Gemma Denman - Professional Vocal Coach
07929 760092 Phoning Hours 9.30am - 9pm
For enquiries, bookings or cancellations. It is likely Gemma may be teaching when you call, so if there is no answer please leave an answer phone message and Gemma will get back to you as soon as possible - you can also email Gemma directly at gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
Teaching times
Monday-Friday 10am-9pm
Prices
1 hour - 26 pounds
1 hour 30mins - 37 pounds
2 hours - 50 pounds
Book a lesson now by emailing gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
Singing Lesson Slots Available
Monday Morning weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 11-12pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 10.30-12pm
Monday Afternoon weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 1-2pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 2-3pm, 2.30-3.30pm, 3-4pm, 3.30-4.30pm, 4-5pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 1-2.30pm, 1.30-3pm, 2-3.30pm
2 hour lesson (£50) 1-3pm, 1.30-3.30pm, 2-4pm, 2.30-4.30pm
Tuesday Afternoon Weekly or Fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 1-2pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 2-3pm, 2.30-3.30pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 1-2.30pm, 1.30-3pm, 2-3.30pm
Wednesday Morning Weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 11-12pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 10.30-12pm
Wednesday Afternoon Weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 1-2pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 2-3pm, 2.30-3.30pm, 3-4pm, 3.30-4.30pm, 4-5pm, 4.30-5.30pm, 5-6pm, 5.30-6.30pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 1-2.30pm, 1.30-3pm, 2-3.30pm, 3-4.30pm, 3.30-5pm, 4-5.30pm, 4.30-6pm, 5-6.30pm
2 hour lesson (£50) 1-3pm, 1.30-3.30pm, 2-4pm, 2.30-4.30pm, 3-5pm, 3.30-5.30pm, 4-6pm
Thursday Morning Fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 10.30-11.30am or 11-12pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 10.30-12pm
Thursday Afternoon Fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 1-2pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 2-3pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 1-2.30pm, 1.30-3pm
2 hour lesson (£50) 1-3pm
Friday Morning Weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 10.30-11.30am or 11-12pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 10.30-12pm
Friday Afternoon Weekly or fortnightly
1 hour lesson (£26) 3-4pm, 3.30-4.30pm or 4-5pm
1 hour 30mins lesson (£37) 3-4.30pm or 3.30-5pm
*****
August Kids Summer Holiday Offer!
5 one hour lessons for £110 (save £20)
Please note that to take advantage of the above offer the following rules apply:
* Under 18's only
* Lessons must be booked and paid for in advance
* The offer only applies in the month of August and lessons must be taken in the month of August 2008
To book please email gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk with your preferred dates (see below for available dates)
*****
Due to popular demand Gemma also offers
"Book As You Go Lessons!"
How It Works...
If you are flexible, and don't mind having different days and times for lessons each week then "book as you go" lessons will suit you best, as there is normally some availability when cancellations arise, please note that regular lessons cannot be guaranteed if you book as you go.
Below are a selection of up to date available lessons ready for you to book on the 'Book As You Go' service. All lessons can be booked as 1 hour, 1 hour 30 mins and 2 hours where time allows. To book a lesson please email your preferred date/s and time/s to gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
Evening lessons marked in red
Monday 7th July 11-12pm
Wednesday 9th July 11-12pm or times between 1-4pm
Thursday 10th July times between 1-3pm
Friday 11th July 3-4.30pm
Monday 14th July 11-12pm or times between 1-5pm
Tuesday 15th July times between 1-3pm
Wednesday 16th July 11-12pm or times between 1-5pm
Thursday 17th July 11-12pm or times between 3-6.30pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Friday 18th July 11-12pm or 3-4.30pm
Monday 21st July 3-4.30pm
Tuesday 22nd July times between 1-3pm
Wednesday 23rd July 11-12pm or 4-5pm
Thursday 24th July times between 1-2.30pm
Friday 25th July 11-12pm or 3-4pm
Monday 28th July 11-12pm or 4-5pm
Tuesday 29th July 11-12pm or times between 1-3pm
Wednesday 30th July 10.30-11.30am or 4-5pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Thursday 31st July 11-12pm or 3.30-4.30pm
Friday 1st August 11-12pm or times between 1-6.30pm
Monday 4th August 11-12pm or times between 1-4.30pm
Tuesday 5th August 11-12pm or times between 1-3pm
Thursday 7th August 11-12pm or times between 1-3pm
Friday 8th August 11-12pm or times between 3-5pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Monday 11th August 11-12pm or times between 1-6.30pm
