Categories > Education
The Top 6 Voice Lessons in Portland
How We Picked
Professionalism
We think that a vocal coach should have patience and the right attitude to be able to conduct lessons that will make you improve the most. In addition to that, we also added those who are punctual so that your precious time can be maximized to its full capacity.
Teaching Style
One of the best teaching styles will always be the one that’s encouraging and inspirational because it helps you move forward and go over challenges headstrong.
Progress
We also took note of the progress the students reached in a specific amount of time. This ensures improvement especially if you also do the work.
Challenges
We considered voice lessons that provide the right amount of challenges. This means it’s just enough to facilitate growth without being too discouraging.
1. VOXnorthwest Voice Studio
WEBSITE: https://www.voxnorthwest.com
ADDRESS: 232 SE Oak St #101, Portland, OR
CONTACT DETAILS: +1 617-308-9435
OPERATING HOURS:
- Sunday – Friday 10 AM – 8 PM
- Saturday Closed
Google reviews | 5/5 |
5/5 | |
Total reviews | 4/5 |
Score consistency | 5 |
Professionalism | 4.83/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 4.5/5 |
Teaching Style | 4.75/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 4.5/5 |
Progress | 5/5 |
Challenging | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- The teaching environment is fun
- Offers other services
- LGBT+ friendly
Cons
- Business hours aren’t as long as the competitors
One of the reasons why we added VOXnorthwest Voice Studio to our list of top voice lessons in Portland is their teaching environment.
When we reached out to their clients and asked them to share their experiences here, most of their comments had one common denominator. Most of them mentioned that it was fun.
Moreover, the parents who enrolled their children here found that the kids were excited to attend the lessons at this voice studio. It seems that experience is the same for younger and more mature clients.
We believe it’s fun because of how encouraging the voice coaches are. They push you because they know what you’re capable of, so they encourage you because they know what’s attainable for you.
When talking with some of their clients, we also found out that this is LGBT+ friendly.
We think this is especially important to note because there might be people who are transitioning or thinking of doing so but are worried about finding the right vocal coach that will help with the changes.
Fortunately, the voice coaches here can help with that according to some clients who identify as trans who were transitioning during their time here.
There are also different services you can choose from at VOXnorthwest Voice Studio.
They have vocal coaching, a young artist program, and vocal techniques masterclass. We think this is an ample amount of options that would help you find what works best for you.
One thing that we think puts them at a disadvantage when compared with other competitors is their business hours, though. They’re closed on Saturdays, which we think a lot of clients are more available on compared to weekdays.
2. Resound NW: A Place To Sing
WEBSITE: https://www.resoundnw.com
ADDRESS: 1532 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR
CONTACT DETAILS: +1 503-489-7464
OPERATING HOURS: Sunday – Saturday 9 AM – 9 PM
Google reviews | 5/5 |
Yelp | 5/5 |
Total reviews | 3/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 4.67/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 4/5 |
Teaching Style | 5/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 5/5 |
Progress | 5/5 |
Challenging | 4/5 |
Pros
- Provides options for solo or group lessons
- Offers a lot of different classes
- Many students felt supported in exploring their skills
Cons
- A little bit pricier
We love that Resound NW offers a variety of classes to be able to accommodate different students’ needs. They both have solo and group lessons as well.
Under solo lessons, there are vocal skills/technique classes, song coaching, audition preparation, singing in harmony, and microphone skills.
Whereas group lessons help you make an engaging performance, develop skills you need for group performances, and practice how to perform in front of an audience.
When we had the chance to listen to what the students here thought about their experience here, we asked them what they loved about it, why they would recommend it, and which aspect they think needs improvement.
A lot of them mentioned that they were less afraid of making mistakes in classes because it felt like a safe environment to make as many mistakes as they wanted.
We learned that this is because it’s a great learning environment where you won’t feel judged. The vocal coaches help their students become more commanding on the stage so that students will feel more confident with every lesson.
