Offering in-person lessons in Vancouver, BC and online lessons for remote learners.

The Benefits of Vocal Studies

Whether you consider yourself a performer or just someone who wants to strengthen their spoken or sung vocal tone, singing lessons offer a tremendous benefit to anyone who uses their voice.

While the majority of my studio consists of performers, I also work with:

Individuals undergoing vocal rehabilitation
Gender-diverse singers working to find their voice in their chosen register
Individuals working to overcome stage fright
Individuals with non-clinical phonatory dysfunction
Anyone who wants to sing

Lesson Policy:

I’m happy to work with students on an on-going or ad hoc basis. I am happy to reschedule without penalty in exceptional circumstances with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice and 7 days’ notice for elective rescheduling. Vocal health always comes first, so if something comes up that poses a challenge to your vocal wellbeing I’ll be as flexible as possible.

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My Approach to Teaching

As both a teacher and a performer I have come to appreciate that efficiency of sound production is key to accessing beauty and longevity in the voice. The less muscular resistance a singer experiences during inhalation, the greater the breath energy available to them to craft their phrases. Through an appropriately-aligned vocal tract a singer can produce a free and resonant tone that requires minimal adjustment of the structures of singing, limiting opportunities for tension to warp beauty, clarity, and comfort of tone.

A singer’s body is, functionally, their instrument casing, so matters of physical alignment, comfort, and freedom are of paramount importance to the production of sound. I have a deep appreciation for the utility of Alexander Technique in the voice studio. Alexander appreciates a body’s natural asymmetries and encourages an exploration of alignment from the ground up. Considering a singer’s unique anatomical distribution ultimately allows for a grounded, active alignment, an unimpeded breath process, and ease of access to a resonant tone. Alexander Technique also encourages a personalized understanding of alignment and physical function. I believe that an informed singer has the capacity to develop their own vocabulary of physical awareness and ultimately develop the skills necessary to become their own best teacher. As a voice teacher, it is my duty and privilege to help students develop this capacity. As a performer, it is through empowerment as my own teacher that I have made my greatest technical strides.

Though the fundamentals of chiaroscuro sound production have long been established, developments in medical imaging and research into vocal physiology continue to expand our understanding of vocal function. I have a background in speech and phonatory theory used in speech language pathology, and rely on this to guide singers to produce their freest vocal tone. Each learner is as intellectually unique as their voice is physiologically unique, so it follows that my teaching and understanding of voice science and tone production be flexible and up-to-date in order to bring the best to my students.

Singing is an act of communication. Though I believe strongly in a physiologically-informed approach to sound production, this is not an end in itself. The value of physiological awareness in singing is in allowing a free and unobstructed vocal tone to serve the storytelling required of every singer. I encourage text analysis as a building block of repertoire study. In the constantly-evolving performance landscape for singers today it is crucial that we develop the expressive tools demanded by a wide variety of vocal music, and an ability to delve into the text, language, and musical setting of our repertoire is fundamental to every performance.

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Teaching Bio

Dr. Leah Giselle Field is a Vancouver-based contralto, voice teacher, and adjudicator. Dr. Field is a graduate of Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program and holds degrees from the University of British Columbia and the University of Western Ontario. As a doctoral student she received a university-wide Killam Graduate Teaching Award for her teaching of Secondary Voice. Her doctoral research focussed on children’s opera, and her ongoing research interests include music of underrepresented voices in the realm of classical music and developing IPA guides for under-served language groups. As a performer, Dr. Field enjoys chamber music, oratorio, and opera, and is regularly seen performing as a soloist with choral and instrumental ensembles throughout the Lower Mainland. In demand as an adjudicator, Dr. Field has had the pleasure of adjudicating festivals across British Columbia.

Dr. Field teaches voice lessons privately and through the VSO School of Music in downtown Vancouver. She also offers private instruction in lyric diction, basic music theory for singers, and text analysis for singers. She is passionate about vocal repertoire, healthy vocal technique, and creating a welcoming and nurturing studio environment. Dr. Field’s students have received awards at the local, provincial, and national level, and have gone on to study music at the university level and to sing professionally. Students from her studio have been accepted to prestigious post secondary institutions such as UBC, U of T, McGill, the New England Conservatory of Music, The New School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School. Current students include professional colleagues performing with Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Calgary Opera, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Operetta Theatre, the Canadian Opera Company, and in London’s West End.

