Singer, Singing Teacher, Vocal & Performance Coach,
Choral Director, Artist Manager
Individual singing lessons: £25 for 3/4 hour; £20 for 1/2 hour
Inspiring, contemporary and classical singing teacher
with twenty-four years' experience
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fully insured for public liability
enhanced DBS Certification
Singing Lessons
Individual Adult Lessons
3/4hour: £25.00; 1/2hour: £20.00
The voice is a musical instrument, just like the piano or guitar - so if you’re really interested in developing good vocal technique, then you need individual tuition - groups won’t do this for you - and you will need to practise!
Sharon is an experienced singing teacher and vocal coach with a sound classical training, but is also (unlike a lot of teachers) able to expertly teach a diverse range of musical styles, ranging from rock, pop, jazz and r’n’b to folk, bluegrass and musical theatre as well as classical and operatic singing.
She teaches teenage boys and girls, adults, singer/songwriters, drama and dance students, vocalists in bands, guitarists who want to learn to accompany themselves, those wanting to join or who are already in choirs, professional singers, those wanting help to prepare for an audition, those wanting to undertake a formal classical training as well as those who are just curious! She is expert at helping those with vocal problems, others who just want to learn something about singing for enjoyment and those who want to find out if they can sing at all!
Some people come for help with their breathing, for example, if they have breathing issues related to their everyday speech. Sharon is also able to help people with their expression whilst speaking - basically everyone has a different reason for wanting lessons - so do ring to discuss your needs.
Sharon gives individual tuition from her home in Cranleigh, Surrey
Sharon also supports students wanting to perform at, for example, open mics or preparing for solos generally. To date, Sharon has prepared approximately 300 students for various solos!
Sharon is happy to help people with their vocal production for speech and has helped teachers and actors plus business people in this way.
Sharon is fully insured for public liability.
Individual Children's Lessons
1/2hour: £20.00
Sharon is a qualified teacher (QTS) and has been teaching singing and performance since 1999.
PLEASE NOTE: It's not good practice to give vocal training to children before adolescence (when the voice starts to change and mature), as vocal training involves the development of muscles - so just as you wouldn't send your child to develop their muscles on weight machines in the gym, bear in mind that it's best to wait to develop the muscles they use for singing, otherwise the voice can be damaged permanently.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE: it's not financially viable for me to come to your house to teach. In the time it would take me travelling to and fro, I could be teaching other students..
............so what is available for children?
Individual Lessons: Whilst I don't give vocal training to children, in practice, this simply means that I don't correct children's breathing technique. I'm very happy, however, to help children to enjoy singing in a number of fun ways and to help them improve their expression, diction and anything else they need help with. Individual lessons include:
§ helping children to improve their confidence about singing and to explore what suits their voices.
§ helping children to learn how to prepare a song so that they can perform to the best of their ability.
§ singing different types of songs (repertoire) eg. character songs such as "Under the Sea" or "Hakuna Matata", traditional folk songs such as Scarborough Fair as well as popular songs that they enjoy singing eg. Taylor Swift and One Direction are popular right now, as well as of course Disney films like "Frozen"!
§ learning to sing in harmony if possible, which is a great help for children who haven't done this before, as it helps them to develop their ability in this area.
§ improving diction so that lyrics are clear when sung
§ preparing children for school productions - with terrific results!
§ preparing children for auditions
If you'd like to ring me and discuss your needs or even if you're not sure what would be suitable, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01483 271469.
Sharon is fully insured for public liability
Individual Performance Tuition
Performance is an integral part of singing, and some students just want to come to prepare for a particular performance or audition. Sharon is also happy to help children to develop their performance skills and has helped many to sing solos to a much higher standard in school concerts and productions as well as helping adult students with their own performance projects.
Sharon is fully insured for public liability.
Testimonials
Adult Students' Comments:
"I have been enjoying singing lessons with Sharon for six months and her skill , knowledge and encouragement have enabled me to find and considerably improve my voice, which has been dormant and unused for the last forty years. I am really pleased I chose her. Thanks Sharon."
G Williams - June 2018
"My voice has really improved in both tone and range - I'm delighted, and grateful to have discovered you."
R Jones, Guildford - June 2017
"I just love my lessons with you because what you teach actually works. Thank you so much - and I come away feeling so much more relaxed!"
P James, Woking - January 2017
"....and what amazes me most is how much higher I can now sing! I'd been wanting to extend my range for years, but it just didn't happen, no matter who I went to see. I understand why now and I'm really grateful to you."
