Hello
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When I was starting out I hadn't a clue about what possible control I could gain over my voice.
Having been glued to my walkman in my formative years listening to all sorts from The Eagles, Sheryl, Nirvana, Stevie, Dylan, Alanis, Aretha, Billie Holliday, Kate Bush...nevermind every ’Now this is music’ tape I could get my hands on, hidden under my jumper away from my older sisters bedrooms! I knew music had GOT me and that I was in big trouble…
I loved to sing and harmonise along..despite not knowing what this was yet. Singing seemed to be the one delight that stuck beyond picking up any other instrument and so in my young stubborn fearless mind I had no other choice, nothing was going to stop me!
As a teenager I found myself fronting my first gigging band; a 13 piece ‘funk/soul covers orchestra’ performing in pubs and clubs….yep even now it sounds bonkers! I absolutely adored that band but my goodness were they loud to stand next to?! Because of this I had a strong desire to sound 'powerful' ..well that and to just hear myself as these were the days before decent monitoring existed. This translated within me as shouting, a lot! Losing my voice and sounding like Selma from The Simpsons after every gig became a common result. I remember at the time feeling very frustrated and doubtful of my ability to get past this milepost as ‘surely if it wasn’t there already is wasn’t there right?!’
After possibly listening to Kate singing ‘Don’t give up’ a few hundred times (..it is likely..I do love that song hehe) I got on the dial up t’internet and after a bit of research booked a lesson with my first singing teacher in London. She saw my frustration, pointed out what was and wasn’t working well, why she believed it wasn’t, and showed me how to navigate my voice more efficiently for what was NOW going to be known and treated as ‘my instrument’. Her approach along aside an effective vocal technique worked well for me and from that moment my mind was hungry to learn more!
As I established a practice routine, I went through an odd period of time where I couldn't recognise my sound any more but as time went on my ears adjusted and I trusted more and more in this far stronger and balanced sound that I had developed. Notes I had never reached before had become available to me, I was hooked!'
That first leap into it was a while ago now but I can still vividly remember every stage of my own progression as a singer and voice user with all the struggles and jubilations that have gone along with it and continue to. Thankfully these days we have a lot more scientific research, more verified techniques' and resources to draw from in translating what keeps our voices healthy and well mobilised.
Because of my own active experience as a performer and life long student of the voice, I fully appreciate the bravely of every one’s first lesson (congrats on getting to this page!).
Nothing is more gratifying than witnessing my client’s individual journeys and being able to work with them through every twist and turn. Broadly speaking our voice goals may be similar but everyone’s process is completely unique and that to me keeps my love for vocal coaching alive!
My Journey
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Rhiannon's introduction to vocal technique started in 2005 when she came across Speech Level Singing (Seth Riggs: Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson) and attended many workshops and lessons from international representatives of the time (Dave Stroud/Wendy Parr/John Henny). She took up private tuition with award winning Jazz vocalist Anita Wardell and in 2007 successfully gained a scholarship for the BMUS Jazz degree at Trinity College of Music. She is a graduate of Line Hilton's BAST programme and has since researched a broad range of techniques and methods including Estil ,Classical Legit, EBT, Ingo Titze's straw phonation. She regularly attends conferences and workshops hosted by organisations such as Vocology in Practice, Modern Vocal Training, Vocal Health Education and she recently became a member of Chris Johnson's Evolve teacher community.
Rhiannon taught vocal pedagogy and performance at Voxbox Studios, London for 5 years before returning to Norfolk in 2018.
Separate from teaching she has had live experience in many different settings: 2009 brought the opportunity to perform backing vocals for pop artist Little Boots. Gaining a lot of commercial performance experience touring, on TV shows and festivals such as Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Later with Jools Holland, BBC's Children in Need, Glastonbury, Bestival, Leeds/ Reading etc, and with recording opportunities at Maida Vale and the legendary Abbey Roads studio. She’s been a part of Pete Churchill's London Vocal Project (Performances at The Barbican with Bobby McFerrin, The Royal Albert Hall, The Vortex, The 606 and Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club). She fronted The Hounds of Love; a Kate Bush tribute act managed by Richard Ames (Kate's original tour manager) and backed by Kate herself. She has performed within various original projects including Ben Castle’s Tombola Theory, recording a live session at Maida Vale studios for Jamie Callum’s radio 2 show and BMG published originals act Elma.
Rhiannon has been Performance Co-ordinator and lead vocalist for The London Function Band, Soundscape Acoustic and The Baltik Ceilidh Band. Performing at weddings and co-operate venues such as Gleneagles, The Dorchester, The Savoy, The Hilton and The Grange Hotels.
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Since returning to Norwich she has been a tutor at The Garage for their Musical Development Programme.
Before its closure during lockdown she also performed at the award winning London based jazz club The Hideaway, for Lasperanza's debut album launch on which she is also featured (Dome Records).
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