Frequently Asked Questions!

Book a free 20-minute online Discovery Call. It’s the first step for every new student, and there’s no obligation.

On the call, we get to know each other a bit and do a “vibe check.” You’re free to ask ALL your questions about singing at the studio, and I’ll share how things work and which options might suit your goals.

If it feels like a great fit, the next step is an Initial Fit session. This is about 60 minutes, in person or online, where we vocalize together, talk through your goals, and see how we’d work together. After that, I’ll send my recommendation and all your options in writing, so there are never any surprises. You can stop at any point, with no strings attached.

Spaces in our signature tuition memberships are limited, so there may be a waitlist. To get started, join the studio email list and you’ll be immediately redirected to book your free Discovery Call. Email list members also get early access to any openings before they’re released to the general public. Have a question first? Email or text the studio anytime.

It's never too early or too late! I have students from age 6 to 76+, and no matter how much or how little singing experience you have, I can help you discover your unique voice.

The best time to start is whenever you feel ready, and the free 20-minute Discovery Call is an easy first step, with no obligation. I'm your #musicalmojomaven, and I get you!

Absolutely, and you're in good company. Many of my students start out nervous, whether they're 6 or 76+, and whether they've never sung in front of anyone or haven't sung in years. No experience is needed, and beginners are always welcome. I firmly believe that EVERYONE can sing.

I have the tools and resources to help you:

• discover your voice

• explore your gift

• charge up your musical mojo

• remember why you love to sing

Lessons can feel like a vulnerable place, so together, we’ll keep creating a culture of felt safety and a supportive environment where you can explore and enhance your vocal abilities. We start exactly where you are. Some of what we do is silly on purpose, because playful exercises help free your voice, and we check in often to make sure everything feels good, easy, and free. There should never be pain or discomfort when you sing. For younger singers, we keep things play-based, age-appropriate, fast-paced, and above all FUN!

You don't have to commit to find out if it's right for you. The FREE 20-minute Discovery Call is a chance to meet, ask ALL your questions, and see how it feels, with no obligation. You can take lessons in person or online, whichever feels more comfortable.

And you don't need hours of practice: about 15 minutes, a few days a week, makes a big difference.

What it can look like:

"Joslin is enthusiastic, and works with you where you are at. Before I worked with her, I didn't sing AT ALL, even by myself. I've gone from being petrified of singing to being so much more comfortable, I've sung 3 times on adult soiree concerts, I now sing in my church choir every week, and have even auditioned for specialty choirs in Vancouver." - Andrea, adult student

Nope! Reading music isn't a requirement for voice lessons. Singing is a motor skill, so everyone can improve, wherever they're starting from. Many wonderful singers and musicians learn entirely by ear.

That said, reading music is like learning a universal language. It makes singing in a choir, working with a pianist, or making music with others much easier, with less "translation" needed. If you'd like to learn, I'd love to help! I use age-appropriate resources, like solfège and the Full Voice workbooks for kids, and theory workbooks by Mark Sarnecki, Ultimate Music Theory, or RCM for teens and adults who want to read notes, rhythms, and sheet music.

If you're preparing for RCM exams or have professional singing goals, I'll strongly encourage building your reading skills, since you'll rely on them in those settings.

Already read music? Wonderful! We'll strengthen those skills and build your confidence with sight-reading. Lots of singers feel unsure about sight-reading because our instrument is invisible: no keys to press or strings to bow. But it's a skill everyone can improve, and I can help you get there.

You'll find student and family testimonials throughout this website, and you can read reviews from real JRD Voice Studio students on Google and Facebook.

Already part of the studio fam? I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review! It helps other singers find their way to the studio. 💛

The short answer: it depends on the kind of support that fits your goals, and every path starts with a free 20-minute Discovery Call. All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Long Term Packages:

Tuition memberships: our signature, fully customized model, with materials, performance opportunities, reserved lesson times, and group class weeks all included. Tuition can be paid in one lump sum or in 12 equal monthly payments. You'll find current pricing at the bottom of each package page:

Love Your "Voce"

The Diva Package

Prima Elite

Short Term Packages:

• Connect Monthly Cohorts

• Drop-In Packages

• Individual Drop-In Lessons

See Studio Offers for current pricing.

