Singing Lessons for Bay Area Students
Vocal Coaching on the San Francisco Peninsula
Ms. Katie Tupper taught on the San Francisco Peninsula for many years before relocating to Southern California, and she has continued working with her Bay Area singing students ever since. Students in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, and Portola Valley make up the bulk of her Bay Area studio today, with others studying remotely from the East Bay, the South Bay, and beyond. Those lessons have continued, just in a different format.
How Bay Area Singing Lessons Work
Most Peninsula students study with Ms. Tupper through online singing lessons. That works well here. There is no drive down 101 and no bridge to cross at rush hour, lesson times can flex around rehearsals and school schedules, and students keep the same teacher year after year instead of starting over when life moves them. Lessons run the same length and format as studio lessons, and technique work carries over to video.
Ms. Tupper also returns to the Bay Area periodically through the year for in-person lessons, student recitals, and audition and voice competition support. These visits cover the work that goes better in person. Students get performance practice in front of an audience, time on stage presence, and the experience of singing a prepared program for family and friends.
A Teacher with Real Bay Area Roots
Ms. Tupper is an official member of NATS (the National Association of Teachers of Singing), where she teaches under a strict code of ethics, and is currently Chair of the organization's national Equitable Action and Belonging Committee. She has served on the board of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of NATS as President, Co-VP of Auditions, and VP of Recitals, and as Regional Governor for the Cal-Western Region. That history keeps her connected to the Bay Area's teaching and performing community rather than working at a distance from it.
She holds a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and has studied under nationally and internationally recognized voice teachers and coaches.
College Audition & Conservatory Preparation
A great many students come to singing lessons with college auditions in mind, and this is work Ms. Tupper does regularly. Her students have been admitted to some of the most competitive music and theater programs in the country and abroad, including:
- USC Thornton School of Music
- Berklee College of Music
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts
- Princeton University
- UC Berkeley
- UC Santa Barbara Department of Music
- UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts
- UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
- Lawrence School of Music
- Guildford School of Acting (UK)
Audition preparation covers repertoire selection, technique, interpretation, and the practical business of walking into a room and performing under pressure. She also helps students prepare their singing college supplements for those who do not plan to major in voice, and coaches actors and singers, both equity and non-equity, preparing for musical theater auditions, choral and a cappella groups, opera companies, and workshops.
Ms. Tupper also helps many of her students audition for competitive summer programs, specialty and professional choirs, and school, community, and regional musical theatre. She also prepares students for local, regional, national, and international vocal competitions.
Who She Teaches
Ms. Tupper teaches students ages 12 and up, from complete beginners through advanced singers, in Classical, Musical Theater, Jazz, Pop, Rock, and other styles. Her students have also included CEOs, corporate instructors, actors, and people recovering from a vocal injury, illness or overuse. Her approach centers on strong, healthy vocal technique that builds range, endurance, breath technique, tone, agility, musical interpretation, mic technique, and confidence. She teaches in an encouraging, positive way, without intimidation. She believes every voice is unique and that singing is not a “one size fits all” experience: lessons are tailored to the individual, their needs and their goals, so that with healthy technique and style exploration a singer can find naturally where their voice fits.
Bay Area Lesson Information
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LESSON OPTIONS
50 mins - $115
- FORMAT Online lessons by video year-round, with periodic in-person lessons and student recitals in the Bay Area.
- POLICIES Please read the student policy and contract. If you are a new student, please print out the Student Policy before your first lesson.
- CONTACT Please introduce yourself any time via email at katie [at] katietupper.com
Common Questions from Bay Area Families
Do online singing lessons actually work?
Yes. Vocal technique, repertoire coaching, musicianship, and audition preparation all translate well to video, and Ms. Tupper has taught Bay Area students this way for years. A quiet room, a stable internet connection, and a device with a decent microphone are all that is needed.
Which Bay Area towns do you serve?
Most of Ms. Tupper's Bay Area students are on the San Francisco Peninsula, in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, and Portola Valley. She also teaches students remotely in the East Bay, the South Bay, and elsewhere around the Bay.
Are there in-person singing lessons in the Bay Area?
Yes. Ms. Tupper returns to the Bay Area periodically through the year for in-person lessons and student recitals. Contact her for current availability.
How much do singing lessons cost?
Singing lessons are $115 for a 50-minute session. Payment is made monthly in advance.
What ages do you teach?
Ms. Tupper teaches students ages 12 years and higher, from beginners through advanced singers.
Students in Southern California can find details on in-person study on the voice lessons page.