COVER STORY
voice RAISE A
by Sean McCarthy
Your voice is an instrument like any other
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o whether your goal is karaoke or Madison Square Garden, auditioning for a high school production or making it to Broadway, you would be wise to invest some time studying how to improve and care for your voice while becoming a better performer. As she approaches the 20th anniversary of the Vocal Development Studio, Debra Perry has established a reputation of excellence for people of all ages in an array of fields and genres. There’s a lot more to successful singing than many people realize, but it’s an endeavor that is open to almost anyone who possesses the motivation. “Vocal lessons are positive – there’s nothing to fear,” Perry says. “Increasing your knowledge will increase the health of your voice. Understanding your instrument and 18
how to care for it is how we keep it sounding its’ best. It’s just like learning how to tune your guitar or change the strings. It will add to the longevity of your career.” Located at 138 River Road in the North End of New Bedford, the Vocal Development Studio specializes in singing lessons, but also offers piano and guitar lessons. They feature spacious sound-deadened practice rooms with state-of-the-art acoustic ceiling tiles for an optimal experience, in addition to a main room with a professional-caliber stage and sound system. A unique component of the studio is the classes and workshops they offer in areas of performance technique that help students hone their craft. The main room is large enough to hold an audience of 50. “Just about anyone can learn to sing,”
October 2023 | The South Coast Insider
Perry says. “It’s all about working on correct breathing technique and vocal exercises to develop the voice through eliminating muscle tension and developing precision of muscle movement. Then we apply that to songs. Singing is a physical activity so stress will affect your voice. The approach I use is all based on how the body works for sound production.” Perry says that the number of lessons an individual takes is based on their goals. “Some people come in for a very short period of time, maybe looking to do something new and fun. It’s one of their bucket list goals. But some people are looking to do this as a career, and I can help. If you continue to work with your voice, doing the exercises and keeping the voice healthy with vocal hygiene on a regular basis, you can sing well into older age. Vocal lessons are a way to protect your voice. “Everything is predicated on how