

Our voice building technique ultimately helps you sing the way you have always wanted, but don’t forget that this is not the most important thing. Your artistry - what you are communicating - and what you are bringing to life is of the upmost importance. 

Take another look at your music and re-read the poetry/lyrics. Breathe in the thought of the emotion or phrase, and let that emotion fill your sound and your soul. Allow your falsetto coordinated tone to be full of that emotion, and then pull a little bit of the chest coordination into the sound. 

The following quote has been in my life for the last 22 years… It is a letter from Martha Graham to Agnus de Mille - I consider this the exemplary definition of our journey, our path, and our artistry:

There is a vitality,

a life force,

a quickening

that is translated through you into action,

and because there is only one of you in all time,

this expression is unique.

And If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.

The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine

how good it is

nor how valuable it is

nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly

to keep the channel open.

You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.

You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate YOU.

Keep the channel open...

No artist is pleased...

There is no satisfaction whatever at anytime

There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction

a blessed unrest that keeps us marching

and makes us more alive than the others.

______

Thank you all for your commitment to your voice! Keep practicing - 2 days on, 1 day off… Let me know how it’s going, and I’ll see you soon.

Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

Someone told me I was tone deaf…

A Boulder Voice Lessons student said that to me recently… Those words can sting.

It made me think of the process. It made me think of how much I’ve learned in the last few years… I’m teaching my kids how to read, I’m studying a martial art (jiu-jitsu), and I’ve ramped up my voice teaching to over 500 lessons a year.

You gotz to start at the beginning when learning a new skill. My ‘energetic’ 6-year-olds are learning the sounds of the letters. We drill those letters a lot. I’m also teaching them piano and trying to train their ear. We try to do work on that a lot. Baby steps…

Jiu-Jitsu is the same. No white belt is getting their black belt tomorrow – you have to go through the steps and give it time. Those moves have to get in your body – it has to become natural. That can only happen with time… Again, baby steps.

I’ve seen the same thing with ALL my voice students. As much as I would love to have a new student become the best singer in the world in 3 lessons, it just doesn’t happen. My children can’t read novels because they don’t know all the letter/word rules yet, and I don’t have my black belt because I haven’t put in the time. The same goes with the voice.

What is the common thread of all students?

The desire to get better.

Without the desire, fire, will – it’s hard to progress.

How then, does one get better??

Record your lessons and listen to them. Do the warm-ups. Memorize your music. Perform in front of someone. Go to an audition. Join the local theatre group.

Baby steps…

Get the on the vocal technique path here today - https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule

Keep the fire going!

Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

Voice Lessons Near Me
Singing Lessons Near Me

Boulder Voice Lessons Video Introduction

Voice Lessons near me was nevah sooooo easy…

No matter where you are, you can learn the Boulder Voice Lessons technique.

Online Voice Lessons are coming soon to a screen near you - sign up on our email list to get first notification and (gasp) a steep discount and extras… Sign up here:

In the meantime - check out a video introduction to our technique, our philosophy, and where the technique comes from.

5 Tips to Sing "Better"

Boulder Voice Lessons keeps on kickin’ with this 2 minute video on How to Sing Better. Take a minute to Subscribe, Like and Comment on the video puhLease!

Schedule your next voice lesson here:

https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule/

Peace!

Josh

Use Boulder Voice lessons for:
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Singing Lessons 5 Secrets

Symptoms of Vocal Failure:

1.    Thinking you can’t do it

2.    Not practicing enough

3.    Not dropping the jaw

4.    Not “believing”

5.    Not performing

You’re thinking, “really?”

“Believing?”

 Hang on… The human brain is an amazing thing – one day you’ll be able to do seemingly impossible things.

You must put in the time, but your technique can be incredible.

Enjoy the process and go for that breakthrough. Get that Aha(!) moment.

Come on now; everyone can practice, drop the jaw, and perform.

If you want to be a bodybuilder, you GOTTA go to the gym.

If you want to be a singer, you GOTTA do the exercises that we teach at least every other day.