In the summer of 2021 Dr. Field cofounded the Vancouver Summer Vocal Intensive with pianist and conductor Dr. Kevin Zakresky. A two-week long program for singers and pianists, SVI is an opportunity for musicians to work collaboratively, explore new repertoire, and participate in daily masterclasses. About the celebrate its fifth anniversary, SVI has become a staple of the Vancouver summer music scene.

Dr. Field is a member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Canadian Actors Equity Association, Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association, Canadian Registered Music Teachers Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is current an artist-in-residence with the BC Canadian Music Centre.

Student Testimonials

V. S.

“As a music educator, Leah treats each student with honesty and care, and caters to their individual needs. Leah is flexible and innovative, continually discovering new methods to communicate technical ideas. To her students’ benefit, Leah constantly demonstrates her ability to think outside of the box. During our time at Vancouver Opera, many of us expressed that we wanted more practice outlets, and Leah took the initiative to schedule weekly masterclasses for us to explore new arias and repertoire. Most relevant to the current state of the music industry, Leah has demonstrated an unwavering commitment toward mental health awareness amongst performers. During our first “round table” at Vancouver Opera, Leah shared that she is passionate about keeping an open dialogue regarding mental health. This moment made our entire group feel warm and welcome, and ensured that for the entire season, we were unafraid to be open and honest about our feelings.”

K. P.

“In my 8 years of post-secondary education at three of the top universities/colleges in Canada for Voice and Opera performance, I have been taught by well-regarded teachers and pedagogues. However, I can say that Ms. Leah Field is second to none. Her knowledge of vocal pedagogy is exemplary. Ms. Field has the ability to observe a voice and, within seconds, determine the root of the vocal issue. Not only is she able to pin-point these technical flaws, she is able to diagnose and provide an easy resolution to the problem. Ms. Field is able to communicate with her students effectively and efficiently in a language that they can understand.

In addition to her wonderful work as a vocal instructor, Leah possesses a marvellous vocal instrument. She has extensive performance experience in concert and on the operatic stage, which is a necessity for today’s vocal instructor. It is paramount to be taught by an instructor who has both the experience on stage as well as in-depth knowledge of the vocal instrument. Her knowledge of repertoire in all voice-types is also impressive. I trust Ms. Field with my own vocal health.

Above all else, Ms. Leah Field is a woman with a generous heart who sincerely cares for the wellness of others: student or colleague. She is a joy to work with and is passionate about the progress of her students.”

L. K.

“I have the utmost respect for Leah, who is hard-working, responsible, inspiring, supportive, diligent, punctual, and so much more. She has transformed me into a singer and gave me a tremendous amount of hope and courage; I am finally confident that I will fulfill my dream and become an accomplished singer in my future. Leah is not only a voice teacher but a passionate educator who has broadened many people’s musical horizons.

I feel truly blessed that I received an opportunity to study with Leah for two years. She has made a huge contribution to my musical and personal growth, and will forever remain one of my greatest role models.”

J. L.

“Leah always established a classroom environment of respect and comfort. Through her vocal modelling, classroom exercises, choice of repertoire, and listening assignments Leah opened the door to the profoundly rich world of art song. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the subject and the students was unyielding. Leah was always available to meet outside of class time for extra help, and on the few occasions she had to miss class, she scheduled very skilled vocal coaches to act as substitutes.

As a secondary music teacher and instrumentalist, the information learned in Leah’s class is the foundation of my vocal practice and is a constant resource for me. My growth under her guidance was exponential.”

C. G.

“It is safe to say that everyone in the class made drastic improvements that year. We were all inspired to practice and improve on our own time and knew that Leah was always going to be there with us along the way. Our year was the first year Leah taught class voice and the following year, the attendance doubled to include many people who had no need to take such a class at all, but wanted to learn from Leah. Leah is a remarkable individual who truly has made a positive difference in each of our lives and opened our eyes to beauty and pleasure which is experienced through singing.”

S. P.

“Leah truly comes alive when teaching voice and I couldn’t imagine a better candidate to shepherd students through their vocal development.”

L. T.

“Leah is a remarkably dedicated and thoughtful teacher who brings a comprehensive understanding of the vocal instrument, deep familiarity with diverse repertoire, and unwavering kindness into the studio. It has been a great privilege to study with her, and her guidance was instrumental in my acceptance to The Juilliard School. Through her mentorship, I have experienced immense growth both as a musician and as a person.”