Tuesday 12th August 11-12pm or times between 1-3pm
Wednesday 13th August 11-12pm or times between 1-4pm
Thursday 14th August 11-12pm or 4-5pm
Friday 15th August 11-12pm or times between 1-4.30pm
Monday 18th August 11-12pm or times between 1-4.30pm
Tuesday 19th August 11-12pm or times between 1-3pm
Thursday 21st August 11-12pm or times between 1-2.30pm
Friday 22nd August 11-12pm or times between 3-5pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 26th August 11-12pm
Wednesday 27th August 11-12pm or times between 1-4pm
Thursday 28th August 3.30-4.30pm
Monday 8th September 11-12pm or times between 3-4.30pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 9th September times between 1-5pm
Wednesday 10th September 11-12pm or times between 1-4pm
Thursday 11th September 11-12pm or 3.30-4.30pm
Friday 12th September 11-12pm or 3-4.30pm
Monday 15th September 11-12pm or times between 1-5pm
Tuesday 16th September times between 1-5pm
Wednesday 17th September 11-12pm or times between 1-6.30pm
Thursday 18th September times between 1-4.30pm
Friday 19th September 11-12pm or 3-4.30pm
Monday 22nd September 11-12pm or 3-4.30pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Tuesday 23rd September times between 1-5pm
Wednesday 24th September 11-12pm or times between 1-4pm or 7.30-8.30pm
Thursday 25th September 11-12pm
Friday 26th September 11-12pm or 3-4.30pm
Monday 29th September 11-12pm or 4-5pm
Tuesday 30th September times between 1-5pm
*****
Due to people booking and not turning up for lessons, Gemma is now taking payment in advance for the first lesson. After booking you will be advised on where to send payment. Terms and conditions apply, please see the bottom of this page.
To book a lesson you will also be required to email a full address including postcode and contact phone numbers.
All ages and skill levels welcome! (beginners - professionals!) - all styles of singing taught.
Please note that Gemma does not accompany on piano, and works with CD's and backing tracks. Gemma does not teach singing grades.
Gemma lets her students choose their own songs from a vast selection of backing tracks - learn the songs YOU want to sing. Gemma teaches mainly contemporary songs, but can teach a wide range of styles - rock/pop music, r 'n' b, jazz, rap, country, show songs... Gemma is not a classical teacher, so is unfortunately unable to teach opera.
No one is too old to sing, so if it's always been a life long dream, but you have never tried it before, Gemma can offer understanding lessons to help you achieve your goal.
Gemma will teach you breathing and breath control techniques, relaxation, confidence building, vocal warm ups, scales, vocal techniques, projection, dynamics, articulation, pitch, finding your range and building your range, singing with emotion, mic technique, recording your voice and listening back, performance skills, improvisation, how to smooth out the passaggio, all about the singing registers, placement, how to achieve good tone, the vocal anatomy and much more! You will also learn how to sing full length songs of your choice.
Gemma can assist professionals before a gig, or people wanting extra help before an audition.
Gemma welcomes record companies to put their artists forward for vocal lessons to help strengthen their voices for the purpose of recording an album, or going on tour.
Auditioning for X Factor? or another TV Singing Programme? - Gemma can help you with a crash course in vocals leading up to your big audition and help you on your way to giving a polished audition piece.
Taking GCSE Music and need help with singing for part of your coursework or exams? - Gemma can assist you in developing your voice so that you achieve the best grade you possibly can.
Do you just wish you could have the confidence to get up and sing some karaoke with your friends without turning into a nervous wreck? Gemma can help build your confidence, and allow you to sing to your full potential!
An annual 'Student Showcase' is held each year which enables students to show off their developing skills to friends and family at a private theatre show.
Gemma teaches at her home in Ash, Near Aldershot.
Can't drive? Gemma's house is just a 5 minute walk from Ash Train Station.
Phone: 07929 760092
Email: gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
General Lesson Structure
Physical warm up
Breathing and breath control exercises
Scales, exercises, vocal warm ups and range building
Working on a chosen song
Gemma also offers 1 hour lessons which contain just breathing and vocal exercises (no learning songs) - this type of lesson is ideal for the professional singer who needs that extra bit of help with their voice.
Gemma's lessons come in blocks of learning, looking at different areas of singing and using different exercises to warm up and improve the voice. You will learn the following...
