Voice Lessons in Berkeley
Access the pure joy of singing and awaken the healing potential of your voice.
ALL SESSIONS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED VIRTUALLY
Voice lessons are designed to meet you right where you are and support the natural emergence of your voice through a safe, playful and liberating approach to singing. This is not about singing scales! Using a rich variety of vocal play, sounding techniques and somatic practices, we explore the many possibilities of the voice while cultivating a sense of familiarity and ease with the voice as a sacred instrument. Whether singing a devotional song, an ancestral melody or exploring the art of improvisation, I have found singing to be a profound force of liberation for myself and the those I work with.
Sound is a universal language of vibration shared by all life. We humans have an exquisite instrument we can use to we can participate in (and even harmonize with) the songs of creation. For me, reclaiming the voice is about returning to recognize this innate gift and unfolding the beauty and wisdom it carries.
While we each carry the potential of our authentic voice, I’ve noticed it often remains hidden away. Some may have been silenced somewhere along their path. Some may have never felt full permission to explore the sublime and sometimes-silly world of vocal freedom. For many, there is a journey involved in returning to the simple yet infinite wisdom our vibrational bodies.
My goal is to share a powerful set of tools and empower you to access your authentic voice.
If this sounds interesting and you’d like to learn more, I’d love to talk with you.
Voice Alchemy’s approach to vocal empowerment includes:
toning practices
strengthening the relationship between the body & voice
Improving Vocal Technique:
expanding vocal range, optimizing breath support,
building resonance & tone, improving vocal dynamics.
singing chants & melodies
learning to create Harmonies
exploring songs from your ancestral lineage
Song-Catching, Improvisation & composition
accessing the subtle bodY
foundational music theory
repertoire DEVElopment
Voice lessons available online!
Online sessions allow us to cultivate your voice regardless of geographical location, rush hour traffic and global pandemics. Since the the end of March, all of our sessions have been moved online and we are amazed at how powerfully the work is unfolding on the virtual platform!
“Sophie’s singing lessons gave me tools to build an ongoing practice for embodying my voice. I learned to remove energy blocks through sound while also gaining practical musical knowledge I could build on. The practice we built together not only made me a better singer but also nurtured a trust in the creative process giving me the confidence to leap in other areas of my life.”
“When I recently found myself in a situation where I needed to sing publicly every week, and having almost no prior singing experience, a friend introduced me to Sophie at Voice Alchemy in Berkeley. And I’m very grateful, because the experience has been revealing and nourishing in ways I didn’t expect out of voice lessons. I think of Sophie not only as a vocal coach and but as a guide to discovering myself through the experience of singing. Working with Sophie has rekindled creativity I haven’t experienced since childhood.”
“Sophie Cooper offers a fluid and deeply therapeutic approach to voice coaching. I began working with Sophie in an effort to heal and refine my voice after neglecting it for many years. Sophie sees clearly how to draw out my strengths and where I most need encouragement and support. I would recommend Sophie Cooper to anyone: beginners, seeking to explore the healing powers of the voice; or advanced singers looking to add a level of whole-body attunement to their existing vocal practice. ”
“When I started searching for voice lessons in Berkeley, I knew that I was going to need something different. I wanted a voice coach that would help me work with my anxiety and help me to explore my voice not just walk me through a series of scales or traditional signing exercises. Sophie created a safe space for me to explore my voice with lots of support and no judgment. She guided me through signing exercises to open my voice, expand my range, learn songs, and find my natural tone. I feel so much more confident in my voice and excited about signing - just in time to sing to/with my first child.”
Photos on this page by: Jason Rosewell & Darren Miller