Dropping the jaw is a simple fix. You don’t have to do it all the time, but at certain times it can be a great magical key that opens up a new register for you. I see it happen every day to my students.

Almost nothing will teach you more than getting on stage. Get three songs together and sign up for a local open mic. Or better yet, sign up for our next performing class here at Boulder Voice Lessons.

If you want to learn how to BELIEVE, and how to warm up and exercise every day and how to get your voice the way you’ve always wanted it to be, sign up for a lesson here:

https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule/

Peace,
Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

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Boulder Voice Lessons New Times

As a singer your competition is not Johnny-one-note down the hall. As a performer, no matter what, you are pitted against the number one performers in the world.

“Oh she’s good, you know, but Madonna is better.”

“Yeah he’s a good rapper, but 50 Cent is better.”

“Yeah he’s a good opera singer, but Giacomini is better.”

For real, that’s how people think. 

Welp, I’m here to help. If you’ve been having trouble scheduling a lesson to get better than Madonna, log on to www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule to see the new lineup of new times. New lesson times are later in the evenings, and lessons on the weekend.

This voice lesson technique is the real deal. I’m the only one teaching it in the front range... Drop by and take a first consultation lesson for 50% off and see for yourself. Shoot me an email with any questions, or I’ll see you at the studio!

See what my students are saying:

“I am loving my experience with Boulder Voice Lessons. Josh has been really good at understanding my goals and pushing me to do better. His work space is comfortable and functional. Definitely recommend him!”
Kimberly (Via Google Reviews)

“I've been taking voice lessons with Josh for a few months now and I can't recommend him highly enough. He is very encouraging, patient, funny, and has a great voice himself! We have done a lot of practice to strengthen my voice muscles, which is exciting both for singing and for speaking. We pick songs that I like but also that challenge me. I hadn't sung in any type of group or lesson since I was in elementary school, and I'm so glad I finally decided to start again. I can't wait to see what my voice is like in another year or so!”
Rebecca (Via Google Reviews)

Peace!
Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons
www.bouldervoicelessons.com

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Hard Times by Stephen Foster

Boulder Voice Lessons produced an Autumn Recital last month. It was a great chance to perform! Here’s a clip of me singing, Hard Times, by Stephen Foster….

Singing Lessons are a great way to gain confidence and get better. It’s all about that technique, so if you are interested in growing your voice, schedule a lesson here, and start your journey.

Beginning Piano Lessons are also available.

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Joshua South - Boulder Voice Lessons

Hey Everybody - I just rewrote my bio and thought I would share it with everyone! Check it!

Joshua South, bass and lead teacher of Boulder Voice Lessons has performed with 50 Cent, Paul McCartney, Kelli O’Hara, Kelsey Grammar, Brian Dennehy, and many other world class singers, conductors and stage directors (Julie Taymor, Sir Jonathan Miller, Thaddeus Strassberger, among others) at many world class venues like Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has been a member of a number of world class vocal ensembles, including The Clarion Choir (2017 GRAMMY nomination for Best Choral Performance), St Thomas Men and Boys Choir, New York City Opera Chorus, New York Choral Artists, the Bard Opera Chorus, Trinity Wall Street, and has sung on numerous SAG/AFTRA major motion picture soundtracks. 

In the 2017-2018 season, he sang Riff in West Side Story with Central City Opera, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte  (Boulder Opera Company), Sarastro in Magic Flute (Arapahoe Philharmonic), Pandolfe in Cendrillon (Boulder Opera Company), Dottore Grenvil in Traviata (St. Petersburg Opera Cover and Boulder Symphony) and the Big Bad Wolf in Cesar Cui’s Little Red Riding Hood (Boulder Opera Company). 

In 2016, Joshua South was featured at Opera North (USA) as Angelotti in Tosca. He also sang the role of Sparafucile with Amore Opera in May 2016, the Alter Diener in Elektra with Create Opera, and was an apprentice artist with Sarasota Opera in early 2016.

