Welcome

The Music Shed is a creative initiative specialising in vocal and personal development, and we work in the following areas:

• Teaching vocals with an emphasis on voice science
• Breathing and relaxation
• Performance psychology
• Stress reduction (especially for executives)
• Coaching and Mentoring young adults

The singer is the instrument - it is inside us - and how we are affects the sounds we produce. With this in mind, and specifically with Vocal Development, we currently offer:

• One-on-one tuition
• Vocal pedagogy - breathing, laryngeal structure, vowel shapes
• Coaching - making sense of the music, the context
• Preparation for Auditions, Competitions, Recitals - what to sing and how to prepare
• Consultation Lessons - free of charge assessments
• Personal Development - exploring the potential of the singer, the musician

Workshops

Creative Workshops

We really enjoy creating workshops and work with you on the content to be presented. This is a short list of subjects that we have recently presented:

• Learn what we call “The Recipe” – how our vocal system works
• Breathing
• Posture
• Dynamics of a group
• Better vowel sounds
• Intonation problems
• How to learn a song
• The meaning of the words
• Emotion in song
• Exercises and warm-ups
• Vocal Pedagogy

Who needs these:

• Music Teachers (breathing is not confined to vocals alone)
• Choirs
• High School Vocal Groups
• Contemporary and classical singers
• Conductors / Musical Directors

Coaching

Developing the leader

Michael specialises working with High School and University Students, who are the leaders of the future. He starts with five questions:

• Who am I?
• What am I passionate about?
• How do I want to grow?
• What do I want to experience?
• What do I want to contribute to the planet?

The answers, which are often discovered through story telling, allow the students to develop their understanding of themselves.

• This is my beginning.
• This is my guide.
• This is my journey.
• This is my self.
• This is my legacy.

Exploring the answers takes time, often months. Many students have continued working with Michael as they have progressed on into University and their careers.

Email: Michael

Forbrain®

Forbrain® is the flagship product of Sound for Life and has inherited its science from the Tomatis Method, the most advanced program in Sound Therapy which has evolved over a period of sixty years.

Forbrain® is an award-winning neural device that has shown conclusive results in enhancing language and speech fluency. Built with bone conduction technology and a unique dynamic filter, the device provides the user instantaneous feedback of their own voice which creates an enhanced auditory-feedback loop.

Forbrain® helps people improve speech fluency, pronunciation, sound discrimination, and rhythm, for clearer and more effective communication. We have been using Forbrain for a number of years and have seen improvements in our students.

We are Forbrain® affiliates, and we can arrange a discount on the normal price should you wish to purchase one.

If you would like more information on Forbrain®, please contact us and we will send you an up-to-date brochure which will reflect the current discounted price.

Email: Michael

Be Still

There are times when we need to be still - as still as we can - and focus on our breathing.

Research has shown that deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress and lower blood pressure. Good breathing is beneficial to overall health, with better energy levels, better mental clarity, and mood.

Good breathing techniques also result in better sleeping patterns and assists with relieving anxiety and pain.

Learning how to control your breathing is important. By using simple breathing techniques, combined with good posture, the daily stress of our working lives can be reduced. Once learnt, the techniques can be used at work, at home, wherever stress arises.

If you would like to learn good breathing techinques, please contact us.

Links

Who we are

Glenese Blake MA(AT),F.Dip.SCSM,AIRMT

Email: Glenese

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One of the foremost vocal teachers in New Zealand, Glenese has been awarded a Fellowship Diploma in the Art of Singing Teaching by the St Cecilia School (Australia) of Music. She is an Associate of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand; is a member of NZ Singing Teachers Association, an Examiner for NZMEB and Adjudicator of singing competitions throughout New Zealand. She is a Choral Director of School and Community Choirs. After a recent move to Tauranga, she continues to study the science of voice; the holistic approach to “finding the voice”; the Tomatis Method of ear, brain, voice connection and together with her husband, continues to support choral directors and young adults.

Many of Glenese’s students have gone on to further study overseas, win competitions throughout New Zealand and Australia and have international careers.

Michael Blake JP, NZAPP, GDip Business Studies

Email: Michael

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Michael’s creative work spans over forty years’ experience as an International Tenor and Vocal Coach. He has also produced concerts and musicals, been musical and vocal director of musical theatre productions, and has assisted choirs and choruses to achieve better vocal quality. As more people came to him for help, Michael began to move his focus from performing to coaching; from the concert platform to the studio; from the studio to The Blue Chair.

As a coach, Michael’s work focuses on the individual and around the inner game of personal communication - that “inner voice” that takes place in the mind, reminding us of our nervousness, self-doubt, and fear of failure. This game happens irrespective of what we do.

Michael helps people discover their true passion and potential by giving them strategies to quieten those negative inner voices; to be expressive and to find the creative being within.