New York Vocal Coaching — Local services in New York

I came to NYVC with a very mixed bag of vocal understanding—a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a whole lot of confusion that was audible in my singing. Years of on-the-job vocal training, self-study through books and videos on vocal technique, and second-hand vocal advice that was intended for somebody else's instrument had left my passion for music hanging on by a thread. In its place was a tangled knot of frustration and hopelessness that, in spite of my aspirations, "I just wasn't born to be a singer." Fortunately, the voice in my head was louder and clearer than the one in my throat: "Don't give up without first having actually tried."

As a last-ditch effort, I decided to invest in a reputable vocal coach (not a small-town, cat-lady, "sing however sounds good" voice teacher like I was used to), and I stumbled upon NYVC online. To my surprise, however, this investment was not the financial sacrifice I had anticipated; in fact, it wasn't even just accessible—it was downright affordable! NYVC's sliding scale payment style makes sure that my lessons are never a burden. Simply put: if I am having a tough week at the bank, I just pay less. When I have a little extra love to give, I pay a bit more as a way of saying "thank you". As crazy as it sounds, NYVC can do this because they know their students want to take care of the teachers who take such amazing care of them. And the teacher who has taken the best care of me is Travis.

From the moment I walked into my first lesson, I knew I had found in Travis THE vocal guru of my lifetime. I was over-reliant on my chest voice, shy and modest with my head voice, and horrified by the fact that I had nothing in-between. A break the size of the Grand Canyon literally sat right in the middle of my voice—the exact range where (as a pop singer/songwriter) I need to be singing most strongly. Only the sound of pitch-less air could squeeze its way through. My voice gave me no credit for the singer I knew myself to be; and Travis is the first person I've known who could actually hear that. He is also the only person I've encountered with the vocal, musical, and linguistic knowledge to understand what exactly he is hearing in my voice—and what to do about it! (There are many times when I have squawked through an exercise like a cat choking on a parakeet, and Travis has rejoiced: "This is music to my ears, and by this time next week you'll understand why!")

To spoil the rest of the story: my vocal break disappeared after only a few months of once-weekly lessons. Travis has diligently and carefully peeled away at nearly three decades of mis-training and bad habits, showed me how to appreciate the beauty of my voice at its rawest and most vulnerable form, and re-trained it to adopt new behaviors so that my vocal apparatus is healthier, stronger, and more aware of itself than ever before.

The details of my lessons don't matter, because everyone will have a completely different path; personalized lesson plans are NYVCs signature. Travis has on countless occasions completely switched gears mid-lesson in order to meet my needs on a low-energy, physically-unwell, or emotionally difficult day. "You have a cold today? Great! Let's do this!" "You're not in the mood to sing today? Great! Let's talk about it and watch some videos to get inspired!" Every single moment is a teaching moment in his classroom, which means no moment is wasted; and that makes me feel like the most important singer in the world.

My one-hour lesson with Travis is the absolute highlight of my entire week, and I attribute that entirely to the culture of knowledge, joy, comfort, appreciation, and love of self-expression through the voice that is absolutely...

I am a private voice and piano teacher in Iowa. I first learned about the New York Vocal Coaching Company while searching for specific vocal exercise for my students. I found Justin's "Voice Lessons to the World", and was hooked. I watched every episode, took notes, and used what I learned with my own students. As my own studio grew, I started performing with my students. It reminded me how important singing was for me. Yet I thought I was too "old" or too "poor" to ever try for a career in singing...

Non-the-less, I followed Justin. I scoured his website, looked at the studio pictures, read about Justin, read about the teachers, their policies.... I saw Justin offered lessons via Skype! I looked at the cost of a lesson. I thought there was absolutely - no way. I saw there was a scholarship option. But I never thought I was "good enough" or "special enough" to receive one. After all, I'm just a small town private music teacher, with two little kids of my own... I had already thought of myself as a "has been". Circumstances had taken my chances away. And yet...