F Thomas, Aldershot - May 2016
"I started singing lessons with Sharon in July 2015. Over these short months I have already noticed an improvement in my tone quality and vocal range. This has certainly boosted my confidence; I am even working towards a recording later this year. Thank you Sharon!"
G Vart, Godalming - April 2016
"I was searching online for an experienced, talented and accomplished singing teacher and was fortunate enough to find Sharon Duggan - with the added bonus of her running a community choir in Cranleigh, which I've joined. Thanks so much. I'm really enjoying the lessons - you're a fantastic teacher."
A Little, Billingshurst W Sussex - April 2016
"...my previous three teachers all had their good points, if I'm honest, but the bottom line was I didn't actually feel as though I was improving and I didn't really understand what I was supposed to be doing - until I came to see you! I then realised that I'd never had everything explained to me so clearly and I'd never understood how to use the diaphragm properly. I can hear the improvement in my voice now and everything makes sense at last. I'm so grateful - you're a brilliant teacher and my lessons are really fun - as well as challenging!"
J Devonshire, Dorking - April 2016
"I have had five months' singing lessons with Sharon and am encouraged by my progress. Sharon is good at helpful criticism but also gives lots of encouragement. I have been tackling pieces outside of my usual genre and have enjoyed this. I would highly recommend Sharon as a singing teacher."
V Gilpin - March 2016
"...it is a very good reason to sit down and write to you a few words that I should have written a long time ago. I would like to take the time to say a big thank you for your efforts. For the little time we spent, you showed me things that others probably never knew or will. You've been a great teacher, in fact the best I ever met."
Y Minchev - March 2016
"I'd been to about four different teachers and felt I wasn't improving. I think I'd got to the point of giving up, to be honest - then a friend of a friend suggested I try coming to you - what a difference! Wow! My voice has improved so much in such a short space of time - and I'm really enjoying my lessons. Thank you, thank you!"
P Prince, Haslemere - February 2016
".... I now realise my previous teachers weren't very experienced or good at what they did - and they didn't improve my voice, it just felt uncomfortable and sounded "hard". I can thoroughly recommend you to anyone wanting to have singing lessons. It's easy to see that you're a qualified teacher, but more importantly what you say works - and I'm happy about it! My voice feels more relaxed, has a much bigger range and sounds so much better than it did before. Thank you Sharon!"
T Jenkins, Worthing - July 2015
"I immediately realised how in command of her subject Sharon was and believed she'd be able to improve my voice - I wasn't wrong, it's gone from strength to strength - as has my range. I just wish I'd known about her before wasting my time and money on the previous 'teachers'".
J Slovak, Woking - March 2015
"If you wish to learn a skill in life see a professional. Sharon ticks every box. Her teaching has given me the confidence that I never had to perform in front of an audience, and an improving ability to sing that I would never have achieved any other way." B Barnett, Crawley - March 2015
I’ve had singing lessons with a few teachers over the years, and I can honestly say that I’ve learned and improved more in the past six months with Sharon than I ever did with other teachers. She knows her stuff!”
S Davis
“As far as I’m concerned, the combination of a classical training and working as a session singer/contemporary singer, set Sharon apart as a teacher. I’ve gained so much confidence, and I now understand why I had problems with technique and am working to overcome them. Plus, I’ve never had a question she wasn’t able to answer fully.”
D Johnston
Parents' & Childrens' Comments:
"Sharon has been a vocal coach to my 10 year old daughter for over 6 months now. She is professional, knowledgeable and we feel privileged to of found her!"
S Peskett - Dorking June 2018
"Molly wanted to let you know that she entered and won the school talent show singing 'Memory'! Many thanks for all your expertise."
J Gardiner, Ewhurst - December 2016
"I like singing because, whenever I am upset, it makes me happy: and I want to make other people happy as well. I have singing lessons every other Saturday and practise it in the week. I also like singing because it's just me and Sharon and I don't like competing against other people."
Rachel June 2016
"I enjoy the friendly yet professional atmosphere of your lessons. Theo has learnt valuable skills that are enabling him to use his voice well, helping him to enjoy his passion for singing. He comes away enthusiastic and inspired and really looks forward to Wednesdays! Theo himself says: 'They are really fun. Also Sharon makes me laugh a lot'"
N & T Bewsey, Cranleigh - April 2016
"My son Kristien is 15 and has been attending singing lessons with Sharon for 5 years. Sharon is supremely professional with the most warm, caring, encouraging approach, which consistently brings out the best in Kristien. I would recommend Sharon to everyone, she has become so much a part of Kristien's development and childhood that he can't imagine a time when he won't be able to go. Above all Kristien loves his lessons and looks forward to them every week."
