testimonials
YouTube’s Cinderella
I’ve loved to sing for as long as I can remember, but I was always afraid to sing in front of other people. By chance, I met Jean on the subway, and after learning about her extensive vocal schooling, I quickly decided that there’s gonna be no better time to start taking vocal lessons. As it happens, I also have a YouTube channel where I regularly play Cinderella, and what kind of Cinderella am I if I can’t sing in my videos? After only about 5 months of lessons, I published my first Cinderella Music Video and I could have never done it without Jean’s lessons!
Jean used a unique teaching approach that was just perfect for shy me. We started off each lesson with stretching and vocal exercises that required me to move and calm my body and spirit at the same time. I was surprised how easy it became to sing in front of someone else and I quickly made progress.
Jean taught me so many exercises for my voice and aligning my vocal tract in such a short amount of time that I was soon able to make sounds that I did not even know I could produce.
Jean is also extremely empathetic and just knows the right thing to say. Her lessons are extremely fun and have been the highlight of my week, because Jean is not only a fantastic voice coach, but also a great friend.
Tanja Nagler
YouTube’s Cinderella (@Totally Tanja)
As an actress,
I’ve always struggled with projecting my voice when I sing. Through many specific and useful analogies, Jean helped shape the image in my mind in order to release the tension I am holding and sing clearly and on pitch. She has helped me realize how important it is to visualize the right image in my mind during singing and it’s not just about pushing the voice out.
Jean has also helped me to increase my vocal range through many unique vocal training techniques and I find that much of what Jean has taught me can be applied to my acting training.
I’m very grateful and happy to have met her!
Hayley Meng
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Diploma of English Drama
As an aspiring musical artist,
I’ve learned from Jean how to better shape my tone at specific points in a song to better portray a certain emotion fitting to the lyrics.
I remember one time I was stuck on a certain portion of a song because I was just focused on hitting a high note. Jean taught me how to let go of the fear and focus on the story and the emotions I’m trying to get across. I tried it and my muscle memory kicked in from the exercises she had taught me, and I managed to pull off that portion of the song successfully!
Koh Jing Sen, 23 years old
Singapore Institute of Management
Musical Director of "Voices of Greed" (Esprimere Singing Club, 2018)
Changed my entire mentality...
It’s rare to find a voice teacher who is also a life teacher, but Jean somehow manages to do both. She has the technique and skill down to a T, but unlike other professionals, she is able to help you change your entire mentality and the way you approach singing.
I kept continually hitting limits in my vocal range, but she helped me find the limitless potential that existed within myself. With her guidance I was able to not only improve my voice tremendously, but even overcome other obstacles in my life as well!
She is extremely approachable and makes you feel comfortable, no matter how difficult a song may be for you.
As a doctor, I’m always looking to hone other areas of my life with the same accuracy, and she is always able to give me the detailed feedback I most need. I learn more from each lesson with her than I could learn in years on my own!
Top-notch voice teacher that I recommend without reservation.
Emily Atkinson, Internal Medicine Physician
As a pianist…
Although I have an extensive musical background in piano, this was my first time receiving vocal training, so I wasn’t sure how lessons would go… But Jean explains in a very easy and practical way, so it was very relatable!
I had 8 lessons with her, and although it was a short period, it was really eye-opening!
I learned from Jean how singing is not just merely singing the words and hitting the right pitch, but there are so many nuances and professional vocal techniques/tips that help bring out the meaning and expressions of a song better. Through sharing her breadth of know-how, she helped me find a good balance between the technical aspects of singing and being expressive.
In just 8 lessons, my vocal range expanded! But my biggest takeaway was how thoughts and habits can really shape the way we sing and how we sound! For instance, I have the habit of sounding nasal and flat, and have difficulty in singing high notes, but Jean’s tips and exercises helped me to be more mindful of those habits, so I can fix my habits even when I sing on my own.
Thank you Jean!
A highly recommended vocal coach for anyone hoping to improve their singing.
Alex Chu, 24, National University of Singapore
Unlocking my natural sound…
Throughout my lessons with Jean Lee she has helped me to find my unique individual voice.
She uses many descriptive images to help me make small changes with great effect.
