Shiri Zorn

With over 30 years of professional performance experience, I help singers develop healthy technique, artistic freedom, and the confidence to make every song their own. My teaching is especially valuable for singers who want to improvise, transition into jazz, or discover a more authentic and effortless voice.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Classical Vocal Performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and am currently completing a Master's degree in Voice Pedagogy (expected May 2027) through the Voice Study Centre in England. My own journey from classical training to jazz performance shaped the way I teach today. I understand firsthand the challenges of moving beyond reading notes and reproducing sounds to becoming a creative, expressive musician.

As a performing jazz vocalist, composer, and recording artist, my work has been featured by DownBeat Magazine, and I was recently nominated for a Thomas Edison "Eddies" Award as the Capital Region's Best Jazz Artist. I bring both professional performance experience and evidence-based vocal pedagogy to every lesson.

Whether you're an aspiring professional, a music student, or someone returning to singing after time away, I will help you build technical freedom while developing your own unique artistic voice—not a copy of someone else's.

My teaching integrates vocal technique, jazz improvisation, rhythm training, and somatic awareness from the very beginning. Rather than treating technique and musicianship as separate skills, I help students develop them together so they can sing with greater ease, confidence, and authenticity.

I believe every student is already musical. My role is to help you trust what your ears and body already know while giving you practical tools to strengthen your technique and artistic expression. Lessons emphasize rhythm, form, breath, resonance, healthy vocal production, and improvisation through experiential, body-based learning rather than memorization alone.

Many of my students come from classical, musical theatre, choir, or singer-songwriter backgrounds and want to feel more comfortable with jazz, improvisation, or contemporary styles. Others seek relief from vocal tension or want to become more expressive performers. Because I made the classical-to-jazz transition myself, I understand the specific challenges singers face and provide clear, supportive guidance through that process.

My teaching is informed by current voice pedagogy as well as somatic approaches, including Feldenkrais-inspired movement, mindfulness, neuroscience, and compassion-based learning. I create a respectful, judgment-free environment where students can experiment, take creative risks, and build lasting confidence.

Rather than relying on a single method book, I select repertoire, exercises, and practice materials based on each student's goals, level, and musical interests.