He developed and performed the role of Mr. Hare in the New York workshop of Julian Grant and Mark Campbell's The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare, a new opera which will serve as a collaborative effort between Boston Lyric Opera and Music Theatre Group.

Career highlights include a Carnegie Hall debut in the New York Philharmonic’s West Side Story Suites, an Avery Fisher Hall debut with the American Symphony Orchestra, and a New York City debut with Kent Tritle in the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space concert series. Joshua also appeared at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the critically-acclaimed staging of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, directed by Sir Jonathan Miller.

He has performed in Brazil, Italy, Austria, and gave a 2 week recital and masterclass tour in China, with performances in Shanghai and Xiamen.

Joshua has been a student of vocal technique for over 20 years and has studied with the most well respected voice teachers, vocal coaches and collaborative artists in New York City. He holds a Master of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music.

Joshua is excited to offer world class vocal instruction in Boulder, CO with Boulder Voice Lessons. Please visit www.BoulderVoiceLessons.com for more information.

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Voice Lessons Near Me?

Boulder Voice Lessons is the most convenient Voice Lessons Studio in South Boulder.  Students from Bear Creek, Mesa, Fairview High School, Southern Hills Middle School, Monarch High School, and Boulder High School have all grown increased range, breath control, and volume with the vocal technique that we teach here at Boulder Voice Lessons.

Singing Lessons Near Me might be one of the most important aspects of an UNschooling, or home schooling curriculum.

I’m Joshua South, lead teacher for Boulder Voice Lessons, and I’m here to help.  I received my Master of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music, and have studied with some of the Best Voice Teachers, Conductors, and Pianists in New York City.  We could create a world class music program for your home schooling students or home schooling groups.  A two day per week - 1 hour class  will allow your students to learn world class techniques and music theory that will give them abilities and confidence to step out on stage, the debate hall, and eventually the board room.

I offer Professional Voice Lessons to all ages… Kids, Young Adults, Couples working on a Wedding Duet, Moms, Dads, and ALL Individuals are welcome here!

If you want to learn more about me, please check out my free online singing classes on YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/bouldervoicelessons

First 1 Hour Voice Lesson Consultation is 50% off…

Sign up here: https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule/

You CAN become a great singer – I can show you how!

Best,

Joshua South

Singing Lessons Near Me,
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How to Sing - O Holy Night

Hey Friends!

Do you want to learn how to sing O Holy Night? Well, here's a great way to make it happen!

And..... Download the free PDF of 5 ways to improve your voice here: https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/5tips. If this is your first time watching these videos, be sure to check out HOW to do them properly by watching the following videos:

Chest Voice HOW TO DO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZVaq...
Falsetto Voice HOW TO DO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLPOU...

Please Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notifications about new videos!

Comment with any questions, and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

Like, Like, Like!
Peace,
Josh

Singing Lessons Near Me,
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Jazz Recitals and CYBER MONDAY with Boulder Voice Lessons

Hello Singing Lessons in Boulder Turkeys,

It feels like Winter in Colorado, but it’s still Autumn in New York!
 
Come see our Jazz Concert on Friday, November 30 at 4:30pm and melt away those cold noses and toses…
 
Video is king these dayz, so tune in here:

Voice Lessons teach you how to make these sultry, smoky, deep and jazzy tones, so schedule a lesson and I’ll learn ya!
 
Sign up for here for your Boulder Voice Lessons: 
www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule
 
CYBER MONDAY SALE: Sign up for 5 Singing Lessons, and get one Voice Lesson for FREE.

Keep Singing!
Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

Boulder Voice Lesson Podcast is Back!

Singing Lesson students - Heed this advice…

The way we have always practiced might be doing us more harm than good.

Once upon a time… a singer was practicing a song for their upcoming solo at Fairview Highschool. This singer was putting in lots of time near the piano, practicing the song with the greatest of intentions to improve. However, the singer was doing it all wrong. The student was solidifying a terrible technique. Breathing small, singing nasal, wrong segments, not enough breath flow, etc, etc, ecteteraaaaaa (We’ve been watching the King and I).