She has also helped me find different approaches to singing one particular note in order to get the best tone, or build a variety of tones so I can decide which I like best or match what I want to convey.
While we have worked on some technical aspects of singing, my biggest breakthroughs have been when Jean Lee helped me to relax and unlock my natural and emotive sound, expressing the lyrics honestly… this gave me a great sense of achievement and enjoyment.
I would highly recommend lessons with Jean Lee.
Aidan Verity, B.A. Classical Performance Viola
As a law student,
I studied for one semester with Jean Lee and during this time, she helped me not only develop my technical skills but also put great emphasis on performance and confidence.
She taught me how to choose songs that suited my voice and which I could connect to meaningfully. I also was able to learn ways to improve my vocal alignment and breathing technique.
Jean Lee also did a great job paying attention to areas I struggled with and taking the time to really help me improve, both technically and performance-wise.
Overall, I had a fantastic semester learning from Jean Lee!
Preeta Reddy, Columbia Law School
Patient and Kind
As any student knows, there are voice teachers who we enjoy learning from and consider admirable musicians and mentors. But every so often, a voice teacher comes along who makes singing an absolute joy and brings an extraordinary combination of talent, passion, and drive to every lesson. Jean is one of those unforgettable teachers.
From the first time I met Jean, I was struck by her soulful, strong yet also gentle voice and felt completely at ease, unafraid to share my own insecurities about my voice and to apply her exercises and theories. Her skills and experiences in opera, gospel, and pop music gave both a focus and fun variety to our lessons. In one year I have developed tremendously in skill and in confidence.
Jean is incredibly kind, loving, patient, and most certainly helps her students grow to their full potential. I am grateful to have her as a wonderful teacher, mentor, and friend.
Eleanor DeBreu, Barnard College
Breath is Energy!
Jean Lee makes singing lessons fun and interesting. I am not very familiar with musical terms, but she is able to explain and describe things in a way that was very intuitive for understanding and practicing.
When it comes to the importance of breathing, she always says "breathing is energy." If you have no energy, there is no power and the lyrics will die. In order to keep the energy until the end of each line, you have to breathe properly at the right time and push forward all the way through. She said you should feel like you're pushing the note forward across the room like wind pushing a sailboat. This analogy was very helpful for me.
When it comes to vibrato (something that beginners have a lot of trouble mastering), she helped me develop an intuitive feel for what is happening physiologically by describing the feeling as "spinning the note." By helping me practice "spinning" a number of different vowels and phrases while covering the entire scale from uncomfortably low to uncomfortably high, my comfort and control with vibrato has improved a lot, and the range of notes with which I can use it has also increased tremendously.
Most importantly she is very patient and encouraging. She knows very well the difficulties and insecurities people can have when it comes to improving their singing, but she is able to pinpoint specific reasons as to "why your having trouble hitting the high notes," and why certain phrases in a song are "sounding a bit boring," and explains clearly how to fix it. To top it off, because she is such a great singer herself, she can always demonstrate the tips that she is giving, making it clear that the techniques she is teaching me actually work!
Preston Lewis, 24 years old
Fixed my bad singing habits!
I have been singing for about 10 years in school and church but never had a coach who could guide and teach me on my shortcomings, so I always wanted personal vocal lessons.
Jean was a perfect trainer who knew what I was struggling with. She polished my singing skill and pronunciation.
You never know your mistakes sometimes until someone else points them out. She was able to catch my bad singing habits and helped me overcome them.
She recorded all the lessons for me so that I can go back and watch as reference, which helped a lot for practicing! I learned so much and highly recommend her to other singers.
Suyoung Lee
Cypress College Mass Choir, 1st Soprano
UCLA Choral, Soprano
Quickly identified my challenges
Jean has helped brought me back to the basics and helped me understand the intricacies of my technique. She quickly identified my challenges which I had struggled to grasp before.
What I love most is how she explains everything in such an easy-to-understand way, and if I’m stuck, she always finds another method to help me get it.
Her imaginative style, like encouraging me to visualize the direction of the air I’m singing towards, has been so helpful and refreshing!
