Laurece West Studios

Singing Lessons for Active & Aspiring Professionals 

Voice Coaching for Confident, Effective & Creative Speaking 


Client Testimonials

Voice Coaching

"I was already a published writer and poet but looking for a better way to express (verbally, out loud) my work as well as a way to stoke my creativity. Having recently lost someone who was a very creative person and very dear to me, I sought an outlet - creative therapy - to help deal with that profound loss in a guided and supportive way. With Laurece, I became unafraid of my own voice. I learned to fertilize my creative gifts. Using many techniques of InterPlay, Laurece pushed open an internal door that allowed me to express all that I had inside - physically, verbally, vocally. She showed me many techniques that I could use to lift up my art, to change it, enhance it, to expand it, to mold it into what I want it to be or into something I never imagined existed inside me. This was one of those things that was meant to be. I don't believe in coincidences so when her contact information showed up in an email from a list I'm on, I signed up. I'd been thinking of signing up for something like that, and suddenly, there it was. Some of the best writing I've ever done was while I worked with her. Now, though still busy with daily life and though I still long to break free of it and be what I believe I was intended to be -- I now have tools that I didn't have at my disposal before. I can introduce color, sound, scent, movement, different personalities into my work in many forms. I have the book, I have the techniques. I now know where the door is."

SEVEN, Poet, Essayist, Blogger,                  www.mj-777.com


"Working with Laurece is powerful, practical, and spiritual! I noticed that I was losing my voice, in a week-long teacher training I was giving, when I remembered what Laurece taught me and applied it quickly...everything worked out fine and I had a happy voice!  I often think about techniques she taught me and I keep using them."

Toni Bergins, 
Creator of Journey Dance, 
www.JourneyDance.com


Workshops

"Thanks for the workshop last night. I enjoyed the material. I also noticed driving home how relaxed and happy I felt! As noted, moving the sound  through the larynx opens the heart. I want more of this in my body."
 
Oliver Crichton,
"Off the Deep End!"
Performance Troupe Member,
and Musician,
Durham, NC.


"Wyatt and I were both really impressed with your ability to keep things flowing with all the participants...in these sorts of situations it's often easy to allow distraction to occur, and we thought you were able to keep the attention focused and clear...I think you're a really balanced teacher--having just the right amount of softness and compassion, yet maintaining a real grounded energy in your leadership style...glad you are doing your thing in the world, and hope to see you again..." 
 
Ashley Howe, Vocal Instrumentalist - Collaborating with folks who focus on listening/presence as intentional exercise, Hillsborough, NC


 Music and Recording Production

"This is working out much better than I expected.  The information you give me is making a big difference.  It's changing everything. I want to thank you for all you have done so far; your instruction has had an immediate, positive impact and effect on my experience as a musician. I feel that we are just now scratching the surface of what is possible through performance and I am really psyched to keep working on. You're very good."

Tom Robertson,
Guitarist, Singer, Performer,
Backing track studio producer,
Cary, NC

Performance

"My experience with Laurece has been within groups.  She has such positive, unpretentious and energetic attributes it spills into her outgoing personality and performing."


Dyck DeWid, Builder - Contractor, Interplay Leader, Wake Forest, N.C.  "Interplay is (Story, Song & Movement Improv and) an Active and Creative Way to Unlock the Wisdom of Your Body." www.interplaync.org. 

Singing Lessons

"When I started working with Laurece my songwriting was far more developed than my voice. I had good songs but no confidence in singing them for an audience. After two short months I had a better understanding and command of my range, the ability to produce the vocal tone I wanted, and even several performance techniques that helped me feel more comfortable on stage. 

As a teacher, Laurece is both totally professional and is one of the warmest, nicest and most approachable people I've ever worked with. This unique ability to give constructive, thoughtful and efficient direction while keeping her students artistically open and relaxed is the main reason why I would recommend her over other instructors. 

After working with Laurece I have moved to Asheville to pursue music full time. My voice continues to improve from the lessons I took and now the most frequent comment I get after shows is how much people like my singing. This is due largely to Laurece's guidance and for that I'm forever grateful -- A+, I would totally recommend Laurece West!"

Robert Russell

"Before working with Laurece West I was not comfortable with singing in front of people I did not know because I was afraid they'd think I sounded horrible. However, when I wrote a one-woman play and wanted to sing my own songs I had to face my fear. That's when I started working with Laurece. She was honest, focused, and gently firm with her feedback which was challenging, yet very helpful in my vocal development. After working with Laurece I went on to perform the show Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Cameroon, Africa. I'm now preparing my one-woman show Mama Juggs for both the New York and Chicago Fringe Theatre Festivals. And yes, in all those places I did and I will be singing with confidence! In fact, at every show I am complimented on my singing something I thought was ever possible for me until I met a great teacher like Laurece!”

'rie Shontel, Actress
www.mamajuggs.com

"I was doing a lot of forcing my voice - belting out songs that sounded strained. Laurece taught me to utilize the full resonance of my voice, by singing from my larynx and not from my mouth. That has produced a much more full and relaxed sound. As a voice teacher, Laurece is accepting and supportive, while having a hard line regarding technique. . . good balance in an effective teacher. I can see in the face of my audience that my voice is now pleasing to them. I can feel within myself that I sound pleasing. My voice is pretty average in general and I still sound good, deliver my songs and actually sing a lot in public. I know some of the success is because I write my own songs, get the audience involved and have an enthusiastic delivery. However, it helps to sound pretty good when I do that delivery."

