Frequently asked questions

We don’t teach a specific style but use our training as vocal coaches to teach all styles and genres of singing. We believe that each person has their own unique style and personality as a singer. Our technique gives you the tools to develop your voice in a way that is comfortable and natural to you. We understand that every singer is unique, so we will help and encourage you to find your own voice.

Anna Leigh is qualified in the IVA technique and has been training since 2010 with IVA, where in 2020 Anna Leigh qualified to the highest level of Mentor level after 10 years of studying. Now teaching the voice for over 16 years. Now Anna Leigh continues to study with the worlds best mentor teachers constantly learning about the voice. Anna Leigh also has a degree in Drama performing arts. IVA was founded by a group of world-class teachers of singing who have over 125 years of combined experience training singers and teachers of singing. The founding members have dedicated themselves to learning the best method for training the voice, and to pass this knowledge on to others. The IVA technique is based on 17th and 18th Century principles of singing developed by the Old Italian School of Singing. The goal is to train voices to sing in a free and natural manner, smoothly, from the bottom of the range to the top with no breaks or sudden changes in quality. Training in this technique has been used to help improve a singer’s range, stamina, breath control, vocal strength, access to dynamics, flexibility and vocal quality. This can then be applied across any style of music without fatigue or damage to the voice. Alex Hooper is a 20 year plus qualified Speech and Language Therapist who has spent most of her career specialising in voice and has taken the step of expanding her experience from the speaking voice into the singing voice. She has spent 10 years with Anna Leigh as her teacher and started her Singing Teacher training with Profty. Find out more about the Institute for Vocal Advancement on their website.

The IVA Technique is constantly evolving to include the latest useful methods in teaching and instructing, so we’re expected to take regular lessons with instructors at a higher level than ourselves and study with the IVA Master Teachers to make sure we are up to date with these latest developments. As instructors with IVA, we are committed to studying for two years before we become officially certified, and it takes a further two years of study at each level before progression to the next. It takes a minimum of TEN YEARS commitment to achieve the highest level of the instructor program, so you can be sure that we are well equipped to help you be the best singer you can possibly be.

In your first lesson we will get to know you and find out what you have done in the past with singing (don’t worry if that is nothing as yet we teach many beginners) what you are doing at present and what you would like to get out of singing lessons. It’s important that we know your goals or help you find them and how you feel about your voice. We will teach you information about the voice. We will then assess the voice with scales and give you vocal exercises that are tailored to your voice these are not just warm ups these are to develop the voice longterm to improve Range, stamina, strength and also most important to keep the voice healthy. Your lesson will be recorded so that you can listen back practise and refer back to your recording if you forget anything. Also having a recording is a good tool to listen back to see how you are developing.

A bottle of water and you can bring a USB stick for your recording but we do send recordings usually via Zoom workplace. We can give you more information on this in the lesson.

You can contact Anna Leigh either via the studio phone number by calling, or via emailing direct from the website (we suggest this as we know it won’t go to the junk mail). We can then find out when you would like lessons and discuss availability. We always ask for students to contact first before completing a payment via the website.

For single lessons, payment can be made after booking by using the PayPal buttons for the appropriate teacher on the Book a Lesson page, or via internet banking / by card over the phone. If you wish to pay by Cash, you can do so in person four days before. Please note: Block bookings can only be paid for via internet banking / card or cash. ​ All lessons booked, must be paid for in advance at least 4 days before the lesson date to confirm the booking. If you have any questions regarding payment, please ask when you book. ​ Prices include the cost of your singing lessons being recorded. Please make sure that you read the Terms & Conditions here. before making a booking.

Yes we sure do! Everyone has to start somewhere we get many enquires where people can be nervous to contact us or don’t always know what to say but remember we are here to help you thats what a teacher is there for. The studio is a very safe and comfortable environment.

Yes we do, we usually teach from 5 years of age, lessons are 30 min in length for a child that is younger than 10 years old.

Normally we would suggest a lesson a week, but we are aware that this may not be affordable for everyone. We would, however, suggest at least one lesson per fortnight to progress at a reasonable pace. When it comes to practising, little and often is the key. 15-20 minutes a day is a good guideline Frequency is much better than duration; you’ll make much more progress if you do 15 minutes of focused practise as opposed to 60 minutes of distracted practise! Your lesson recording will help you practise as you’ll be able to dial into the feeling you had during the lesson, and know that you are practising just as you vocalised before.

This is a hard question to answer. To an extent everyone can learn how to sing, and to be a better singer but it all depends on your background, your musical history and abilities. Some people are naturally better than others, but other people have to work at it. We do believe everyone can learn how to sing, and we do try and equip you with the tools to be a better singer. During lessons we will often work on (where appropriate) rhythm, ear training and general musicianship. Even great singers, whom you think were born with the voice they have will need help with their voices. Good singers are like Olympic athletes. They should constantly be training and developing their voice no matter how advanced they may be. This in turn will help them look after their voices and have longevity with their voice.

Many people can expect an immediate improvement in their voice with the IVA Technique. But, the voice is part of the human body and as such we cannot offer any guarantees or time scales on how long it will take. It really does depend on your voice – whether you have any bad habits, are a regular performer, your health; vocal health, the list is endless. It is totally individual to each person.

Our studio is based within the Linskill Centre in North Shields. Please visit our Get in Touch page for opening times, directions and contact information.