While searching for a voice teacher 4 years ago, Sheila Dugan was suggested to me more than any other name, and when I began taking lessons with her it was easy to see why. She had a scientific approach to singing that I had never experienced with any other instructor before. She is completely devoted to helping her students improve and will go to nearly any length to do so. In addition to teaching singing to perfection, she also teaches the physical aspect of singing and the way to perform. When I first began studying with her, I was a 14-year-old who had a voice, but had no idea what to do with it and no idea about how to perform competently. By the time I left for college I was an 18-year-old with numerous leading roles in musicals and plays that I performed throughout the St. Louis area, under my belt. Anytime I played a role that required a specific dialect, Dr. Neville Craven in ?The Secret Garden? for instance, or when I played the Beast in ?Beauty and the Beast? and needed to learn to roar and make other abusive sounds non-abusively, she offered her expertise so I wouldn?t damage my voice. Sheila is an excellent singing, acting, and life coach.
When I began applying for college in the fall of 2008 to major in vocal performance, Sheila was the first one to offer her assistance-- whether it was through additional voice lessons whenever I needed them (sometimes 2 or 3 times a week), written recommendations, or guidance. Sheila selected the perfect repertoire for all of my auditions, recitals, and competitions. I received acclaim at each and every one. I am now studying vocal performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (which is the number one music school in the United States and has the number one Opera program in the country). I have no one else to thank for that besides Sheila. During my audition at Indiana University, I was told by the voice faculty that I had been very well trained and they were so impressed with my training and voice I received my acceptance letter and scholarship offer 2? weeks after my audition, which is much faster than the typical response time. None of this would have happened with out Sheila.
Now that I?m taking voice lessons at Indiana University I realize how much Sheila did for me. I know that I will probably never again have another voice teacher who will be able to accompany me, give me instantaneous solutions/cures to my vocal issues in an easy to understand way, and care for me the way Sheila does. I recently listened to the recording of my first voice lesson and I can?t believe that the voice on that recording was mine, because it has been so improved! If you need a voice teacher it is ridiculous to look anywhere else. Sheila Dugan's knowledge, musicianship and abilities top that of any other teacher in this area!
Pros: Unparalleled vocal instruction in every possible way
Cons: None to be found
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