Cathy Kielar, Performer, Drummer, Children's Party Entertainer, Owner - Music Explorium, Durham, NC. www.MusicExploriumcom.



"Before working with Laurece, I was unsure of my voice and thought even though I had a deep passion for singing, that I could never be a good singer because of my acid reflux. Laurece made me realize that I could create a beautiful voice and helped me with confidence, ideas, inspiration and was such a positive force in my life at a time when I really needed someone to ground me. Her process was structured yet creative and I felt very supported by her. After working with Laurece, I had much more confidence in my voice and felt I was strong enough to begin performing in public."

Sumi Krishnan, Singer/Performer, Washington, D.C.


"hi Laurece!
the rekkid is in the can, as they say!
hopefully the masters will come out great.  Thank you for your wonderful instruction, I DO believe it helped me become more prepared for this record more than any other we have made."

valient himself
VALIENT THORR
http://www.valientthorr.com
"I just finished the musical "Curtains" up here at UNH, and my voice is sounding better than ever. I am working on getting some recordings, and I would love to show you my progress.  I still use everything you taught me, and my confidence has grown so much that I've really been able to apply it and integrate it with everything I'm learning up here."

Kellie Welch, Musical Theater Major, University of New Hamphire

Hi Laurece! It’s Kellie Welch emailing you from the Big Apple! I am here doing a six week musical theatre conservatory at CAP 21, and I am having the time of my life.  I just had to email you to let you know that I had a voice lesson today, and the coach wouldn't stop praising the training I have had in the past.  So a really, really big THANK YOU! I feel like I've come so far and I still keep everything you've given me, from technique to confidence, at the forefront of my mind."

"I am greatly enjoying working with you. I am continually amazed at how the principals you teach about singing end up having vast and far reaching implications for everyday life in terms of behaviors, attitudes, and how one approaches the world.  The principles I've been learning from you about life in general are things that I've desperately needed to hear because they are setting me free from the chains of past emotional wounds.  I feel that these areas of freedom that are being unlocked by your teachings are exactly what God wants to bring me into at this season in my life which is immensely encouraging!  Thanks for being such a great teacher!"

Jeremy Potts, Durham NC


 

"Thank you Laurece. Just minutes ago I used my newly purchased blackberry to record my singing one of my favorites. I can't believe how I sound. I shudder to think about what I'll sing like by the end of the year. And this is even with the respiratory challenges of late. I am so thankful to have come into contact with you. And I wanna affirm how great a teacher you are."  

Braxton Shelley, Black Sacred Music Scholar, Music Minister, Gospel Singer and Organist, Durham, N.C.


  

"I don’t necessarily see myself ever doing professional singing.  It’s not really my goal. My goal is actually singing for balance because it makes me feel good.  One of the things I like about our morning lessons is that it starts out my day and puts me in a good place and a good mood and I feel happier the rest of the day."

Sarah Macy, Creative Artist,

Sheffield, MA (Phone Lessons)


 

"From my perspective, it was easy to see Hannah's progress in the quality and maturity of her voice during the year that she studied with you."

Bruce Nayowith, M.D.,
Great Barrington, MA. 


"I like going to voice lessons with Laurece because I know I'll get the flexibility and gentleness I need.  I feel encouraged to let it all out and to keep practicing, practicing, practicing! The space is open for me to grow as a singer AND performer.  She is a must-try if you want any encouragement to sing, perform...be!"

Francine Ciccarelli,
The Francine Ciccarelli Quartet,
Western Massachusetts 

 

"Who would have guessed that learning to sing would bring me to a place where I would grow not only technically as a singer, but also spiritually. 
The discipline of taking time for myself at the beginning of each lesson has been a teaching of self care I’ve never given myself on a regular basis.  The movement and improvisational work has helped me get in touch with and move through feelings I’ve usually pushed down to manage without realizing the cost to my voice, my life experience and my relationships.

     In the past I have stopped myself from of fear of judgment and it is huge for me to see I can use the techniques from our lessons to investigate, move through and release these and other fears. 

     Laurece, if I never take another voice lesson again, I want to you know, I’ve gotten so much out of what we’ve done so far.  I would have never guessed it was possible based on the very small experience I’ve had in the past with voice lessons.  
 It’s astonishing that in the final lesson before singing in a wedding, we spent so little time in vocalization and practice of the actual song and yet the lesson had such a huge impact on the result.  For the first time I experienced being consciously aware of my feelings and had “sure fire” techniques so I was able effect the actual quality of my performance and could truly sing my best from my heart.  Thank you so much." 

  

Toni Stevens, CBP, Par. BP

BodyTalk Access Trainer

Durham, NC
www.bodytalksystem.com


“I think of you and your gifts to me often, and I have wanted so very much to write a letter to you thanking you for your time and consideration, for your sincerity and interest, for your kindness and the way that it touched my life. To give something of worth and weight to the words "thank you," to show where you made the difference.  You continue to make a difference each time I think of you.  It was a sanctuary to me...I know that I was a student and that I paid for your time, but you went to such lengths it always seemed to me to make me feel as though I counted, that my existence in the world mattered and had meaning. Your interaction with me was a gift. You were unconditional with me. When I think of you, I believe that maybe people can be and can treat each other as though there is a G-d, as though there is hope, as though there is Love, and not fail because of it but be the stronger for it.” 

Alison Work, Stockbridge, MA


"I am writing to you thank you for all you did for me as a student.  Of all the voice teachers I have had over the years I felt the best connection with you and I wanted to express my gratitude.  Best all you always BELIEVED in me and I am eternally grateful." 

Dailin Davila, Boston, MA

 

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