Young Voices provides an opportunity for children (age 7 - 12) to gain basic knowledge and skills in a pressure-free setting.  The music studied is fun and age appropriate.  We use the Suzuki Voice Method which has been written specifically for the young singer. The 45-minute classes are limited to four singers and their parent or caregiver.  Parents or caregivers are required to attend each lesson and commit to helping their child practice during the week.  Enrollment is for the school year.  Invite a friend and sing your song!

The Suzuki Method combines a music teaching method with a philosophy, which embraces the total development of the child. Dr Suzuki's guiding principle was "Character first, ability second".

Dr Suzuki called his teaching method the Mother-Tongue Approach, inspired by the fact that children so effortlessly learn to speak their native tongue. Prompted and encouraged by the parents' love and the family environment, the child responds and develops this most difficult of skills, that of intelligible speech.

When a child learns to speak, the following factors are at work:

• Listening
• Motivation
• Repetition
• Step-by-step mastery
• Memory
• Vocabulary
• Parental Involvement
• Love

In Suzuki Voice, the same factors apply.  The singing voice is treated as an instrument and is encouraged to develop naturally through the Suzuki repertoire. Relaxation and vocalization are important features of each lesson.

Our newly established Heart Song Academy welcomes
Lana Wilkinson as our Young Voices educator for our students ages 7 and up. 

Lana Wilkinson is a dedicated and talented musician as well as a stellar music educator.  With a degree in Music Education and an emphasis in Vocal Performance from Utah State University, Lana has been teaching singers as well as pianists for 20 years.  She is also a sought after professional accompanist and choral conductor, having conducted children's and adult choirs around the region.  She is Suzuki trained and has an understanding of the physiology of the young voice.  She says,   "As a vocal teacher, I am dedicated to teaching healthy vocal production in a non-threatening environment, providing performance opportunities aimed at increasing the student's self-esteem and personal fulfillment, aiding the student in achieving their goals of developing a strong, clear and true to pitch singing voice and educating the mechanics, theory and history of repertoire studied.  Overall, it is my objective to help students see that music can be an avenue of fulfillment and a source of joy that will last them a lifetime. In addition, it is my desire that each and every student's self esteem will increase through learning the art of music."