We think that one of the sure ways to learn a skill is not necessarily to aim for perfection all the time but to know that mistakes are a learning opportunity.
We love how this is the kind of environment you would get from the voice lessons here. If this resonates with you, we think this voice studio is for you.
Before you completely decide, we’d like to add that their services are a bit pricier than most. While we think it’s worth it for the services and support you’d be receiving, it might not work depending on your budget.
3. School of Rock
WEBSITE: https://www.schoolofrock.com
ADDRESS: 1440 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR
CONTACT DETAILS: +1 503-231-2945
OPERATING HOURS:
- Monday – Thursday 2 PM – 9 PM
- Friday 2 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday 12 PM – 5 PM
- Sunday 12 – 8 PM
Google reviews | 4.9/5 |
Yelp | 4.5/5 |
Total reviews | 5/5 |
Score consistency | 4.5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 5/5 |
Teaching Style | 5/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 5/5 |
Progress | 5/5 |
Challenging | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Keeps classes fun
- Offers a variety of programs
- Perfect for kids
- Has a free trial option
Cons
- On the pricier side
When we had the opportunity to talk to School of Rock’s clients, we were surprised to discover that most of them were parents whose children they enrolled here.
We think one of the reasons for this is that a lot of their services cater to younger people, around 6 – 13 years old. Furthermore, we also learned that the voice coaches here keep the classes fun.
This might be because of how the coaches manage to keep the approach different for every lesson, making them even more dynamic. This could be the reason the kids seem to be more engaged.
We think it’s also important to note that a lot of the parents mentioned that their children are very enthusiastic to attend their classes here. This further supports the idea that the classes were enjoyable.
Now, it’s clear that we think this vocal studio is a good one for kids. What if you’re an adult?
Well then, you’d be happy to know that they also have several programs for you. This includes their songwriting classes, remote music classes, and adult programs where you don’t need to have any music-related experiences.
Additionally, they also have other services where you will be exposed to playing live gigs and to music tours if you’re one of their top students.
So, what’s the catch?
School of Rock is pricier than some of its competitors, which is a possible deal breaker for some. However, if you can splurge for something that sounds as worthwhile as this, we don’t see why not!
4. 4/4 School of Music
WEBSITE: https://www.44school.com
ADDRESS: 3296 NW 185th Ave, Portland, OR
CONTACT DETAILS: +1 503-303-8939
OPERATING HOURS:
- Monday – Friday 9 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM
Google reviews | 4.8/5 |
Yelp | 4.5/5 |
Total reviews | 4/5 |
Score consistency | 4.5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 5/5 |
Teaching Style | 5/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 5/5 |
Progress | 4/5 |
Challenging | 4/5 |
Pros
- Great at facilitating lessons where students become absorbed
- Responsive staff
- Reasonable pricing
- Flexible lesson plans
Cons
- Their facilities might not have everything you need
One of the first few things we discovered after we interviewed the students at 4/4 School of Music is that a lot of people had pleasant experiences with the staff.
No one mentioned this for other music schools, so we think that it’s remarkable that a lot of people mentioned that about this place. The students found it quite convenient that the staff was responsive and great at communicating about payments and scheduling.
A lot of the students we’ve interviewed also found it easy to set up schedules with the care of the staff.
We also added 4/4 School of Music to the list of top voice lessons in Portland because a lot of their students are absorbed in their lessons. Most of the people we heard this from were parents whose children were enrolled here.
We think that it’s safe to conclude that the lessons at this voice studio are engaging enough to keep children interested in this craft. This could also apply to adults because a lot of them also told us that they felt like the lessons were engaging.
Some also added that they found the lesson plans to be quite flexible. For example, they want to learn something for that day that’s not in the lesson plan. The voice coach would prioritize that.
This could also be the reason why students feel like the lessons are interesting. It’s because the coaches are willing to adjust to their interests.
While keeping a strict lesson plan is important, we think learning what you’re most interested in can keep you engaged and inspired for far longer.