Not sure which is right for you? That's exactly what the Discovery Call is for.

Tuition is a year-long studio membership that bundles your weekly lessons, materials, group classes, performance opportunities, and all my behind-the-scenes planning into one price. Hourly rates are pay-per-lesson drop-ins and short-term packages. This one comes up a lot, so read on for the lowdown!

Tuition: Our value-based tuition memberships bring many valuable things together into one base price. You get tangible materials (sheet music purchases, theory materials, recorded accompaniments, access to Google Drive resources, etc.), performance opportunities, reserved lesson times, group class weeks, and a set number of dedicated lessons with bonus weeks built in.

It also includes all the behind-the-scenes work I do: choosing repertoire, researching programs and applications, planning and participating in online and in-person professional development, engaging pianists, and organizing studio events.

The information you receive in your one-on-one voice lesson is not dependent on time. It is in the information itself that the value lies, not in the time it takes to deliver it. Time is just the tool we are using to deliver information. During the time your lesson is reserved, in addition to all singing and technical instruction, you can discuss plans for future projects, rep selection, vocal hygiene, and a host of other things!

Your tuition may be paid in one lump sum or divided up into 12 equal monthly payments, so there is plenty of both financial and educational flexibility built into the tuition model.

Please note that the Studio is structured as a primarily tuition-based model. For those who prefer more flexibility or like to try things before jumping into the full membership, read on for our short-term offers!

Hourly Individual Drop-Ins and Packages: Hourly lesson rates (or drop-ins) are specifically a pay-for-service model. This includes my preparation for the lesson, based on the information the student provides in the intake form, and the time of the scheduled lesson itself. These are designed for minimal follow-up.

Students are welcome to book individual lessons à la carte, as they like. The studio also offers Drop-In Packages in bundles of 2, 4, or 8 lessons, in either 45-minute or 60-minute sessions, available to book on an ongoing basis depending on studio availability. We also offer our signature Connect Monthly cohorts, running in October, January, and April: six 45-minute lessons over 3 months, plus access to one of the studio’s group classes.

Email us for more info!

Currently, there are no separately scheduled group classes running. As part of the studio membership tuition packages, all studio tuition membership students have access to quarterly group studio class weeks (in addition to their 1:1 session weeks). There are also masterclass options with industry professionals where possible. Group class opportunities are also available for those in the Connect Monthly package.

RCM group classes are built out on demand - if you are interested in putting together a class with fellow singers, reach out - I’d be happy to design a custom exam prep or musicianship/ear training class just for you! Learn more on the RCM Exam Prep page.

And finally, I am always here to help - if you have a group of kids, teens OR adults who are interested in music and learning to sing, please reach out to the studio via email - I would love to see how I can help support your singing goals!

Student agency and autonomy are core values of the studio, and every lesson is student-led. I’m classically trained and hold certifications in the Neuro-Vocal Method, Voice Function 101, and Mechanics of Mix and Belt, so we can work in pop, musical theatre, and other contemporary mic styles, or in classical technique, depending on the sound you want. Either way, we’re always aiming for easy, sustainable, repeatable results.

So what actually happens in a lesson?

1. You take the brave first step of walking through the door (or logging on!). Messing up is welcome and encouraged here, because progress comes through failure. (Fellow perfectionists, I feel your pain. Nobody is more upset about that truism than I am! 😅)

2. I listen, observe, and share what I’m hearing.

3. We try some tools to access the shift in technique or feeling that gets you a sound you love.

4. You let your brain do the math: tell it what you want, get out of the way, and let it try. We repeat it at least three times, because singing is a motor skill and your brain is busy building a brand-new pathway.

5. We notice what comes up emotionally, too, and hold space for it, so you can sing out exactly the way you want to.

Along the way, we’ll explore technical ideas like body alignment, breath, and how the vocal registers connect, plus (depending on your goals) musicianship, reading music, and exam, audition, or competition prep. We check in regularly to make sure singing feels good, easy, and free. It should never hurt! Most of all, we’ll have a lot of fun freeing your instrument and discovering what YOUR unique voice sounds like!

