MY APPROACH |
Pop/Broadway/Contemporary singing technique designed to make the songs you want to sing as singable for your voice as possible. Proper placement and breath support are essential and the cornerstone of my work. Read on for more details, including my journey from student to teacher and testimonials!
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THINGS WE CAN DO:+ increase your range
+ audition prep + performance coaching + learn or rehearse songs you will be performing in a musical or concert + re-training voice muscles to lessen vocal nodes, blisters, hoarse voice + polishing your karaoke "go-to"s + sing your favourite pop/folk songs comfortably + feel more relaxed when you perform + have fun! |
THINGS WE WILL DO:+ properly place the singing voice and avoid strain
+ proper breath support (you will never have an issue with a hoarse voice or developing vocal nodes) + resonance work + alleviate tension and stress in the body + stronger voice (more support, increased volume) + able to sustain notes longer and more comfortably + stay on pitch + read and trust your body and your voice |
RATES + BOOKING A LESSON
I offer a sliding scale for artists and students. My standard rates range from $45-$65/hour, depending on location and individual needs. Please contact me directly at [email protected] for more details about singing lessons or vocal directing.
MY JOURNEY: FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER
I am a singer, a singing teacher and a vocal director for musical theatre in the GTA. I have extensive experience as a soloist and choral singer. I currently study with Judith Lander, an excellent singing teacher and cabaret performer in Toronto. My techniques are based on what I have learned from working with Judith along with my own experience as a musical theatre actor and singing in very advanced choirs for many years.
My vocal journey was a challenging one. I always sang as a child, joined the school choir in grade 4, a prestigious children's choir in grade 6 and began singing lessons in grade 7. I started performing in local musical theatre productions and high school musicals, often performing 2-3 musicals a year. By grade 10, although I was singing more than ever and had been training for years, I noticed my voice was losing strength and my range was significantly smaller - I lost all my top and bottom notes and was barely audible in my middle range. My throat also hurt and I could feel a lot of tension while I sang. I immediately left my singing teacher, dropped out of all the projects I was in and began looking for a new voice teacher who could help. Judith Lander saved me and my voice by teaching me proper placement and breathing, and within a few months, my voice was already getting stronger and healthier. Within a year, my voice was as powerful as it had ever been.
This experience was extremely traumatic, as any singer who has encountered issues with their voice (or anyone who was forced to sing when they didn't want to or has been told they "can't sing") will tell you. This lost and recovered vocal journey has taught me healthy voice practices and inspired me to work with other singers to prevent what happened to me from happening to anyone else, by avoiding the incorrect breathing and placement that cause weakened voices and vocal nodes. I am also keenly interested in helping singers in recovery from physically, creatively or emotionally traumatic vocal experiences. I began my teaching career as a Vocal Director while attending the University of Guelph and many of the actors asked me to take them on as singing students once the production was over. Word of mouth spread, my reputation grew, and I continued teaching private singing lessons throughout my time at University and beyond graduation.
As a singing teacher, I specialize in contemporary/Broadway/pop singing technique, teaching proper breathing and placement. I help my students prepare audition songs, we work on songs for projects and shows they are currently in and some students are hobby singers who sing as a creative outlet or for their own enjoyment. I work with singers of all backgrounds and experience levels, from beginners to professionals, and can also include introductory music theory, techniques for group singing (reinforcement for ensemble and choral singers), and increasing vocal range, depending on each unique individual. Every student I work with learns healthy and safe vocal practice through breathing and placement techniques designed to safely support and grow the voice.
As a vocal director, I teach voice parts quickly and simply, and am particularly skilled at helping singers who don't read music or are new to group singing. I am also confident with experienced musicians and advanced ensemble/choral singers.
My vocal journey was a challenging one. I always sang as a child, joined the school choir in grade 4, a prestigious children's choir in grade 6 and began singing lessons in grade 7. I started performing in local musical theatre productions and high school musicals, often performing 2-3 musicals a year. By grade 10, although I was singing more than ever and had been training for years, I noticed my voice was losing strength and my range was significantly smaller - I lost all my top and bottom notes and was barely audible in my middle range. My throat also hurt and I could feel a lot of tension while I sang. I immediately left my singing teacher, dropped out of all the projects I was in and began looking for a new voice teacher who could help. Judith Lander saved me and my voice by teaching me proper placement and breathing, and within a few months, my voice was already getting stronger and healthier. Within a year, my voice was as powerful as it had ever been.
This experience was extremely traumatic, as any singer who has encountered issues with their voice (or anyone who was forced to sing when they didn't want to or has been told they "can't sing") will tell you. This lost and recovered vocal journey has taught me healthy voice practices and inspired me to work with other singers to prevent what happened to me from happening to anyone else, by avoiding the incorrect breathing and placement that cause weakened voices and vocal nodes. I am also keenly interested in helping singers in recovery from physically, creatively or emotionally traumatic vocal experiences. I began my teaching career as a Vocal Director while attending the University of Guelph and many of the actors asked me to take them on as singing students once the production was over. Word of mouth spread, my reputation grew, and I continued teaching private singing lessons throughout my time at University and beyond graduation.
As a singing teacher, I specialize in contemporary/Broadway/pop singing technique, teaching proper breathing and placement. I help my students prepare audition songs, we work on songs for projects and shows they are currently in and some students are hobby singers who sing as a creative outlet or for their own enjoyment. I work with singers of all backgrounds and experience levels, from beginners to professionals, and can also include introductory music theory, techniques for group singing (reinforcement for ensemble and choral singers), and increasing vocal range, depending on each unique individual. Every student I work with learns healthy and safe vocal practice through breathing and placement techniques designed to safely support and grow the voice.
