Services
At Once Upon a Voice, we help singers and songwriters of all ages develop their voices and explore their creativity in a safe, inclusive environment. Our free Singer-Songwriter Storybook Series lays the foundation, while our paid services build on it with trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming instruction. To ensure accessibility, we offer scholarships for our lessons and workshops, supporting students aged 0-19 who demonstrate financial need and exceptional potential. We create a supportive and welcoming space where you can discover your voice and grow your craft.
Exercises
Enter a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming realm where your voice and creativity take center stage. Our Singer-Songwriter Storybook Series, available through our free learning plan, provides the perfect starting point for singing and songwriting. This treasure trove includes guidance on how to sing and write a song, along with a warm-up routine, a cool-down regimen, and vocal health tips to support sustainable music-making.
For those on paid learning plans, the journey deepens with access to our ever-expanding exercise library, updated monthly with a structured practice plan designed for measurable growth. Created by our certified vocal coach, these exercises are carefully designed to develop technical skills, artistic expression, and creative confidence. Each month’s plan is available in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, allowing students to start at the level that best suits their experience and progress at their own pace. Whether building foundational skills, strengthening technique, or refining artistry, students can choose the version that meets their needs and adjust as they grow.
This growing resource features downloadable exercises, clear written instructions, and video demonstrations, allowing students to engage in ways that best suit their learning style. Each exercise includes variations to accommodate reading/writing, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, ensuring an inclusive experience for all. Unlike our courses, which provide in-depth explanations of concepts, the exercise library focuses on hands-on practice, giving students the tools they need to refine their skills through repetition and guided exploration.
Students track their monthly progress, gradually building strength, control, and artistic authenticity in their singing and songwriting. Whether practicing industry-proven vocal techniques, exploring exclusive songwriting prompts, or experimenting with creative exercises, this library ensures that students grow at their own pace while staying motivated and inspired.
All students, parents, and guardians are welcome into Marcelland, our virtual support group on Discord, where they can connect, share progress, and celebrate milestones in a safe, welcoming space. Those with access to the exercise library gain entry to The Toil Bridge, a special channel where they can discuss exercises, participate in guided practice activities, and refine their craft alongside a supportive community.
For those looking to immerse themselves even further, our asynchronous courses provide step-by-step guidance in singing and songwriting, helping students understand the “why” behind techniques, while the exercise library focuses on consistent, structured application.
Courses
Our asynchronous courses offer a flexible, immersive way to explore singing and songwriting at your own pace. Each month, students gain access to a new, structured course, carefully designed to break down essential skills in four key areas: vocal technique for singers, melody for songwriters, song interpretation for singers, and lyrics for songwriters. Created by our certified vocal coach specializing in trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming instruction, these courses blend whimsical storytelling with clear, structured guidance, making complex techniques engaging and accessible.
Unlike the exercise library, which provides drills for practice, courses take a deep, educational approach, explaining not just what to do but why it works and how to use it effectively. Exercises build muscle memory and technique, while courses provide the understanding needed to apply those skills creatively and confidently. Each course explores why techniques matter, when to use them, and how they shape a singer or songwriter’s growth, ensuring that students develop a strong artistic foundation with each passing month.
To support different learning styles, courses integrate various instructional approaches, allowing every student to engage in a way that best suits their needs. Written explanations and guided reflection activities provide structure for reading/writing learners, while vocal examples, spoken instruction, and melodic exercises strengthen auditory learning. Video demonstrations and guided imagery support visual learners, while hands-on activities encourage kinesthetic exploration. For students who thrive on creativity, imaginative storytelling and metaphorical language make complex concepts easier to grasp. By blending logical explanations with creative engagement, these courses ensure that students develop their skills in a way that feels natural and effective.
All students, parents, and guardians are welcome into Marcelland, our virtual support group on Discord, where they can connect, share insights, and celebrate milestones together. Those enrolled in our asynchronous courses gain exclusive access to The Harmony Hall, a private course-only channel designed for deeper discussion, progress sharing, and additional guidance.
For an even more immersive learning experience, students ages 6–19 can attend monthly masterclasses, our live, interactive sessions that complement the asynchronous material. Masterclasses provide direct real-time coaching, structured Q&A, and guided feedback on submitted work. Additionally, participants can purchase personalized critiques and receive tailored feedback on their exercises, cover songs, or original compositions between sessions to further their development.
March 2025: The Breath Behind the Voice
13 Plans Available
Masterclass
Step into the vibrant, interactive world of our trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming masterclasses, where singers and songwriters unite to explore their craft in a dynamic group setting. Designed for students ages 6–19, these live sessions provide an immersive learning experience that blends expert instruction with real-time feedback, guided exploration, and community support.
Each month, up to 30 students gather online to review key concepts from the month’s course and engage in structured Q&A sessions featuring guided, pre-submitted, and live questions. Students have the opportunity to submit recordings of their singing or songwriting excerpts, such as a melody or lyrics, for personalized feedback during class. Select students may also be invited to perform live, allowing them to receive real-time coaching in a supportive, growth-focused environment. All sessions are recorded, ensuring students can revisit key takeaways at their convenience.