It will vastly accelerate your development to practice some of the concepts we discuss in the lesson during the week, but generally speaking, consistency is much more important than duration. This is why it is so important to record your lessons each week, so that you have a curated track of what to practice - and I encourage you to sing along with this lesson recording like a karaoke track. You will work on the concepts we addressed in the lesson that week, and have my instruction in your ear to remind you of alignment, tricky spots, etc.

Avocational kids, teens and adults:

• 4-5 days of 15 mins of practice will make a world of difference.

• Younger kids/teens, or those with less developed voices should not be trying to practice hours a day. Voice is a significantly different pursuit than an external instrument like piano or violin. These are growing bodies, and they are still maturing, so a shorter amount of practice is completely acceptable. 2-4 days, 15 mins a day would be fantastic!

Pro-track and college students:

• The Studio expectation is that you will be working on your physical, technical singing at least 1 hour a day, in addition to any IPA, translation, interpretive, acting etc. work

Yes. Belting and other contemporary styles should feel easy and free, not strained, and there should never be pain or discomfort when you sing.

I teach pop, rock, and musical theatre microphone styles with a technique-based approach focused on easy, sustainable, repeatable results. I’m certified in the Neuro-Vocal Method, Voice Function 101, and Mechanics of Mix and Belt, and I’m also classically trained (Curtis Institute of Music, 20+ years of teaching and performance experience), so I can work from classical or contemporary technique depending on the sound you want.

In lessons we look at the things that make belting work safely, like body alignment, breath, and how the vocal registers connect, and we check in regularly to make sure everything feels good. Many students come to cross-train between pop, musical theatre, and classical styles without strain, or to unlock the belt they’ve always wanted.

Not sure where to start? Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call to talk about the sounds you want to make, with no obligation.

Look for a teacher with real experience preparing students for festivals and exams, who teaches age-appropriate technique and builds musicianship (ear training and sight-singing) alongside repertoire.

At JRD Voice Studio, students have completed RCM exams at all levels and have competed and won in Festival classes at the local, provincial, and tri-provincial level. RCM prep is available privately, in semi-private lessons, or in small groups, and you don’t need to be a studio member to take part.

Growing voices are different from adult voices, so lessons for kids and teens are built around shorter, more frequent practice (2-4 days a week, about 15 minutes) and technique that respects a developing instrument. We keep things play-based, age-appropriate, fast-paced, and above all FUN!

Curious? Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call to talk about your child’s goals, with no obligation.

Yes. I coach students preparing for undergraduate and graduate music programs, musical theatre programs, young artist programs, and professional roles, in both classical/operatic and musical theatre/contemporary styles. Studio students have gone on to post-secondary music degree programs in Canada and the United States.

I’ve been through the audition process and post-secondary music education myself, and I’m part of a large network of colleagues working in the field today. That means you’ll get practical advice from someone who’s been there, plus access to current resources. Prep can include repertoire selection, researching programs and applications, technique, and audition preparation, as well as help with application documents, including recommendation letters where appropriate. The Diva Package (60-minute lessons) is built for this kind of work, and drop-in sessions are a good way to check in before an audition.

Performance prep is part of the studio too, with studio showcases and support learning repertoire for rock choirs, local theatre productions, and church solos.

Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call to talk about your goals and timeline, with no obligation.

Both! JRD Voice Studio is a hybrid studio. You can take lessons in person at my home studio in Chilliwack, BC, online from anywhere in the world, or a mix of both, schedule permitting. You can switch between in-person and online at any time, for any reason.

Online lessons are a permanent part of the studio, and they’re functionally interchangeable with in-person lessons, with the same quality. They’re great if you live in the Lower Mainland (Aldergrove, Langley, Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, etc.) and would rather skip the commute, or anywhere else in the world. They’re also handy for bad weather, illness, or travel: just text or email the studio and we’ll hop online.

For in-person lessons, you’ll need to accept the studio’s current Illness Waiver and Liability Release, which I share when you join. Safety is one of my top priorities, and the studio has illness protocols to reduce risk as much as possible.

Online lessons use a low-latency platform built for singing, and your welcome package has everything you need to log in. See the next questions for platform details and what to have ready at home.

