Lydia Harrell

Lydia "LovelySinger" Harrell is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music, teaching both on campus and through Berklee Online. She is also a working vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose sound blends Jazz, Folk, Blues, and Soul/R&B, with occasional electronic touches. She draws on artists like Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, and Joni Mitchell while keeping a voice that is fully her own.

Lydia has performed alongside Jon Batiste and the Boston Pops, captivated audiences at the Apollo Theater, and won both the Duke Ellington Jazz Vocal Competition in New York City and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Voice Competition in Washington DC. She sang lead on a Bob Marley tribute album distributed by Sony Music Latin and lent her voice to an Emmy-winning song featured on The Young and the Restless. She also acts, with credits including Hulu's Boston Strangler and Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert with the Boston Pops.

Whatever the setting, Lydia's focus stays the same: getting to the pure essence of a song, and helping her students do the same.

What Lydia Offers

• Audition prep (college, musical theatre, competitions, TV shows, and more)
• Expanding your range
• Breath support and proper breathing technique
• Singing with power
• Stage presence and confidence
• Overcoming stage fright
• Vocal improvisation (riffs, runs, and scatting)

If you don't see a time that works for you, please send a message to co-ordinate a time that works for you.

Teaching Philosophy

"My experience as a voice teacher over the years has shown me more than ever before how personal singing really is. I have taken great care to respect that truth and help my students embrace that reality to help them feel as comfortable as possible with that vulnerability. At the beginning, I help establish and maintain the basic foundations of singing (breathing, stance, diction, vocal health, etc.). Then I make sure that the student is connecting with their true self in order to deliver who they really are through singing, to the best of their ability. It is my goal to help my students set high expectations for themselves. I do my best to help them see further than maybe they saw before. I also help them through the fear that comes with that. When there is fear, a singer does not perform to their full potential.

There are so many aspects of singing that I focus on. Proper breathing is one of them. Another is delivering the meaning of what they are singing to the audience and also make it believable for themselves. Which then leads to confidence. I take great pride in being supportive to my students so that they not only learn how to properly sing and deliver the message but, also to do it confidently.

It is also of great importance to understand the student's learning style and what helps them progress more effectively. Over time, the student grows into who they are as an artist and moves to a point where they no longer need my knowledge and support. Then I begin the whole process all over again. It is truly a pleasure and honor for me."  

- Lydia "LovelySinger" Harrell

Lydia has been a voice coach for over 10 years and has helped many to reach vocal/musical goals, nail auditions and give amazing performances!

Expand your vocal range

Sing with power

Overcome stage fright

Perfect your stage presence

Audition Prep

Vocal improvisation (Voice runs and Scatting)

All Genres 

All ages

Also offering ukulele lessons.

--Testimonials--

Lydia was so accommodating with scheduling our session. She is professional and thorough in her approach. She even provided homework and research on breathing techniques. I will definitely seek her for future vocal lessons!

-Melissa Y.

Lydia is such a great teacher who gets to know your voice as well as your character. She helps choose songs that not only match your voice but challenge you. She has pushed me to perform despite my stage fright and has always been there to cheer me on. Really could not say enough good things about this lovely lady :)

-Isabel P.