Simreen Kalra

Berklee-Trained Vocalist & Songwriter | Personalized Vocal Coaching 

I'm a Berklee College of Music BM graduate with a double major in Professional Music (Songwriting & Vocal Performance) and Independent Recording & Production. I've been training in voice since I was 11, studying under multiple teachers over the years, including several different renowned instructors during my time at Berklee, as well as at contemporary and jazz programs at NYU and Manhattan School of Music, respectively. I have around a decade of performance experience, from gigging to performing in major ensembles at Berklee, including sharing a stage with award-winning artist Jacob Collier. I completed Grade 8 certification in Trinity Rock and Pop Vocals before entering high school, passing with distinction.

My training spans multiple genres and styles, from contemporary pop and R&B to jazz vocal technique, giving me a versatile toolkit to draw from depending on what the student actually wants to sing, rather than teaching one rigid method for everyone. I specialize in riffs and runs, drawing inspiration from artists like YEBBA, Ariana Grande, and Jazmine Sullivan, and I love helping students develop that same level of vocal agility and control in their own voice.

As an independent artist, I write, record, and produce my own music, performing bilingual English/Punjabi R&B. The technique I teach isn't just theory, it's what I use every day in my own recording and performing career, so students learn from someone actively working in the industry, not just someone who once trained in it.

Alongside that, I've taught voice to kids and teens, including during my time at Berklee, helping beginners build the fundamentals: breath support, pitch control, tone, while keeping lessons fun and low-pressure, especially for younger students who are just discovering their voice for the first time.

I believe technique should feel natural, especially for young singers. My approach starts with building a strong foundation: breath support, pitch accuracy, and tone control, vowel change, taught in a way that makes sense to the student rather than through buzzwords and abstract language. From there, we build toward whatever the student is actually excited about! 

For students interested in more advanced technique, I love breaking down the kind of runs and melodic embellishment, teaching not just how to execute them, but how to use them tastefully and musically rather than just showing off.

With kids and teens especially, confidence comes first! A lot of young singers hold back because they're self-conscious, not because they lack ability so I focus on creating a low-pressure space where mistakes are part of learning, not something to be embarrassed about. 

Though, every singer is different, so I adjust  based on the student's goals.