Opera Singer from Newfoundland gives English conversation practice to students of all levels

Find out more about Noelle

• When and why did you develop an interest in your chosen field?

  I began taking voice and piano lessons when I was 6 years old. At that age, I thought singing was boring and I didn't want to do it, but now I'm really happy I did. When I was 11, I discovered Green Day and I knew from the moment I saw their music video of Holiday for the first time, that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Turns out, I have quite the affinity for singing opera so my career has gone down that road. But, I have always been intrigued by the storytelling that happens in singing, no matter which genre.

• What makes you passionate about your subject?

  Singing is much more than just singing songs. It's much more physical than many people realise and the amount of detail that can go into it is something that I find to be very rewarding. I train my voice the way I train my body as a powerlifter at the gym. I am very passionate about good technique and finding ease and strength in the body to support my voice. This looks different depending on the person and I love being able to assess and find what works best for each student.

• What do you like about tutoring? What makes you a "Superprof"?

  I love getting to work with new people and helping them achieve their goals. Beyond succeeding in developing the voice, there's a certain self-confidence that comes with learning to sing and I love watching my students find that within themselves. I am also a vocal pedagogy nerd. I am working on techniques and finding new ways to explain the same concept.

• Do you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you? Please explain.

  My current teacher inspires me. She shows me that you can be both firm and kind and having that approach is an effective way to reach students. A lot of the time, people assume that music teachers are strict and mean and this leads to bad feelings around practice and attending lessons. My teacher always makes me feel supported and from the moment I met her, I immediately trusted her and the vision that she has for my voice. Her calming personality but firm teaching style has led me to feel more relaxed and productive in lessons and it is what I strive to show my own students.

• What are your keys to success?

  1. Consistent practice. It doesn't have to be a lot of time, but the time you put in and how you use it matters. Some days, I get hours of practice in. Others, I'm lucky if I get 15 minutes. But I make sure I do it every day, even if it's only for a few minutes because it keeps me fresh and moving forward.
  
  2. Having a routine and sticking with it. Especially for beginners, it is important to set aside a time for your lesson and individual practice every week and stick to it. Having a regular time where you have other ears listening to you keeps you focused on your goals. Straying from this routine is where a lot of students tend to fall off the wagon, and often, not get back on.
  
  3. Know that it is hard work. Learning a new skill and maintaining old ones is not easy and it takes work on your part. We are always working against ourselves and the voice in our head that tells us it will be easier if we quit or do something else and oftentimes, that is harder than the actual act of putting the practice in.
  
  4. It's okay for it not to be good. When we learn to sing, we make a lot of funny noises, especially in the beginning. I've been doing this for 20 years and I still make funny noises! Not every sound has to be good and that's okay. Singing is play time and we learn more from 'mistakes' than we do from the times we get it right. Learning to laugh at yourself and embrace the imperfections is a very freeing part of the process and one that can be the most rewarding.