I offer private singing lessons and group singing classes open to all styles of music for ages 13 to adult. I focus on helping you have fun as you train your voice, singing the music you want to sing.  I teach students ranging from complete beginner musicians to professional performers.

“Eli has a very friendly, approachable style, is full of good exercises and insights into the body as the vehicle of singing, and helps me to feel a lot more confident… I am definitely growing and becoming much more perceptive as a singer.” Jacks M.

“Eli’s approach is easy-going, direct, and concrete. His training is grounded in traditional techniques but incorporates a variety of other pedagogies. He quickly identifies areas to focus on and has a supportive, encouraging teaching style.” – Jeff G.

Teaching Style
My teaching style bridges my training as a classical singer, my personal experience as a performing singer/songwriter, and more body-centered approaches to singing, such as somatics and the techniques of Kristin Linklater. Students work with me to build breath support, develop vocal colors, strengthen the high and low ends of their range, improve vocal stamina, smooth register transitions, maximize practice time, and deepen their expressive song performance.

Training
I have trained in classical vocal performance at Oberlin Conservatory and jazz vocal performance at Berklee College of Music. I also have experience singing folk, musical theater, country, baroque, a capella, pop and rock music. I am comfortable teaching in a variety of styles, as I feel that the fundamentals of vocal technique are the same across genre.

Gender and the Voice
I am grounded in bay area transgender, queer, and activist communities, and so are many of my students. I am knowledgeable about the particular needs of transgender singers, and I have worked with a number of people learning or re-learning to sing while negotiating the changes that hormone therapy can bring about in one’s voice. In working with me, your gender, body, and boundaries will be respected.

Rates
$50 for one hour
$35 for half an hour

Sliding scale conversations available upon request. Vocal coaching for bands and paired lessons also available.  Please contact me to discuss details.

Cancellation Policy
I respectfully request 24 hours’ notice to change or cancel appointments. Missed appointments will be charged the full fee.

Setting Up a Lesson
Lessons are available Mondays – Thursdays, and take place in south Berkeley, walking distance to Ashby BART.

I offer complimentary phone consultations for first time students. This is often a helpful way to assess whether taking lessons with me would be a good fit for you.

Call 510-559-0301 or write singwitheli@gmail.com to setup your first lesson today. I look forward to hearing from you.