Services

Patricia Sands Vocal Lessons Asheville

Classical Voice

With a background in Voice, Opera, Theatre, Choral Music, and Vocology, Patricia is well-versed in vocal training technique that is grounded in voice science and pedagogy.

Professional performance experience and continuing education in Spain, Italy, Serbia, Austria, Taiwan, Qatar, USA and Singapore have molded her as a singer with a broad background and exposure to various schools of Classical singing.

Areas of specialization in vocal lessons include vocology and vocal health, opera, and Spanish and Latin American Art Song. Basic foundation components of the singing process (respiration, vibration, phonation, articulation, resonance, registration) are actively studied and utilized through exercises and repertoire. Students will build stamina and achieve personal goals to find their best voice.

Patricia’s most recent roles with New Opera Singapore were in 2019 Queen Hippolyta in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and 2018 in “The Dialogues of the Carmelites” by Poulenc cast as Mme. De Croissy.

Performance Review: Dialogues of the Carmelites

August 8, 2018. Dialogues of the Carmelites, New Opera Singapore, Victoria Theatre.

“Far more experienced performers inhabited the other main roles- American soprano Patricia Sands was a magisterial first Mother Superior, delivering a riveting death scene (is it one of the most horrifyingly real in opera?) with vocal acting that sent shivers down my spine.”

-Derek Lim, Flyinginkpot.com

Musical Theatre/CCM

Musical theatre and contemporary music have always been part of Patricia’s life beginning with her own high school stage performances in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “My Fair Lady”. Following her Bachelor’s degree, Patricia was Vocal/Music Director for several musical productions in high school settings, followed by becoming Director of numerous large stage high school productions around the world. Additionally she conducted choruses throughout her career as well as teaching classroom music and drama to many future professional performers.

Since 2020, Patricia has been working with singer/songwriters in the Asheville area including vocalists who work as lead singers of bands and band members. Patricia has helped numerous professionals from the local music scene with vocal problems, vocal health issues, skills, and voice habilitation. Some come for a vocology consultation, a short set of lessons, and some stay for longer periods of time, depending on their needs. Those with vocal health issues may be referred to a nearby Laryngologist. Patricia also works with local students involved in musical productions, preparing them for auditions and roles. Theatre-wise, Patricia has music-directed two productions in the area since arriving in 2020: Denton the Dragon The Musical (Premiere) 2021 (Jeff Hutchins Productions), and Working (Parkway Playhouse) 2022. Patricia is one of three directors in the Ovation Theatre Collective with a production planned for 2023. She will also be directing at Hendersonville Theatre in 2023.

Audition and Exam Prep

Whether you are preparing for university auditions or a local theatre or choir audition, Patricia can help you with repertoire selection, the audition process, making recordings, and making sure you are well-prepared. She has experience in IB (International Baccalaureate) Voice Exam preparation (a 2 year process) and recording, as well as ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exam prep including Aural, Sight-Reading, and Singing exam prep. Recent exam and audition prep has resulted in University placement for voice majors, successful audition for the Asheville Choral Society, and successful casting for actors in Asheville musical theatre productions. Singing exam results for ABRSM resulted in “With Distinction” (highest category).

Senior Vocal Training

A particular area of interest is helping Seniors continue to sing well into their golden years. Vocal health issues and a look at why voices do not always work the same for some singers as they did when younger are worked through, as well as exercises to maintain and improve fundamental processes. Patricia works with post-menopausal singers who may notice changes in their voice, and has seen many students regain range and quality following consistent lessons and practice technique.

Transgender Vocal Training

Patricia can help with singing voice transitions and building a reliable singing voice for trans singers who are moving to a new fach, or, continuing on with their previous singing fach. Whether you are working with speech training given by an SLP, taking medication, and/or dealing with the effects of vocal fold surgery, we can work to carefully establish your singing voice through exercises and repertoire. Patricia participated in the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Speakers; A Course for Voice Clinicians 2019 at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Habilitation for Injured Singers

If you are in the Asheville area, have a recent voice diagnosis (pathology or non-pathology) from an ENT, are working with an SLP on voice therapy, and want to return to singing, Patricia can help you develop sustainable singing habits as a trained Vocologist from the National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS). Patricia has worked with ENT patient referrals to help singers with post-polyp surgery, bilateral vocal fold nodules, previous aphonia or temporarily loss of all or part of their singing range, asthma/allergy, pre-nodular with edema, diastasis recti, muscular tension dysphonia (MTD), and young at-risk singers put on vocal rest and medication by their Laryngologist.

*Note that Patricia cannot diagnose Vocal pathologies or injuries. An ENT with Voice Specialization (Laryngology Fellowship) makes medical diagnoses and SLP’s (Speech and Language Pathologists) administer Voice Therapy.

Vocology Consultation

Are you a rock/pop or gig singer in the music industry?
A classroom teacher or church musician?
A professional voice-user?
Are you having vocal difficulties or unsure how to manage vocal issues that you are experiencing?
Are you unsure of what steps to take to get help for your voice?

Vocology consultations are available on behaviors and habilitation about how to manage your voice and what steps to take next. Discussion includes vocal hygiene, professional voice use, vocal habits, diet, sleep, medications, and other aspects that impact your voice.

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