Lessons 1-10
Breathing and breath control
Vocal techniques
Scales
Your range and ways of increasing it
The passaggio
Voice registers
Intervals
Licks
Articulation
Dynamics
Sirens
Emotion
Chromatic Scale
Abdominal push
Recording progress and analysing
Lessons 11-20
Vocal Techniques
Scales
Middle voice
Improvisation
Flip-flopping
Rhythm
Vibrato
Projection
Recording progress and analysing
Lessons 21-30
Breathing and breath control (continued)
Vocal techniques
Advanced scales and modes
Intervals (continued)
Challenging patterns
Licks
Articulation
Identifying head voice and falsetto
Recording progress and analysing
Lessons 31-40
Breathing and breath control (continued)
Vocal techniques
Following difficult scales
Musical theory
Different vocal sounds
Working on the low voice
Staccato singing
Recording progress and analysing
Lessons 41-60
Breathing and breath control (continued)
Vocal techniques
Following difficult scales
Call response exercises
Different vocal sounds
Working on the low voice
Increasing chest voice range
Adding power to head voice and falsetto
Advanced chromatic scale
Advanced abdominal push
Recording progress and analysing
Perfecting performances
Filming and video play back to analyse performance
Lessons 61-75+
Breath Control - advanced (Messa Di Voce)
Blending
Harmonies
Difficult patterns and structures
Advanced diction and timing
Private Group Vocal Coaching
Gemma also welcomes group bookings, for choirs or vocal groups. Please email gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk to enquire and Gemma will respond with a price based on the duration, and how many in the group. Gemma is able to sort out venue hire if need be, at an extra cost.
Please Note:
Gemma does not teach grades. She adapts her lessons to her students pace of learning, their ability and what they want to specifically learn.
On your first lesson you will receive a 'Singer's Guide' folder which will be added to each week with extra hand outs, tips and singing information.
Gemma teaches at her home in Ash, near Aldershot, Surrey, GU12
Gemma cannot accommodate for wheelchair users in her house, as Gemma's teaching room is based upstairs, sorry.
Please bring your car into the driveway when you arrive for your lesson to keep it safe from traffic on the road. However please don't park in front of the garage. Thank you.
Please take your shoes off before entering the house, as this stops mud from being accidentally brought into the house. Please feel free to bring a pair of slippers to wear. Thank you for your co-operation on this matter.
Please do not attend your lesson with a cold, throat infection or if you have had a sickness bug within the last 48 hours.
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Vocal Training Day!
The Vocal Training Day is ideal for people who don't want to have lessons every couple of weeks. The day takes place over 4 hours, it will be intense. In the 4 hours the following will be covered...
*Registers
* Breathing
* Vocal warm up exercises
*Finding your range
*Sirens
* Articulation
* Checking pitch
* Emotion/expression
* How to learn a song technically
*Recording a song
*Call response
*Improvisation/scat
*Licks
*Dynamics
You will also go home with...
* A Singer's Guide Folder
* A CD of your vocal performance
You can have all of this for just 105 pounds!
The £105 must be paid for in advance. No refunds will be given for 'no shows'. However The Vocal Day can be re-arranged if 48 hours notice is given. Any Vocal Day's cancelled due to illness or emergency will be re-arranged for another day.
Please email Gemma for more information or to book a vocal day...
Email Gemma gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
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Record a CD Experience Day - £80
A 3 hour session, starting with a vocal warm up, breathing techniques and much more. Followed by learning and perfecting a song to the best of your ability which will be recorded onto CD for you to take home the same day. The Roland CD2 is used to create the recording.
To book a 'Record A CD Experience' Day please email gemmadenman@yahoo.co.uk
or phone 07929 760092
The £80 must be paid for in advance. No refunds will be given for 'no shows'. However The Recording Day can be re-arranged if 48 hours notice is given. Any Recording Day's cancelled due to illness or emergency will be re-arranged for another day.
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Gift Certificates
Do you have a friend or relative who would like to receive singing lessons as a birthday or Christmas present? Well buying them a gift certificate is the answer!
Simply contact Gemma and say who the gift certificate is for, how many lessons you would like to buy, and the duration - 1 hour (£26 a lesson), 1 hour and a half (£37 a lesson) or 2 hours (£50 a lesson). You will also be required to give your contact details and contact details of the receiver of the gift certificate - so if need be they can be contacted a few months before the expiry date ends to be reminded to book their lesson/s if they haven't already done so.
You can purchase the certificate directly by booking a time to collect it, or you can post Gemma a cheque (after contacting to confirm) and then Gemma will post your gift certificate to you, or if you prefer the certificate can be posted directly to the person you have bought it for. Postage for the gift certificate costs an extra £2 to cover creation and postage and packing costs.