Masterclasses offer a rare opportunity to receive direct feedback from an expert instructor in a group setting, at a fraction of the cost of private lessons. Every student is guaranteed personalized live feedback at least once per year, with a structured feedback rotation ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all participants. Additionally, masterclass students have the exclusive opportunity to purchase additional feedback on a first-come, first-served basis each week, including prerecorded critiques on exercises, cover songs, or original songs, to support growth between sessions.
All students, parents, and guardians are welcomed into Marcelland, our virtual support group on Discord, a space designed to encourage connection, shared insights, and celebration of milestones. Masterclass students, along with workshop and private lesson students, receive exclusive access to a private Discord channel based on their age group, where weekly activities help them apply what they learned. These channels offer a structured space for continued skill-building, with challenges, discussion prompts, and creative exercises that reinforce key techniques and encourage collaboration. This interactive environment ensures that students stay engaged and motivated between sessions.
Our masterclasses are more than a learning experience; they foster a strong community of dedicated singers and songwriters. For those seeking an even more personalized learning experience, our small-group workshops provide hands-on instruction, alternating weekly between singing and songwriting. Workshops also introduce foundational piano or guitar instruction for self-accompaniment in songwriting weeks and basic music production techniques, helping students explore recording and arranging as they develop their songs.
Workshops
Embark on an enchanting journey through our small-group workshops, where singers and songwriters aged 6–19 gather to bring their musical stories to life in a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming space. Limited to just six students per session, these high-touch, interactive classes alternate weekly between singing and songwriting, blending expert instruction with personalized coaching to support each student’s artistic growth.
During singing weeks, students refine their vocal technique and song interpretation, learning how to express emotions with confidence and artistry. Songwriting weeks guide students through melody composition, lyric writing, and foundational piano or guitar for self-accompaniment. Students also explore introductory music production techniques, arranging their songs and creating simple demos using digital tools.
Workshops provide a level of personal attention that goes beyond traditional group lessons. Students receive weekly assignments with instructor feedback, individualized guidance through private audio channels during sessions, and monthly progress reports to track their artistic development. Session recordings ensure that students and their families can revisit past workshops anytime, reinforcing learning and long-term growth.
Beyond technical skill, workshops foster a close-knit, creative community where students develop their artistic identity, connect with like-minded peers, and build confidence in a supportive environment. Students aged eight and older showcase their progress through asynchronous mid-year and year-end performances, highlighting their evolving artistry in a way that celebrates their unique journey.
All workshop students, along with their parents or guardians, gain access to Marcelland, our virtual support group, a welcoming space to share insights, ask questions, and celebrate milestones. They also join an exclusive Discord channel based on their age group, shared with masterclass and private lesson students, where weekly activities encourage continued learning and collaboration.
For those seeking the most individualized growth, private lessons offer one-on-one coaching in singing and songwriting, ensuring each student’s learning journey aligns with their unique aspirations. For eligible students, partial scholarships are available to help make these transformative experiences accessible to families with financial need.
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Lessons
Enter a world of musical discovery with live, online weekly lessons designed to inspire creativity and build confidence in a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming environment.
Our group lessons, limited to just six participants per session, provide an engaging, interactive experience for children from birth to age five. Like our workshops for older students, these small-group sessions offer a highly personalized approach, ensuring that children ages 1–5 receive one-on-one instruction through private audio channels. Babies under 12 months participate in a gentle, exploratory group experience, engaging in playful vocalization, imaginative movement, and musical interaction that nurtures early auditory and sensory development. Fundamental American Sign Language (ASL) is incorporated into baby and toddler classes, supporting early communication and language development. As children grow, their lessons evolve to include phonics integration in preschool and kindergarten classes, laying the foundation for strong literacy and musical skills.
Caregivers actively participate, strengthening bonds and ensuring that musical learning extends beyond class time. Each week, families receive assignments with instructor feedback and session recordings to reinforce musical exploration at home. Monthly progress reports provide insight into each child’s development, ensuring that families can celebrate growth and track milestones along their musical journey.
For students aged 6–19, our private lessons provide the most personalized, one-on-one instruction available. Students may choose between singing lessons, which focus on vocal technique and song interpretation, or songwriting lessons, where they compose melodies, craft lyrics, and learn foundational piano or guitar for self-accompaniment. Songwriting lessons offer an excellent starting point for students who do not yet feel comfortable singing, allowing them to build confidence through musical creation before stepping into vocal performance. Students may alternate between singing and songwriting lessons, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.
Private students exploring songwriting also receive introductory training in music production, where they learn to shape their compositions into simple demos using digital tools. Each student receives weekly assignments, instructor feedback, session recordings, and monthly progress reports to track their progress. Unlike other learning plans, private students have direct chat access to their instructor outside of instructional time, whether enrolled through standard tuition or our full scholarship.
For students aged eight and older, private lessons include the opportunity to perform in live-streamed showcases, providing a platform to share their growth and artistry.
All students, parents, and guardians are welcomed into Marcelland, our virtual support group on Discord, a space designed to encourage connection, shared insights, and celebration of milestones. Group lesson students and their caregivers gain access to a private Discord channel, offering additional activities to reinforce musical exploration. Private lesson students join an exclusive Discord channel based on their age group, where they connect with masterclass and workshop students in a dedicated community of highly engaged musicians.
To ensure access to these transformative experiences, partial scholarships are available for group lessons, while full scholarships are awarded to private lesson students.
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