I still hoped. On a whim, I decided to audition for "The Voice". I decided to face every fear I ever had: crowds, travel, competition, and my own dreams. I kept following Justin. I frequented his website. Finally, on a December day in 2013, I called the New York Vocal Coaching Company. Said I was interested in lessons, and wanted to know more about the scholarship option. Immediately their assistant sent me the info I needed. I filled out the requested paper work. 2 weeks went by. I thought I had lost my chance...

New Year's Eve I got a message saying, "Congratulations! You have received a scholarship!" I cannot say how THRILLED I was. I didn't get to take lessons with Justin - but I didn't care. I knew of the reputation the company held. My "assigned" teacher was Julie Reumert. I did my homework on her, too! A renowned opera singer, studied at Julliard... Holy Moses!! I felt like I hit the jackpot!

When I finally had my first lesson, I was nervous. I thought Julie R. would be "better than me" for lack of the right word. She was AMAZING!!! She took time to listen to my story. She shared her story. She didn't judge me, she didn't laugh when I told her how important singing was to me, she didn't laugh when I cried, she didn't act "better" than me... She was VERY real, and VERY sincere, and VERY giving. She knew right away what direction my lesson needed to take for the duration of the lesson! I felt totally comfortable singing for her from the first note. She pinpointed strengths and weaknesses right off the bat. She offered constructive criticism in a very comfortable manner. And THEN, before, during, and AFTER my audition, she checked in on me via email just to see how I was. Teachers don't have to do that. They don't get paid for that extra time....

Bottom line, if you are looking for a voice teacher, the NY Vocal Coaching Company is THE place to go. If you have to wait to get a lesson, it is WORTH THE WAIT! Don't get caught up in having to have a lesson with Justin or no lesson! Just is amazing - no question. But so is his staff. His assistant and associates are simply fabulous. I have the utmost respect for Justin, and for my teacher, Julie Reumert. If there's one thing I know, it is that you CANNOT sing in a negative environment. The NYVC Company is anything BUT negative! They will inspire you, lift your spirits, and light your fire! Not to mention - teach you the most comprehensive techniques to "cure you of what ails you"! They are, in a...

Music has always been a passion of mine. I studied music in college, however after school, I found myself in a completely different, non-musical profession. This past summer marked 16 years since my last voice lesson, but I knew that my musical journey was far from over.

Only living about 35 miles from NYC, I began my search for a studio in Manhattan. I searched the web, and found New York Vocal Coaching. I read countless reviews praising the studio and staff, and was super impressed with each of the teacher’s biographies, especially Julie Reumert's.

Before I knew it, I was on my way to NYC for my very first lesson with Julie R. Upon my arrival, I was immediately impressed with the studio. Julie R. provided a warm welcome and me feel extremely comfortable. We shared our musical backgrounds and Julie ran me through a number of vocal exercises. I was a bit rusty, but Julie made me feel right at home. She encouraged me and coached me each time I sang. I recall leaving that lesson with a renewed excitement for signing.

I now have a lesson with Julie R. once a week. Julie’s personality, teaching style and musical knowledge impresses me each and every time I meet with her. As she has me complete various vocal exercises, she listens, praises and provides instruction all at the same time. When I struggle with a song or exercise, Julie R. always finds the best way to explain what I am doing, and consistently finds a way to make me sound better. After only a few lessons with Julie, my technique has improved, and my voice has become stronger. Thank you Julie!

With Julie Reumert's vast musical knowledge, direction and amazing instincts, she is currently helping me define what kind of artist I should be (want to be). One week I’ll be singing a Broadway tune, while the next, I’ll be singing a song from a completely different musical genre. No matter what song I choose, Julie is always willing to tackle the music with me. I never feel like I am alone in the room. For that hour lesson, Julie is completely invested in me, which is a wonderful feeling to have.

I’d be remised if I didn’t mention Julie’s amazing sight reading skills. On several occasions I have given her songs that she has never played or even heard before. Within minutes she is accompanying me as if she has been playing the song for years! Very Impressive!

I could not be happier working with Julie Reumert, and I look forward to my lesson each week. With Julie's direction, I am so excited to see where this musical journey takes me. Julie Reumert is a wonderful person and a wonderful teacher. If you are looking for a top notch coach,...