There are a lot of advantages to taking your voice lessons at 4/4 School of Music. However, we also discovered some disadvantages that could hinder one’s learning.
There was a little feedback from students saying the facilities here are not up to par to some that would help you pursue a professional career. This is because it’s lacking in things one might need.
Overall, we still think they’re worthy of recommendation because their staff and coaches make up for what they lack in their facilities.
5. True Voice PDX
WEBSITE: https://www.truevoicepdx.com
ADDRESS: 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR
CONTACT DETAILS: +1 503-308-1490
OPERATING HOURS: Sunday – Saturday 12 PM – 7 PM
Google reviews | 5/5 |
Yelp | 5/5 |
Total reviews | 2.5/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 5/5 |
Teaching Style | 5/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 5/5 |
Progress | 5/5 |
Challenging | 4/5 |
Pros
- Lessons felt more personalized
- The coach points out your singing mistakes
- Has been teaching since 2007
Cons
- Their website needs improvement
- Only online lessons
If you’re looking for a vocal coach with promising credentials, Eleni, the person behind True Voice, might be one of your best bets.
At the University of Thessaloniki, she has studied music research and pedagogy. While teaching, she took part in various singing masterclasses in Greece, where she was born and raised.
For several years, she has also been a professional choir member and soloist.
This quickly captured our interest, so we decided to reach out to her students to see what they had to say about her teaching style.
With their help, we learned a lot of things that put her on the map and made some observations that we think she should improve on.
One of the strongest points that make True Voice stand out is the coach’s ability to point out what you’ve been doing wrong all this time. This could be your posture or the way you strain your voice when you reach for high notes.
We found that not a lot of voice coaches notice the little details such as this one, so we think this could help with further improving one’s skills.
This sounds perfect for anyone who’s looking for serious training with the hopes of being a professional singer. While her style might seem daunting for some, don’t fret: most students said that the classes were fun.
One of the reasons is that they felt that Eleni personalized her lessons for them. This is because Eleni focuses on improving one’s weaknesses.
Having taught a lot of students since 2007, she was able to develop this teaching style over the years. If you decide to choose her as a voice coach, we think you’d be experiencing a proven and tested process of teaching.
However, we’d also like to point out that there’s one thing that needs improvement. One is her website: we think it’s too cluttered and the design could be improved for an easier reading experience.
We’d also like to add that she only offers online lessons right now. If you prefer one-on-one, we think this might not be for you.
6. Lydian Music Studios
WEBSITE: https://www.lydianmusicstudios.com/
ADDRESS: 3574 SE Division St. Portland, OR 97202
CONTACT DETAILS: [email protected] | Tel: (503) 384-2123
OPERATING HOURS: Contact for more information
Google reviews | N/A |
Yelp | N/A |
Total reviews | N/A |
Score consistency | N/A |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Patience | 5/5 |
Attitude | 5/5 |
Punctuality | 5/5 |
Teaching Style | 5/5 |
Encouraging | 5/5 |
Inspirational | 5/5 |
Progress | 4/5 |
Challenging | 4/5 |
Pros
- Offers high quality music instruction
- Variety of music lessons offered
- Versatile spaces to learn and rehearse
Cons
- Operating hours unavailable
Lydian Music Studios opened in 2021 and is a versatile music making space.
They offer high quality music instruction to anyone who wants to learn.
What we like about them is how they throw out the traditional classroom vibe. Instead, they have a one-of-a-kind space for learning and making music.
Their lessons include voice, piano and guitar. We think it’s really the perfect space to learn, rehearse, and perform.
They have three versatile spaces for any student to practice and simply offer them first-rate music instruction.
We like that they accept anyone from 10 years old and above of all experience levels to join their community.
We’re in awe of their commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for students, instructors, performers, as well as attendees alike.
Their space is truly one where everyone and anyone can feel safe.
Overall, they have amazing instructors and have a great community. We highly recommend!