Testimonials
“I've been taking singing lessons with Sam for nearly two years, starting with little music knowledge and no singing experience. Sam created a supportive environment that helped me grow personally and gain confidence in my voice.
As a trans student, this was one of my first gender-affirming activities. I made significant progress, culminating in a school recital. Sam met me where I was, without assumptions, which I feared from other teachers. Singing duets with Sam was an incredibly special experience; it brought me profound joy and a deep sense of safety, allowing me to express myself freely. They made learning enjoyable, providing direct, honest feedback with kindness and encouragement.”
- Noele (she/her), hobby musician, student of 2 years
“I am a professional singer who has been at it for decades. I am also a nonbinary person working in a world made for “male and female voices”, which can be tough when it comes to finding a voice teacher to learn with. I’ve worked with half a dozen voice teachers over the years, and every time, I found myself for one reason or another unable to continue, whether the reason be frequent misgendering, gendered expectations of what my voice should be, or a general mismatch between what I am looking for and what their vision is for me. Working not just with a nonbinary voice teacher, but with Sam specifically, has allowed me to unlock my potential and has given me confidence to sing in parts of my voice in ways I have hesitated to in the past due to vocal dysphoria. I’ve made it through marathon singing days, 8-10 hours of full voice rangy pieces, and have still managed to take the option up on hour 9.5 thanks to the work I’ve done with Sam. Listening to where I was two years ago verses where I am with them now is like night and day. If you are transgender and / or suffer from vocal dysphoria and wish to take voice lessons for any reason, I cannot recommend Sam enough.”
Kalix they/them, Professional Jewish Cantor, student of 2 years
I sought out voice lessons to better build my skills and foundation as a singer, but never imagined how much Sam would help build my confidence as a performer! I initially intended to take just a few months of lessons, but they quickly became the highlight of my week, and I'm proud to say that I've been a student of Sam's for 6 years now!
Sam fully customized my lesson plan and attacked each session with patience and enthusiasm. I really appreciated that Sam was always ready to work with whatever I brought them, and was full of ideas to help make the most of my lessons if I found myself getting frustrated. Sam was even excited to tackle different languages on top of different genres, and really helped break down syllables and sounds that I was unfamiliar with. Since I incorporate dance into my performance, Sam even teaches me techniques to help stabilize my singing, and use my movement on stage to drive more power into my voice.
I find myself naturally learning more about music through my lessons, all while becoming a more self assured and capable singer, and I recommend trying voice lessons with Sam enough!
Jenni Bon, she/her, performing idol, student of 6 years