FAQ
Q. Is Sara a voice teacher or a vocal coach? And what's the difference?
A. Sara is both a voice teacher and vocal coach. Generally a voice teacher teaches technique, or how to sing and the techniques involved, and a vocal coach helps guide clients in what to sing, and the stylistic techniques appropriate for the client's chosen musical genre. Sara combines her love of contemporary musical genres and improvisation for stylistic coaching and her technique and command of musical skills to provide high-quality voice teaching and coaching for clients at Voice Studio LA and off-site for recording sessions, vocal production, and live performance (off-site rates differ).
Q. When is the studio open? What days does Sara teach?
A. Sara now teaches from her studio Tuesdays - Saturdays.
Q. What is the fee for lessons?
A. Sara’s fee is $150/hour.
Q. When is the studio open? What days does Sara teach?
A. Yes! Sara has several out of town and touring clients who live/travel worldwide and take their lessons online on Zoom. Whether you just need to take a lesson every once in a while to augment your current practice/performance schedule, are touring but can't take a voice teacher with you, or are far away, online lessons are a great way to learn from Sara Leib if you live outside of Los Angeles. For online lessons, it is optimal and HIGHLY recommended to use a separate microphone running through an audio interface.
Q. Who needs a voice teacher/vocal coach?
A. Accountability is the name of the game. Anyone who sings professionally or is learning to sing should work with a voice teacher/vocal coach regularly. A teacher/coach is like a guide who helps you find ways to best use your voice healthfully. Having not just a great singing career, but a singing career with longevity requires serious attention to technique and vocal health, which is of premium importance to voice teachers. Even those who already have successful singing careers consult and study with teachers and coaches to make sure they are running at peak performance level. From beginners to seasoned professionals, Sara is happy to work with all kinds of clients.
Q. I am as transgender, non-binary, GNC (gender non conforming), genderqueer. Can Sara help me?
A. The voice is foundational to how we think of ourselves, how relate to the world, and how others relate to us. Everyone should be able to feel confident and comfortable expressing themselves in a way that makes them feel seen, comfortable, and uniquely themselves. Sara has completed course trainings with Dr. Anita Kozan, Ph.D CCC-SLP in speech and singing training for the transgender, non-binary, and GNC-identified, and is dedicated to her own continued education on both the changing science as well as the changing social-emotional standards for voice care for healthy transitioning for trans people, and healthy voice care and therapy for those who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming. Sara is proud to provide Voice Studio LA as a safe space of warmth, support, health, and allyship.
Q. My company's employees need training and development in how to use their voices. Can Sara train my employees?
A. Sara loves to train speakers and employees of all backgrounds in how to use their voices effectively. Whether training an individual on how to effectively communicate while giving keynotes, to training groups of employees on how to keep their voices fresh and engaging at work, training professional speakers is a growing necessity for businesses worldwide. Visit the "Corporate Training" page for more information, or get in touch to see whether hiring Sara is best for you and your company.
Q. How long are lessons? Does Sara teach 30-minute or 45-minute lessons?
A. Sara teaches in hourlong increments (actual lesson time is 50-55 minutes, to allow for her to take notes). Although it can be common for young students to take lessons in half hour increments, Sara feels that a half an hour or forty-five minutes isn't long enough to both practice vocal excercises/techniques and apply them to songs/repertoire.
Q. How often do I need to take lessons?
A. Some teachers prefer to see clients every week. While weekly lessons can be great for professionals and music students as well as for motivating clients to do their singing and exercises regularly, some clients cannot have weekly lessons due to time or financial constraints. Sara firmly believes that her clients will see growth based on how often they practice, rather than how often they have lessons. You should take lessons at a pace that allows you to best take advantage of what you're learning in the lessons. Sara stresses that however often you decide to take lessons, that you take them in regular intervals, be it weekly, monthly, or even quarterly, for optimal results. Remember that practicing is key.
Q. How long are lessons? Does Sara teach 30-minute or 45-minute lessons?
A. Sara teaches in hourlong increments (actual lesson time is 50-55 minutes, to allow for her to take notes). Although it can be common for young students to take lessons in half hour increments, Sara feels that a half an hour or forty-five minutes isn't long enough to both practice vocal excercises/techniques and apply them to songs/repertoire.
Q. How many lessons do I need to take before I begin to see and hear improvement?
A. Remember that improvement comes not with how many lessons you take, but with how regularly/often you practice your exercises and warmups, and apply techniques to your music and performances. Being a better singer is not something you can buy— it takes committed, regular practice, the same way mastery of any instrument takes practice. Remember, practice makes permanent!
Q. Can Sara come on tour with me or my client?
A. While most opt for for online lessons, Sara is happy to travel with clients who are on tour to provide them support with lessons, coaching, and warmups while on national or international musical tours. Fixed or pre-negotiated retainer fees apply for travel.
Q. Does Sara teach beginning singers and regular people', or only working/Performing singers?
A. For Sara, the study of the art of music is not simply for those who pursue professional careers in music, but an educational pursuit that everyone can benefit from. Sara is happy to teach anyone who would like lessons (schedule accommodating). One of Sara's specialties is making voice, singing, and music something that everyone can understand by diminishing the use of jargon and explaining physiological and technical terms.
Q. What's up with the term "studio"? Is Voice Studio LA a recording studio?
A. Voice Studio LA is Sara Leib's private teaching studio. While Sara often records exercises for her clients to sing along to, or records her clients for them to listen back, Voice Studio LA is not a full-service recording studio. The term "studio" comes from the Latin term "study" and the Italian meaning, "room for study". Music, voice, and art teachers in Europe and the United States have long been calling the rooms they create, work, and teach in their "studios". The newly designed (2021) studio does have limited recording capabilities, should the client need it, and Sara is happy to refer out to many of the top recording studios Los Angeles has to offer if clients need full-service recording studios with engineers.
Q. Does Sara teach children?
A. Sara generally teaches people ages 14 and up. Sara does specialize in helping high school-aged students prepare for college auditions. As for younger kids, while Sara makes exceptions for younger working singers and actors, she generally feels that developmentally and educationally younger children are better off studying the more basic musical skills such as piano, ear training, and music reading/theory, and graduate later to singing when both their physical body and attention spans are more developed. For transgender or genderqueer teens who are either looking for coaching in a range that is different from their SAAB (sex assigned at birth), or who are looking for coaching as they transition, Sara is available for speech and singing coaching.
Q. Where is Voice Studio LA?
A. Voice Studio LA is the private vocal studio of Sara Leib. Sara teaches from her home studio in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, near the intersection of Pico and Fairfax, in an area called Picfair Village. Please get in touch for the specific address, which is always emailed after the first booking.