My San Diego Music Studio
Voice and Piano lessons
San Diego Music lessons
FUU Youth Choir
Why voice or piano?
About Me
Contact Info
Links
Lynn Mendoza-Khan
 

I have been singing and playing the piano since I was 6 yrs old and I am passionate about music.
I've sung in many choirs, sung as a soloist with several symphonies and upon finishing high school arranged the music for an original production of the musical Manhattan Underground which was produced for the first time in Modesto, California. I've composed many songs, piano pieces, arrangments for handbell choirs, and a capella vocal arrangements. I've been performing in musicals and operas since 1990.  
 
As your teacher...
 
My intention is to guide you to find the freest, most beautiful sound and to develop your voice until it becomes consistantly accessible, free of tension and expressive. My teaching style is nurturing and fundamentally rooted in the basics. Upon these basics I tailor techniques to serve the individual to excell in their growth as a person and artist. Just because my background is in opera doesn’t mean I’m not open to other styles of music. I love and have also sung pop, jazz, gospel and musical theater. Above all I want you to love singing as much as I do. Growth in music should be fun!
 
 
 
 
 
 Voice Lessons
The basics of vocal production
These four areas are the basics upon which I tailor the lesson to help each individual in the quest to sing with a beautiful tone.
 
The breath:  fuel for singing. Want power? Want to sustain a long note? It begins with the breath. I emphasize the physiology of breathing and teach breathing exercises for optimal breath support and breath control.
 
Resonance/Tone: Tone is produced in the same way as a note, the air passes through the vocal chords causing them to vibrate, this travels into the head cavities which act as a resonating chamber adding richness and depth which affects the quality of the notes produced.
 
Vocal Registers: The physiology of registers. Controlling the register break and smoothing the registers so that there is one voice or sound throughout the range.
 
Articulation/Diction: Achieve excellent diction so that your audience will understand what you are singing.
 
DIAGNOSIS OF VOCAL FAULTS: I listen carefully for vocal faults. I do my best to correct them with exercises but there may be times when I may reccomend seeing an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat doctor) to be sure there the vocal folds are healthy and not damaged.
 
I also teach classes with Junior Theatre.
Studio Policies
1. Rates: You have two choices*

$200/mo for four 60 min. lessons
$120/mo. for four 30 min. lessons.

The fee is based on four Regularly Schedule Lessons a month. Additional lessons are available, as needed, at the rate of $60 for 60 minutes and $35 for 30 minutes.

In months where a fifth lesson is taught, it will either be used as a make-up for a previously missed lesson or banked for a future missed lesson (holidays, vacations, etc.).


2. Payments: Payment is due the first week of each month. Payments may be made by cash (first lesson/month) or check to Lynn Mendoza-Khan. If you have a lesson the first week of the month, you may pay in person at your lesson. If you do not have a lesson in the first week of the month, you may pay in person at your last lesson of the previous month

a. *Note: I do travel and charge an extra $30 per hour

3. TARDINESS: When you schedule a lesson time, you are paying for that time (professional hour, or professional half hour) and not minutes into the next lesson time. Please be on time out of respect for my students and myself.

4. Cancellation Policy: If you must miss your Regularly Scheduled Lesson, please notify me either via email (lynn@sandiegovoiceteacher.com), voicemail (619-665-3243). All Regularly Scheduled Lesson canceled with 24hrs. notice are eligible for a Make-up Lesson on a day and time that is mutually convenient. If you cancel your Regularly Scheduled Lesson with less than 24 hrs. notice, you will forfeit your option for a Make-up Lesson. In addition, canceled Make-up Lessons will be forfeited.

In the event that I need to cancel either your Regularly Scheduled Lesson or your Make-up Lesson, I will reschedule the missed lesson to a mutually convenient day/time.

5. Make-Up Lessons: Every effort will be made to schedule make-up lessons in the same week as the canceled lesson. Please provide your availability for the week in which you cancel your lesson to better facilitate the scheduling of the make-up lesson. Canceled Make-up lessons will be forfeited.




6. No shows: It is assumed that all students will check their calendars in advance for conflicts with their Regularly Scheduled Lessons as well as Make-up Lessons. I will wait for 15 minutes for you to arrive at your lesson. After 15 minutes, if I have not heard from you via phone or email, I will assume that you are a No Show. Not showing up to the lesson without prior notification is grounds for permanent removal from the studio schedule. If you inadvertently missed your lesson, please contact me as soon as possible. Also, please call and leave me a message if you are going to be late.



7. Repertoire: We will choose repertoire based on your interests and technical skill and demands. It’s best to keep a binder or folder for all of your music. Please bring the copies of your assigned repertoire with you to each lesson. In addition, you are encouraged to bring in new repertoire (sheet music). Please make photocopies of the music you bring in for us to work on. You may also purchase new music from a local music store (look at my links page) or online. I recommend  www.sheetmusicplus.com  or www.musicnotes.com online.

8. Practice: Students are expected to practice regularly between lessons. Even 10 minutes a day makes a huge difference week after week. As every individual is unique, we will discuss the expectations of your practice time in your lessons.

9. Preparation: For those of you preparing for auditions or performances, please give yourself a minimum of 4 lessons to prepare.

10. Materials you will need: Binder- A standard three hole punch with tabs that separates your binder into four sections (vocal exercises, notes, music, journal). A recording device- tape or digital. There are many things you will hear on the recording that you may not have been able to hear when singing. Remember that your voice always sounds different from inside than from outside. Music- Bring music you’ve been working on and what you’d like to sing. I’ll recommend music suited for your voice. Keep in mind that if I veto your choice of music it will only be for the purpose of keeping you from music you aren’t ready for or may do some damage to your voice. This does not apply to styles of music; I welcome all styles of music.

11. WORD OF MOUTH POLICY: I greatly appreciate referrals from my students, and I am greatly honored when my students recommend me to others. If a new referral completes a month of lessons with me, I will give you one free lesson as a token of gratitude.