Voice Teaching Philosophy

My goal for teaching is to create a confidence building, nurturing environment where students can grow artistically. I started teaching voice part-time while earning my undergraduate degree. Once I graduated, I taught private voice lessons full-time in my home studio, student’s homes, and in schools around Round Rock. During my Master’s in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, I took classes specifically designed to prepare lesson plans and syllabi, and taught a Vocal Techniques class as well as private lessons to non-voice majors.


As a voice teacher, I feel I am the friend that comes over to help you put together a new piece of furniture. I hand my students multiple tools to build something beautiful and give them emotional support when it gets frustrating.

Students of mine have experienced many accomplishments during their time with me. These accomplishments include being accepted into the Texas State school of music, musical roles, album releases, wedding singing, lead vocals in a band, Texas State choirs, All-Region choirs, All district auditions, and choir solos.


I continue to grow and share my knowledge of vocal pedagogy, so I can help others to achieve healthier singing habits and their ultimate vocal goals. This includes providing hands-on experience

like diction, Alexander technique, vocal pedagogy, and career advice for majors in voice lessons. Acquiring the motivation to practice regularly is an important skill that can be learned while still having fun. How do I do it? I provide students the tools to help overcome stage fright, gain confidence, integrate performance technique, and feel better about singing while learning their favorite music. Developing technical facility and sensitive musicianship to the maximum of the your ability doesn't seem so hard when you're having a good time.

My teaching philosophy is to make singing as efficient for singers as possible. I utilize visual, kinesthetic, aural and analytical learning techniques for each student. I use Duke’s rehearsal frame method during my lessons to create a hands-on environment that focuses on correct repetition. I take the time to guide students through individualized practice during their lessons that remove all doubts about what to practice outside of the classroom. My goal for each student is to discover their own unique voice while building a portfolio of tones and timbres through solid vocal technique. I believe that to build better body alignment, relax unnecessary tension, and foster good breath support, students must first be observant of their bodies when singing and during every day activities. I assign homework to explore and build muscle memory that utilizes efficient singing posture and breath management when singing.  

Each lesson is designed specifically with the students’ abilities and challenges in mind. For beginning voice students, I like to begin with a solid foundation of intonation, body alignment, sight reading, and breath support using beginning level folk songs. The repertoire I choose is specific to each student's short-term goal and stylistic preference. For intermediate and advanced students, I focus on tone, coloration, vocal agility, diction, musicality, dynamics, and performance anxiety. For children, I focus on intonation, sight reading and releasing tension when breathing in and singing out. Each student has had different life experiences, and I use mine to gain insight and trust from each student. I am a cultural anthropologist, so I consciously try to be sensitive to diversity and avoid trigger or culturally insensitive words, while embracing diversity within higher education. 

I love to include the aspect of communication in learning environments. Music has been an essential part of my life, and teaching voice is a way I can give someone the opportunity to bring music into their lives every day. Each student should have the opportunity to grow in confidence and ability through effective preparation and performance. 

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©2016 by Keeley Hookten, soprano. Proudly created with Wix.com