Rachelle, Singapore
R&B singer
Jean Lee has taught me voice for about 3 years. Her expertise, preparation, professionalism and understanding of how to work with different kinds of people and voices is beyond comparison. She uses fun and interactive ways to warm up your whole body and taught me the purpose and reason behind each of her vocal warmups. In addition, she has enlightened me on the importance of vowels sounds, body posture, facial warmups, and how emphasizing even the quietest sounds can in fact be the strongest and most powerful.
I would definitely recommend her to anyone that wants to seriously prepare well and further their musical endeavors!!!
Yenni, R & B vocalist, Hunter College graduate
I’ve grown a lot!
I’ve been working with Jean for 6 months and I feel I’ve grown a lot! Everyone who hears me now says they can really hear a big difference in my voice compared to 6 months ago!
Working with Jean is an enjoyable experience, and I recommend her to anyone who wants to improve their singing!
At the beginning of each lesson, we practice warm ups that stretch my vocal range. And every time I improve my range, Jean shows me by how much on the keyboard. That’s really exciting.
I find that her clear strategies and explanations really help me improve my technique. She also recommends songs that will fit my voice range well, and teaches me how to express the lyrics from my heart.
Thanks to Jean’s coaching, I won the 2nd place of my school’s Talent Show (Grade 4) this year. I also won the lead role of Jojo in my school’s musical, Suessical. A lot of kids auditioned, so I was really surprised and thankful that I got the part!
Keira Liu Hauske, Grade 4
Stamford American International School
Check out Kiera’s Music Videos!
https://www.youtube.com/@keiraliuhauske5624
Properly learned how to belt, mix, and use my head voice!
I have learned so much from Jean and feel a big improvement in my voice!
Especially as I was preparing for my lead role of Annie in Annie Jr., she taught me proper singing technique and helped me expand my range and taught me properly how to use my mix voice, belt, and head voice.
Also, Jean helps me to find new songs that suit my voice and works with me until I sound really good!
Isla Hall, 10, Tanglin Trust School
(Photo: Performing in Carnegie Hall, New York)
I’ve improved!
I’ve learned a lot during my sessions with Jean. I could feel my singing improve during lesson time and hear a big difference when she tells me to apply certain techniques.
I love her warm ups. I really enjoyed all my lessons with her!
Sadie Hall, 10, Tanglin Trust School
I had the pleasure of working with Jean this summer as a part of my "self-care" and "learn something new" adventures. Taking note of my years of imitating various singers, she encouraged me to push past my fears to allow my personal sound to fly. Quite a liberating experience in ways that I didn't expect! She even recognized that along the way, I had loved to sing but had stopped due to negative feedback from others. She was patient, honest, and attuned to my needs. Now I can say that I can do a lot more than just carry a tune! Thank you Jean!
Aasha Foster, Columbia University Teachers College
As a singer, I always struggled with my vocal identity -- imitating other singers and becoming frustrated when I couldn't match the works of others. Through my insecurities and perceived limitations, Jean Lee assessed where I was and not only worked with me patiently to help me grow as a singer, she also helped me realize the 'color' of my voice and embrace the character of my voice. As I continue to apply all that Jean Lee has taught me, my voice is more controlled, more powerful and finally true to who I am as a singer. She truly has a gentle and wise approach that would make any vocalist, at any level, feel comfortable, confident, and ready to raise their level!
Hanalee C, Online Student
Having had a number of voice teachers myself (over 3), most of which were average, I can attest my life turned when I met Jean. Finding a voice teacher is like finding the right shoe size. Not only is she incredibly talented, but also humble and makes you feel comfortable. She's equipped with all the tools necessary to help address your difficulties--whatever they may be and at the right time. This is imperative in teaching. She does not rely on "let's practice this piece and see how you feel," but she values all steps that will lead you to where you have to be--from the rudimentary to the essential so that from the moment you begin to sing the first note, you absolutely feel the difference.
Singing is about letting go, and this is something Jean doesn't just "tell" or "teach" you, but actually experience. Every vocal exercise is critical, just as is training for any sport, so she takes it a step further and makes you have fun with those exercises and become one with them rather than do them by "routine" or simply because "you have to warm up."
When I think of my own vocal path, I can say that the biggest leaps happened when I was learning from Jean. She is ready to teach all singers, at all levels, not just elementary and this is why she is so great. If you are torn between choosing two voice teachers, Jean is your best bet bet without a doubt. You will be doing yourself a favor, and you will be glad you made that choice after. Happy singing!