The gift certificate and information can be emailed to you for FREE, you will just be required to print out the information, and present it in any way you wish to your loved one.
Please note:
The lesson/s must be taken by the receiver of the certificate by the end of the tax year (5th April). Please note that if the receiver tries to book after this date the lessons will no longer be valid and full payment will be required if they still wish to take the lessons.
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FAQ
Question: I think I am tone deaf, I really want to learn to sing though. Am I a lost cause or can anyone learn to sing?
Yes, I believe anyone can learn. Really there is no such thing as 'tone deaf' - unless you actually have hearing problems. In the past I have met many people who have believed themselves to be tone deaf, but so far no one has been un-teachable (and people I've met with tuning issues have learnt to pitch perfectly nearly every time!) 99% of people can sing in tune with a bit of help, support and training. If you are determined to learn, and put effort into learning then you're already half way there.
Question: How many lessons will I need?
This is a question I can never put a definite answer to. It all depends on how fast you pick things up, the skill level you are already at, if you are determined, and if you put work in outside lesson time etc. If you want lessons to reach a specific goal, (e.g. to prepare you for an audition) then the amount of lessons would depend on your situation. If you wanted general singing lessons to improve then they could go on having lessons for as long as you wanted. Even professional singers like to take vocal coaching, as even the professionals need help to improve. Any pro would be foolish to say they were already good enough and didn't need any more training!
If you wanted general lessons I would advise having a one and a half hour lesson once a week (£37). How many weeks you wish to carry on for is completely up to you, as the more lessons you have, the better your singing will get.
The Contract:
You will be asked to sign to the following when you begin lessons
1. FEES
From 6th April 2008 lesson fees are:
1 hour £26
1 hour 30 minutes £37
2 hours £50
Lesson fees are subject to annual review.
2. MISSED LESSONS
Any lesson missed by the Student shall be paid for unless otherwise agreed with the Teacher. If the Teacher is unavailable to give any scheduled lesson the lesson will be carried forward to another date. If this is not possible, any fee already paid will be refunded or used to pay for a future lesson.
You MUST inform the teacher at least 48 hours before if you cannot attend a booked lesson, so that the teacher can offer your slot to another student. If you give less than 48 hours notice payment for the lesson WILL be required. If any debts are not paid, the teacher reserves the right to pass details on to the Musician’s Union for perusal. However if an emergency, or illness occurs on the day of the booked lesson you may cancel on or before the day, and will not be asked to pay for the lesson. The teacher will advise you depending on your situation if payment will be required. Please remember to bring the correct payment in cash for your lesson, or make sure you carry a cheque book on you. Gemma can sometimes provide you with change if need be, if not any extra monies will be carried over towards the next lesson.
If YOU are late for a lesson, the lesson will finish on the original agreed time. The teacher will NOT add extra time on to the end of the lesson to make up for it. If you are slightly early then the lesson may start early, if the teacher is ready, but the lesson will finish when the duration of time ends.
Please do not arrive any earlier than 5 minutes for your lesson.
3. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
A decision to discontinue lessons may be taken by the Student/Parent/Guardian or the Teacher in which case six (6) weeks written notice shall be given by the party seeking to discontinue. In the event that the Student discontinues lessons with insufficient notice, the Student/Parent/Guardian will be liable to pay fees for those lessons not taken during the notice period. Any lessons booked after the six week period will not have to be paid for.
5. GENERAL
a) The Student/Parent/Guardian will be responsible for any loss or damage incurred to any books, accessory or music loaned by the Teacher to the Student. Such items will be returned on request to the Teacher.
b) The Student/Parent/Guardian undertakes not to make photocopies of any paperwork provided by the teacher.
c) In the interests of the Student’s well-being whilst in the Teacher’s care, the Teacher must be informed of any medical or other condition affecting the Student.
d) I agree to inform the teacher of change of address/phone number/email address immediately.
e) I promise not to attend any lesson with a cold, throat infection or any kind of viral illness, or if I have had sickness or diarrhoea within the last 48 hours.
NOTES FOR GUIDANCE
As a member of the Musicians’ Union, the Teacher is fully insured for public liability. It is important to note that while a Teacher will use his or her best endeavours to ensure the Pupil makes satisfactory progress, this cannot be guaranteed. In particular, careful regular practice as advised by the Teacher is a pre-requisite of success on a musical instrument.
THE COPYRIGHT IN THIS CONTRACT BELONGS TO THE MUSICIANS’ UNION, 60/62 CLAPHAM ROAD, LONDON, SW9 0JJ
This contract has been modified to be relevant to the service being offered.