The singing lessons student also ran the whole song from beginning to end, never stopping to drill a high note, a hard phrase, or any drilling of the breath.

Come performance time, what do you think happened?

The way you practice is the way you perform.

Check out the right way to practice here:

How to Practice Singing!

Latest podcast - grab it while the grabbins’ good!

If you want to learn more about how to create your best sound, schedule a lesson with me at the following link:

https://www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule/

Peace!
Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

Singing Lessons Near Me,
Voice Lessons Near Me,
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Boulder Voice Lessons Week in Review!

Great stuff to take away from this week’s lessons. First, we have a couple students auditioning for the all-state choir today… Break a leg guys!

As we say in New York before auditions, “Book it!”
 

Drill the Technique

The Biggest Takeaway from this week’s Singing Lessons is the idea of drilling the technique. This is a concept that I got from studying Jiujitsu. There are so many moving parts in that martial art - so many brain maps and crossing synapses…. but if you can just concentrate on the first step of the first move, and drill it for 30 minutes, the following day you’ll be better at it – guaranteed!

It’s the same thing with the coordination of our Chest and Falsetto voice. If you can do the exercises we do in the lesson for 3 days in a row, take a day off, and do another 2-3 days in a row, you’ll find massive gains in your Voice Lessons.

For instance, if you’re working on keeping that ornery larynx down, try this recipe:

1. Breathe in and bring the larynx down.
2. While keeping that same feeling of the larynx down, exhale.
3. Breath in again with the same low larynx position, and exhale again while keeping it down.
4. Now, try it again, but add a word, or vowel. You’ll kind of sound like Dracula, but don’t worry, we are working on the structure!
 
(it’s that simple!)

You can modify this recipe to work on the Falsetto Vowels, the beginning of any phrase of music you’re working on, and those “silly” yodel exercises that we do.

What else?

Oh.... when trying to learn a song in a foreign language, it will benefit you to speak the lyrics of the song in poetic form. Try to memorize the words this way before even learning the song. Get a great translation of the text. Memorize the poem in English, as well. Use a fun accent in the foreign language. If it is an Italian song, do some research on the Italian accent. Listen to a YouTube native speaker. Try to emulate it. Singers need to be good imitators. The lilt, rhythm, and bounces of the language will help you sing your song.

OK, that’s all! Be sure to sign up early to get your favorite times for the following weeks. I’m also offering half-hour piano lessons now, so if you know anybody that might be interested, please refer them to Boulder Voice Lessons…

Sign up for Singing Lessons here: www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule

Thanks everybody!

Josh
Boulder Voice Lessons

Singing Lessons Near Me,
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How the piano can pay for college

A fabulous East Coast colleague of mine regaled me this story once upon a time.

She was a singing teacher, but also taught her kids to play piano. I’m sure they weren’t world class Carnegie Hall pianists, but they knew enough to play well, look super cool, and to TEACH.

Throughout her daughter’s four years of university, instead of work study at the library for the paltry minimum wage (like I did), she used her mad skillz to teach piano, and paid off her entire student loan before she graduated (no interest, no penalties).

Whaaaaaaa?

There are all sorts of jobs you can get as a pianist that pay pretty well, especially as a side gig. But, you have to be able to play!

Do you or your kids want to learn a skill that you/they can monetize? Step right up folks, and start your Piano Lesson Journey here.

Oh, aaaaaaand, when you study Piano Lessons here at Boulder Voice Lessons, you also get a solid beginning vocal technique, too!

Play Piano and Sing at the same time and:
Wow your friends
Make your enemies weep
Fill up the living room stage with your talent!

Go ahead and get those big sunglasses and sequin jackets out of the closet…. You’re gonna need ‘em, Rocket Man…

Book those lessons here:
Www.bouldervoicelessons.com/schedule

Peace!
Josh

Singing Lessons Near Me,
Voice Lessons Near Me,
Vocal Lessons Near Me,