As a vocal director, I teach voice parts quickly and simply, and am particularly skilled at helping singers who don't read music or are new to group singing. I am also confident with experienced musicians and advanced ensemble/choral singers.
TESTIMONIALS
Katie Shewen, director :
"Franny has the confidence and the talent to teach with honesty and to inspire talent in everyone she guides. I've worked with her on two shows and both times I've watched singers who thought they couldn't sing become amazing talents and those who felt they knew everything were pushed to become even better then they thought could be."
Daniel James, actor, singer, songwriter:
"To put it simply: Franny McCabe-Bennett is the reason I am a good singer. In my first lesson we had an 'aha' moment much like that of the shy nun in Sister Act. Franny taught me how to use my voice properly and blew me away with different techniques to access parts of my voice I didn't even know existed. As a result of this unlocking of my vocal talents, I've played lead roles in several musicals and am now pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter . I am serious when I say that from the day I had my first lesson with Franny, I knew I'd be thanking her in my acceptance speech for any award I might win one day."
Laura Nielsen, actress, vocalist:
"Franny is a fantastic vocal coach. She helps you as a singer visualize where you need to be focusing your air and support so you can reach the notes you want to hit. I met Franny years ago and used her as a vocal teacher and coach during my audition process for theatre school, and with her help, was accepted into my schools. Fast forward to the summer of 2014, I was diagnosed with vocal nodules and was told I would not regain my vocal abilities. Five months later, I found myself in another musical which made me wonder and doubt my abilities since my diagnosis. Lucky for me; I had Franny as a coach and she got my vocals back to where they needed to be for the role. Not only is she a fabulous coach and mentor but she is in it as much as her students. I will never forget hitting my first high C [C6] after my nodule diagnosis and crying tears of joy just to have this wonderful teacher cry with me. This woman comes highly recommended from me to you."
Helen Toner, beginner vocalist:
"Working with Franny McCabe-Bennett was a wonderful experience! Her encouragement gave me confidence in my abilities, allowing me to increase my vocal range and improve all around."
Lindsay Cox, singer, musical theatre actor:
"This woman is a vocal god!"
Devin Dos Santos, singer, musical theatre actor (Bobby Strong, Urinetown 2014):
"Going into [Urinetown], I was listening to the songs like, ‘This is totally out of my range. I could never do this.’ But we started doing the rehearsals, and we got one-on-one time with our vocal director, Franny [McCabe-Bennett], who is amazing. Franny is so great. She’s made me do things with my voice that I never thought possible." [Quoted from "Curtain Call Productions Performs Urinetown", The Ontarion, Oct 2014]
"Franny has the confidence and the talent to teach with honesty and to inspire talent in everyone she guides. I've worked with her on two shows and both times I've watched singers who thought they couldn't sing become amazing talents and those who felt they knew everything were pushed to become even better then they thought could be."
Daniel James, actor, singer, songwriter:
"To put it simply: Franny McCabe-Bennett is the reason I am a good singer. In my first lesson we had an 'aha' moment much like that of the shy nun in Sister Act. Franny taught me how to use my voice properly and blew me away with different techniques to access parts of my voice I didn't even know existed. As a result of this unlocking of my vocal talents, I've played lead roles in several musicals and am now pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter . I am serious when I say that from the day I had my first lesson with Franny, I knew I'd be thanking her in my acceptance speech for any award I might win one day."
Laura Nielsen, actress, vocalist:
"Franny is a fantastic vocal coach. She helps you as a singer visualize where you need to be focusing your air and support so you can reach the notes you want to hit. I met Franny years ago and used her as a vocal teacher and coach during my audition process for theatre school, and with her help, was accepted into my schools. Fast forward to the summer of 2014, I was diagnosed with vocal nodules and was told I would not regain my vocal abilities. Five months later, I found myself in another musical which made me wonder and doubt my abilities since my diagnosis. Lucky for me; I had Franny as a coach and she got my vocals back to where they needed to be for the role. Not only is she a fabulous coach and mentor but she is in it as much as her students. I will never forget hitting my first high C [C6] after my nodule diagnosis and crying tears of joy just to have this wonderful teacher cry with me. This woman comes highly recommended from me to you."
Helen Toner, beginner vocalist:
"Working with Franny McCabe-Bennett was a wonderful experience! Her encouragement gave me confidence in my abilities, allowing me to increase my vocal range and improve all around."
Lindsay Cox, singer, musical theatre actor:
"This woman is a vocal god!"
Devin Dos Santos, singer, musical theatre actor (Bobby Strong, Urinetown 2014):
"Going into [Urinetown], I was listening to the songs like, ‘This is totally out of my range. I could never do this.’ But we started doing the rehearsals, and we got one-on-one time with our vocal director, Franny [McCabe-Bennett], who is amazing. Franny is so great. She’s made me do things with my voice that I never thought possible." [Quoted from "Curtain Call Productions Performs Urinetown", The Ontarion, Oct 2014]
Please note: I am not an accompanist and that is not the focus of my work. I will work with your singing voice in a very in-depth way that doesn't include playing an accompaniment. If you are interested in accompaniment, please contact me and I am happy make special arrangements (at an additional cost).
