Voice Lessons with Singing Coach Eleonor England

Wow. Not really sure how to put my excitement into words. I’ve come from an extensive musical background, so looking for the «right» vocal coach seemed challenging until I got in touch with Eleonor.
I just finished a 45 min Skype vocal lesson and it was so constructive and helpful! She could even tell when I was breathing wrong and if my muscles were to tense while singing. I’m very, very impressed and look forward to many more vocal lessons on Skype!

I’m a singer/​songwriter/​performer who plays a variety of venues, from the local bar to intimate house concerts to large public events, both at home in San Diego and on tour around the country. While I’ve been a singer/​songwriter for over 30 years, I only restarted my professional performing career about 8 years ago after putting music on the back burner while running my own non-​entertainment industry businesses for a couple of decades. I give that background because I had cancer and several abdominal surgeries between 2001-​07, which dramatically reduced my vocal abilities.
After my numerous health issues, I decided that life was too short and it was time to return to that which I truly loved and was meant to do: performing. Over the first couple of years getting back in the game, I noticed that there was some loss of range, power & sustain in my voice. I had to basically re-​learn how to sing and find my vocal wheelhouse, so to speak. I had tried a couple of vocal coaches, but to be honest, I’m a difficult student. I’m a storyteller, a vocal stylist, more in the James Taylor/​Jack Johnson vein, rather than the soaring, powerful vocals of a Kenny Loggins or Darryl Hall. I’m not great about doing my warm-​up exercises or my homework, for that matter. Hence, most coaches just weren’t that effective for me. That is, until I went to Eleonor England.
From the first time I met Ellie, I could tell she was a different kind of coach. Within a few minutes of our first meeting, as I was telling her about myself, she stopped me and had me do some unique breathing and visualization exercises. Then about 3 – 5 minutes into following her instructions, she told me to sing. Whoa. There was a noticeable improvement in my tone and an ease in performance. It wasn’t like all of my issues were solved, but I was impressed at her quick insight and ability to read me, both physically and mentally, to help improve my singing. She uses some unconventional methods to reach and help me, and I’m impressed with their effectiveness.
Again, I’m a pain-​in-​the-​ass as a student. I know this. I lack discipline in my exercises and don’t keep up consistently with my lessons. But I’m a pretty good performer and entertainer, and Ellie has always been there when I needed her, usually to tune me back up when my bad habits take hold again. She has an uncanny ability to tell when I’m concentrating and truly following her mental visualization instructions, just by watching my eyes & mouth. «Think of or picture this. Now sing.» I begin and the moment my mind wanders, she will say, «No… come on, concentrate. Picture this… there you go.» She’s always been spot on and very helpful, even through my bad habits.
I can’t promise that she’ll reach everybody with the same effectiveness she did for me. She’s not a miracle worker. Maybe some people need or like the more traditional vocal coaches. I just really appreciate Ellie’s intuitiveness and ability to think outside of the box to reach and help me, and for that, I can’t recommend her highly enough.

In my position, I need to give a variety of talks to both large and small audiences. On a terrific recommendation, I began working with Eleanor to improve my public speaking. Eleanor provided training and techniques that made an almost immediate impact on my voice quality, presentation style and projection.
After a couple of weeks, I was giving more relaxed and engaging speeches. My boss noticed these improvements quickly and commented that I my talks had a high level of confidence, control and I was keeping the audience fully engaged.

Ellie is the best voice teacher I’ve ever had. It’s important to me to understand how all of the individual techniques and drills I’m doing fit into the bigger picture, and Ellie has always been willing and able to explain things in whatever level of detail I’m interested in (which, often enough, is _​a lot_​of detail :) As a result, I’m better able to stay motivated and continue learning on my own, and many times I’ll glean new insights from a drill that she taught me weeks or months ago. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve improved so much since I first started working with her and am very grateful for that — thank you Ellie!

She’s just amazing. It’s hard to put into words the experience that is Eleonor England. In my experience, she has a keen ability if you are having an issue that is hindering your singing ability to be able to give you tips and exercises to help you improve. Ellie truly loves what she does which creates a safe and warm environment to learn (this is especially important if you are terrified to speak or sing in front of anyone) I highly recommend!!!

Ellie is the best! My first voice lesson with Ellie was like 10 lessons all in one. She observed me while I played the piano and sang, and when I applied her suggestions I felt old negative patterns (anxiety driven contractions) being lifted from my body and my life… and my soul voice came out and melted me like butter, and she celebrated with me in my healing and discovery. It was as if time stood still in our golden oasis… truly what music and singing is all about. It was a such a priceless and wonderful experience. If only all the people in the world would sing and dance all day… peace and harmony :-) Thanks Ellie!

I contacted Ellie, not to improve my singing, but to reduce my voice strain from when I’m out in loud environments like bars. I’ve gotta say she’s an excellent teacher – and the only one who I made progress with. I tried two other teachers in the past with minimal results. It also helps that she is trained in Alexander Technique, so she helped me with optimizing my posture to better project my voice. Highly recommended overall!

After having worked with multiple singing teachers (both male and female) and experiencing minimal results, I found the «Voice Studio of Eleanor England» and quickly booked a lesson. I chose «Ellie» for several reasons. One, the professional quality and range of experience noted in her biography represented someone who could sing well AND teach; and two, I loved that she studied (and teaches) a very solid and well-​respected technique. Additionally, in a sea of teachers that overcharge, Ellie’s lessons were (and continue to be) affordable.
After just one lesson with Ellie, I had a stronger, more beautiful voice. Some of the problems that Ellie has addressed – and continues to improve – include straining to reach high notes (don’t we all?); unnecessary throat and tongue tension; and some difficulty «opening up.»
If you’re like me, you’ve had a bunch of instructors tell you all kinds of abstract clichés to improve your singing. Sometimes phrases like, «connect to your core,» «project!» or «breathe through the trees» just aren’t clear enough or easy enough to understand and then execute properly. However, Ellie uses direct and clear language in addition to exercises that emphasize certain parts of the voice that really need the help. She also uses diagrams that show the physiological makeup of the vocal instrument, and these definitely help to illustrate concepts she talks about. On top of that, she does it in a way that is fun and comfortable – you will love her upbeat and sincerely intuitive personality.
Overall, I think it’s safe to say that after just one lesson with Ellie, I learned more about my voice than most of my other teachers taught combined – and the difference in the quality of my voice is incredible. I’ve been studying with Ellie now for several years and continue to allow her to work her magic. Now that I’ve worked with her for some time, I just trust that she’s doing the safest and most proper training for something I care a lot about: in the words of Ursula to Ariel, «your voice.»

She’s amazing. I always walk out of my lessons feeling like I made an improvement from when I walked in. She doesnt just go through the same old same old. She works with you on what you need, shes honest and still manages to be sweet when correcting you. You learn so many important things about singing other then just how to sound better. The little things she has taught me to think of while singing makes everything I try to sing sound better, not just the specific songs we’ve worked on together. Thanks Ellie!