JRD Voice Studio currently uses Rock Out Loud Live for all 1:1 sessions and group classes. We are always on the lookout for the latest low-latency technology to help us serve you best, therefore platforms are subject to updating at any time. Upon registration, along with your welcome package, you will receive all information needed to log in at your lesson time if you decide on online lessons, where we can sing!

Sometimes, weird connectivity stuff happens, so we will have back up platforms that we can pivot to in case something happens. These might include Zoom or Marco Polo - if you have a platform you love, let me know, and maybe I’ll add it to the list!

For in person lessons:

• music, workbooks, pencil, water, recording device are sufficient!

For online lessons:

A few things that can help enhance your online voice lesson experience:

• A laptop to run the video conferencing program, whatever that is [preferred, but other devices can also be used]

• A secondary device like your phone or tablet/external speaker to play tracks from

• A quiet place where you’re not distracted/feel like you can sing out, Louise!

• All your tracks queued up from the studio Google drive, YouTube, or wherever you keep them.

• All your sheet music, workbooks, etc. gathered together and ready to go.

• Pencil, water, pets to show me!

For ideas on optional equipment that can enhance your online lessons like Bluetooth speakers, external mics and music stands to hold your sheet music and workbooks, visit the Why Online Lessons Rock page for my recommendations!

I have configured the online Acuity scheduling and payment portal to provide maximum convenience for the student. Some benefits include:

• You can both schedule [as well as cancel] and pay directly through the Acuity portal.

• The Stripe payment portal is secure, safe, [I never see any of your personal information] and allows you to pay by debit or credit.

• Confirmation emails confirming your lesson time and payment, as well as automatic reminders, so you’ll never forget a lesson again!

• You can sync your lessons with your calendar of choice, including iCal, Google calendar, and Office 365. While using this software may have a bit of a learning curve, I have access to all settings in the back end, so any errors can be easily corrected, and your information is safe - and I am happy to walk you through the process virtually if necessary. Embrace the freedom of online scheduling and payment with me!

There’s no rescheduling or makeup lessons in the studio, and that’s by design! Every tuition membership has 3 bonus weeks built right in. If you have to miss a lesson, it simply uses one of those weeks, so you still get every lesson your membership includes. And if you never miss a week? You get a few extra lessons. Hooray!

For example: say you wake up with a cold on lesson day. Just text or email the studio, rest up, and send a Marco Polo video (our video messaging app) if you’d like to check in. There’s nothing to reschedule and nothing lost. See you next week!

My schedule has room built in too. If I need to miss a week for an adjudicating trip, a performance, or illness, you’ll get as much notice as possible. In-person students may simply switch to an online lesson that week instead.

Drop-in lessons (booked on their own or as part of a package like Connect Monthly or Drop-In Bundles) and Acuity and Systems coachings for voice teachers can’t be refunded or rescheduled. You’re welcome to rebook for a new fee. If you need to miss a drop-in lesson that’s part of a package, just let us know and we’ll see you at the next one.

Lessons are a vulnerable place, and that is necessary to do the work. We often do silly things, to access the freedom needed for optimum singing. To keep that space safe, parents and friends are not allowed in the room during online lessons. They are more than welcome to listen/watch on your preferred audio/video lesson recording.

Additionally, due to limited space in the home studio, only the student is allowed in the studio for in-person lessons to mitigate the risk factor. Please refer to the studio agreements section on in-person lessons for detailed drop-off and pick-up protocols.

#MusicalMaverick is the studio’s community hashtag, and it’s what I call my students! A maverick is an independent thinker who doesn’t just go along with the crowd, and my students are exactly that: taking risks, trying new things, and stepping out of their comfort zones as they get to know their unique instrument. Taking a chance on something you’re not already good at is a radical thing, now more than ever, and I think that’s worth celebrating. I’m honoured to be their #MusicalMojoMaven! Want to find out what it’s like to become a #MusicalMaverick at JRD Voice Studio? Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call, and let’s chat!

If you want to be notified when a spot opens up in the studio, join the studio email list - or send the studio an email. You can also message me anytime on Facebook or Instagram, and I’ll respond during studio business hours when we’re open - Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am-7:00 pm.

I can’t wait to talk to you, and get started helping you find YOUR unique voice!