“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.”
- Pablo Casals
The studio offers private lessons for piano and voice. All ages and all levels are welcome to explore their musical goals, stay motivated and achieve success.
A solid foundation of musicianship and technique empowers you to bring your musical aspirations to life with vibrancy, persuasiveness, and completeness. Simone offers a personalized environment allowing students to flourish creatively at their own pace.
Music is the most powerful means of emotional expression. Whether classical or popular music is your focus, exploration of various aspects of keyboard technique is always front-and-center. It is also one of the few skills that awakens our complete humanity. It is artistic, athletic, emotional, and intellectual - all at once.
voice lessons
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"If I cannot fly, let me sing"
- Stephen SondheimSimone puts an emphasis on discovering your voice, through natural breathing, posture, and tone production. These first steps will help you to comfortably sing in your head voice, chest voice, and blended voice.
Lessons Include
Ear training
Pitch recognition
Range
Inflection
Music notation
TheoryThis vocal training will be experienced though a variety of songs specifically chosen for each singer's personality. To keep singing fun and inspiring, students will also work on their favorite songs and learn how to perform and present themselves in front of an audience.
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"The only thing better than singing is more singing"
- Ella FitzgeraldSimone's knowledge and experience will help you expand your voice. Singers are encouraged to prepare for a specific performance, audition, or recording session. Sessions are used to focus on areas such as performing strategies, stage presence, style and appropriate musical choices. Students may also work on acting within the song, phrasing and diction.
Lessons Include
Increasing vocal range
Improving breathing
Singing in different languages
(English French, German, Spanish, Italian)
Vocal endurance
Voice projection and volume control
Blending smoothly between vocal registers
Belting coordination
Specific technical exercises for warm-upsSingers will be taken to the next level, sing with confidence and perform with style. They will work on a variety of styles including classical, musical theatre, sacred, contemporary, choral music and more.
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"Those who wish to sing always find a song"
- Elizabeth AlexanderSimone will aim to help you raise your voice and achieve technical and artistic mastery. Her vision is to see you go from aspiring artists to professional musicians! She will provide ongoing vocal training that focuses on vocal technique to increase your vocal range, build vocal strength, achieve the perfect blending of the voices including belting to finally achieve vocal freedom.
Lessons Include
Technique, technique, technique!!!
Strengthening the voice
Mastering a solid, flawless vocal technique
Efficient vocal warm-ups and cool-downs
Building an audition book
Language skill refinement
(English French, German, Spanish, Italian)
Role refreshers and preparation for upcoming performancesBy encouraging singers to practice with dedication and intelligence, vocal freedom will emerge leaving your mind, emotions and muscles free to be in the moment when performing.
piano lessons
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“Where words fail, music speaks”
- Christian AndersenLearning to play the piano is much more than a hobby – when children learn to focus their energy and attention on achieving musical goals, they acquire a self-mastery that can be applied to all aspects of their life.
Lessons are tailored to the personality and learning styles of each student, and according to their goals and expectations. The studio offers private lessons, which can be 30, 45 or 60 minutes long, depending of the student's age, level or aspirations. The well-rounded curriculum incorporates music reading skills, appropriate technique development, in-depth understanding of music theory, and exposure to various music styles and repertoire. Establishing a home practice routine is vital to the students’ success and rate of progress.
Lessons Include
Good posture and hand position
Reading music notation
Sight reading
Ear training
Repertoire
Rhythm and harmony
Learning effective practice habitsAs music-reading and technical skills develop, students can explore more challenging pieces with confidence and flexible technique. Students are provided short-term goals that lead to long-term improvement. Students are shown effective practice methods and leave feeling invigorated, knowing exactly how to prepare for the next lesson.
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“If the music be the food of love, play on”
- William ShakespeareLearn the difference between the language we speak and the universal language of music, which uses symbols instead of letters. Make your dreams come true - see how easy and effortless the study of music can really be.
If you have the desire to play the piano, and a few minutes a day to devote to practicing, you deserve to treat yourself to weekly sessions. This studio offers private lessons which can be 30, 45 or 60 minutes long, depending of the level or aspirations. Curriculum is based on your musical background, level of experience, interests, goals and abilities.
Lessons Include
Technique (for healthy, pain-free playing)
Music notation
Reading music fluently
Improvising
Learning the theory and structure behind visible notation
Understanding of chords and harmoniesWe’ll work on each element, and as a result, you’ll be an independent musician who can pursue your individual goals. Lessons can also help you to improvise at the piano and create your own music. It will encourage your creative thinking, while developing your analytical skills.
Simone Lyne Comtois is a French-Canadian mezzo-soprano who performed and toured over 20 years in Canada, Europe, and the United States. She burst onto the International Opera scene at a young age and was the recipient of grants from the Canadian Arts Councils which, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in piano performance, allowed Simone to study with Joyce McLean of the Juilliard School.
Renowned for her effervescent personality and elegant appearance, Ms. Comtois has been praised by numerous publications - including The New York Times for her performances at the Lincoln Center, as well as enthusiastic reviews from The Washington Post, Opera News, Opera International for her dynamic acting and rich, impeccable tone. A copy of her recording “Songs of the Americas” is on exhibit at the Heitor Villa-Lobos Museum in Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Lobos is a world-famous Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist.
During her opera career, Simone sang leading roles in Operas such as Carmen, Barber of Seville, The Tales of Hoffman, Romeo & Juliet, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, Faust, L' Enfant et les Sortilèges and many others. She was invited by several orchestras as a guest soloist.
Simone gave Master Classes in Colleges and Universities during her performing career, and a life-changing guest teacher invitation from Juilliard’s evening division ignited a new passion – feeling renewed, she decided to focus her energy on learning how to help singers.
Since moving to California, Simone has coached professional opera singers in need of polishing their roles and served as vocal consultant for professional singers preparing for roles in French and Italian Operas.
After completing her last professional performance, Simone began working as Music Director for local musical theatre companies for children 7 to 18. Productions include You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Pirates of Penzance, Oklahoma, Seussical, Grease, Best Little Theater in Town, and Beauty & the Beast to name a few. In 2008 she opened her own music studio in Sonoma County, California, teaching Classical Musical Theater, Pop, and Jazz.
Several of her students have been accepted into prestigious music schools throughout the Country, obtained substantial scholarships and won awards and competitions. Some are now successfully performing and recording artists and song writers. Her younger students often participate in Musical theater in both Marin and Sonoma County.
Simone is truly motivated by her love for music. She has an exceptional devotion for young musicians and a passion for sharing the knowledge received from the great mentors of her life.