J Alexandersen, Cranleigh - March 2015
"Our daughter started singing lessons three years ago. Under Sharon's wing she has been nurtured and encouraged, taking her from a shy little girl into a confident young teenage singer who now performs to public audiences. Her singing lessons are the highlight of her week and, building on the self-assurance she has gained from Sharon, has gone on to extend her musical capabilities with guitar accompaniment. Thank you so much Sharon!"
D Wilson-Harris, Cranleigh - March 2015
"I cannot thank you enough, Rachel is inspired! She came out from her first lesson with you and said 'Im going back there again' such a different reaction from her usual diffidence, and needing a huge amount of pushing to go......we look forward to coming again!"
J Hunt, Guildford - March 2015
"Sharon's highly professional but friendly approach has been a major contribution to improving our daughter's singing skills to a significantly higher standard and building her overall confidence"
Dr M and Mrs J Parry, Godalming
"Sharon helped our daughter to prepare for her part in her school production. I didn't hold out much hope to be honest, because Sophie's not what you'd call a natural singer. When it came to the performances, I was amazed. She was confident and relaxed and sounded better than I could have thought possible. I can thoroughly recommend Sharon and the children love her!"
S Williams, Horsham
"I've told all my friends about Sharon Duggan. She's such a talented teacher and she has a way with the children."
P Burgess, Godalming
"Sharon was fantastic. She really put herself out helping Nick with his GCSE performance. He lacked confidence and also didn't really know what songs to choose. Sharon sorted it all out and he sailed through."
J Myers, Wonersh
About Sharon
I started teaching singing and performance 23 years ago. My first job was as the Individual Vocals Tutor at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford, where I spent a year and a half before going freelance (I've been teaching individuals from my base in Cranleigh ever since); I've also taught songwriting at Hurtwood House School (6th form independent school). I was the singing and performance tutor at Cranleigh Arts Centre from 2000 - 2006, then from 2006 - 2010 I was the singing tutor for the West Sussex Adult & Community Learning Service which involved running courses and workshops all over West Sussex. I'm choral director for the Cranleigh Community Choir, which I set up in January 2006 (I also set up and ran the Dorking Community Choir for three years from 2011 - 2014).
I actually started out as a singer/songwriter on a semi-professional basis at fifteen playing mostly folk inspired music and then trained as a teacher. As I really wanted to be a professional singer, I moved to London in my early twenties where I was lead singer in numerous rock bands, eventually having my own band playing predominantly my own compositions. In the early eighties, I started working as a session singer at the prestigious Abbey Road Studios and was then signed for a record deal.
I took a break from singing whilst my daughter was growing up, during which time I undertook a formal classical training with Findlay Wilson of English National Opera. I returned to professional singing in 1999 and now work full-time as a singer, singing teacher, vocal and performance coach and choral director.
My classical training has given me a strong basis in terms of vocal technique and being a qualified teacher combined with quite a lot of experience, I feel that I possess a sound knowledge of how to develop good vocal technique, how to overcome unhealthy vocal habits and of course how to develop good performance technique (as demonstrated by the successful student showcase “The Big Night Out with Bells On”, which I ran for ten years, giving me the added skill of directing and producing large, complex music shows). I of course continue to produce the Cranleigh Community Choir...and friends shows which take place twice a year and also produced my daughter, Eleanore & the Lost's debut album launch in 2009.
In 2011, I was chosen as one of only two music mentors nationwide by the international charity WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) to work with young people on the charity's competition "My True Nature" as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. The brief involved working with a secondary school in Lancashire to compose the music and lyrics for a song within one day; the whole event proved to be a great success.
I'm very pleased to be able to sing with both my "natural" voice as well as in a classical sounding voice. This has meant that I'm able to teach practically any style of singing, effortlessly moving from classical to rock, r’n’b, jazz, folk, soul, bluegrass, pop etc. I love singing jazz, rock, folk, opera etc.
I've sung in numerous bands, duos, vocal groups over the years as well as working with my daughter Eleanore as a function singer. In addition to this, I sing backing vocals in Eleanore's band Eleanore & the Lost, performing Eleanore's original music as well as being the Band Manager.
Eleanore & the Lost
Get in Touch
Teaching Hours:
Tues - Fri: 10.00am - 6.30pm; Saturday: 10.00am - 1.00pm