Natalie H, Columbia University
I study mathematics. The key part of mathematics is how to grab a key idea and develop it over a period of time one by one. Music, on the other hand, especially singing, had been quite different to me. I thought all I needed may be just to sing out, which might be partially true, but that didn't make me tick. I remember some part of me really wanted to express himself through singing more, with some deeper contents, hoping to be able to deliver some meaning in life in style, rather than just singing in emotion.
I realized that I can develop my singing, too. Apart from that Jean Lee is a gifted musician and an expert in teaching, another important thing to me was that she is very friendly and is a great counselor. She taught me how to sing smoothly while reflecting on my individual memories; how to pick up memories that pertain to me individually, and what I experienced in the past. That connects me to become interested in singing. It was really like "garnering ideas" and "developing them over time", and being able to uniquely express them in style.
Through the lessons with her, I began to learn how to appreciate and experience musical "energy in and essence comes as I breath out." Then the singing comes naturally as it becomes a part of me. Then it makes me curious about possible meanings behind songs; music now is really enriching my experiences.
HyungGyu, Mathematics PhD Candidate, Columbia University
I am an analyst, but have always loved singing, especially praise and gospel music. Jean is my first vocal instructor and she has taught me warm-ups and singing techniques in a very clear and easy-to-follow manner.
Within just 3 months of lessons, she helped me expand my range, and I discovered that I could hit a very low and a very high key by using the right vocal techniques! I was also very surprised that within this short time, I could sing songs that were previously difficult for me, and I thought I would not be able to sing.
Best of all, with her coaching, I was able to pass a quite stringent choir audition in my church!
Marina Shi, Analyst (Singapore)
Feedback from parents:
Accepted into the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir
Jean is an excellent vocal coach. My daughter Megan was under her tutelage for over a year.
Megan learnt many valuable vocal techniques and achieved many vocal breakthroughs which was made possible through Jean’s teaching techniques and belief that nothing is impossible. She taught Megan to express herself better by explaining the emotions and meanings behind each song, honing Megan’s expressive connection to lyrics.
Megan has become a very confident young soprano!
Jean was also instrumental in helping Megan prepare for her auditions for the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir. Megan was accepted into SSCC in 2018… Big thanks to Jean!
Joanne, Megan’s mother
Firm and strict, yet gentle…
Jean helped my two daughters prepare for their London College of Music Musical Theatre Examinations (Grade 5) and several public performances and competitions.
Jean’s quality of teaching is very good, professional, and focused. She is always punctual and reliable for all lesson and open to suggestions and comments from students/parents. She’s always researching to help/enhance her students’ skills.
My two daughters are 10, and I would definitely recommend her to any parents seeking a vocal coach for kids… My gals looked forward to their lessons with Jean each week. She is firm and strict yet gentle in her approach with the children and able to communicate effectively on how to apply her techniques to their vocal training.
Not only have my daughters become more confident but they continue to remember and apply Jean’s lessons in their singing and speech daily.
Jean has been an extremely effective vocal coach for my daughters.
Carol Hall, Sadie and Isla’s mother
Uses language that kids can understand…
Jean Lee has been an excellent teacher for my daughter Kiera!
She is very professional, good at working with children, very friendly, warm, and supportive, and uses language that kids can understand when she explains vocal technique.
All the warm-up practices in every class that she did with my daughter, Keira, were very necessary to help Keira build her vocal range and different skills to use head, mixed, and chest voice. Through Jean Lee’s coaching, Keira’s singing significantly improved even after several classes.
Jean Lee took a very disciplined and structured approach to schedule and confirm classes. This approach also kept my daughter's momentum to learn and make progress.
Jean Lee kept good and frequent communication with me, the parent. She was also willing to give me advice when I had question about recording approach and quality or any other singing activities Keira was engaging in.
Jean Lee held a call after her first 8 classes with my daughter. She wanted to know whether the voice classes had met our expectations and whether there was any suggestion for her teaching and communicating style to make the classes even better.
Overall, I would recommend Jean Lee to any parents looking for a vocal coach for their child! She is a professional who has earned my respect!
Laura Liu, Keira’s mother