Sheila Dugan Voice & Speech

10/25/09

An Incredible Voice Teacher and Mentor

by HannahK at Citysearch

I began studying with Sheila Dugan almost seven years ago. She was recommended to me by numerous people around the St. Louis area as the best teacher around.

As soon as I began studying with her, she quickly identified what I needed to work on in order to become the best singer that I could be using techniques deeply rooted in anatomy and physiology. She explains everything in ways that are straightforward and clear. Every week it seemed that she would have a new diagram of the body to show me that really helped me understand what my body should be doing when I sing. Her methods are CONSTANTLY changing and are individualized to each student; if an image that she is using doesn't help me or I don't understand it, she instantly has another one on hand to help me understand exactly what I should be doing, often, one that she has thought of or adapted to specifically work for me in that moment. Sheila has helped me to become the most intelligent, informed, and self aware singer that I can be. With her help I was accepted to and now attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts where I am pursuing a BFA in Theater: without Sheila I know I wouldn't be where I am. He

She is an incredibly skilled teacher and a wonderfully supportive woman, she has guided me in my personal and professional life. I am so grateful to be her student and I know that the techniques she has taught me will stay with me forever and that with her help, I will continue to make new discoveries about how the voice works and how I can sound my best.

As far as I am concerned, if you live in the St. Louis area and want to pursue singing in any capacity, Sheila Dugan is the person with whom you need to study. She is the best.

• Pros: Excellent, specific, and individualized training
• Cons: None that I can see

09/23/09

A Fantastic Voice Teacher and Wonderful Person

by zweber at Citysearch

While searching for a voice teacher 4 years ago, Sheila Dugan was suggested to me more than any other name, and when I began taking lessons with her it was easy to see why. She had a scientific approach to singing that I had never experienced with any other instructor before. She is completely devoted to helping her students improve and will go to nearly any length to do so. In addition to teaching singing to perfection, she also teaches the physical aspect of singing and the way to perform. When I first began studying with her, I was a 14-year-old who had a voice, but had no idea what to do with it and no idea about how to perform competently. By the time I left for college I was an 18-year-old with numerous leading roles in musicals and plays that I performed throughout the St. Louis area, under my belt. Anytime I played a role that required a specific dialect, Dr. Neville Craven in “The Secret Garden” for instance, or when I played the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” and needed to learn to roar and make other abusive sounds non-abusively, she offered her expertise so I wouldn’t damage my voice. Sheila is an excellent singing, acting, and life coach.

When I began applying for college in the fall of 2008 to major in vocal performance, Sheila was the first one to offer her assistance-- whether it was through additional voice lessons whenever I needed them (sometimes 2 or 3 times a week), written recommendations, or guidance. Sheila selected the perfect repertoire for all of my auditions, recitals, and competitions. I received acclaim at each and every one. I am now studying vocal performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (which is the number one music school in the United States and has the number one Opera program in the country). I have no one else to thank for that besides Sheila. During my audition at Indiana University, I was told by the voice faculty that I had been very well trained and they were so impressed with my training and voice I received my acceptance letter and scholarship offer 2½ weeks after my audition, which is much faster than the typical response time. None of this would have happened with out Sheila.

Now that I’m taking voice lessons at Indiana University I realize how much Sheila did for me. I know that I will probably never again have another voice teacher who will be able to accompany me, give me instantaneous solutions/cures to my vocal issues in an easy to understand way, and care for me the way Sheila does. I recently listened to the recording of my first voice lesson and I can’t believe that the voice on that recording was mine, because it has been so improved! If you need a voice teacher it is ridiculous to look anywhere else. Sheila Dugan's knowledge, musicianship and abilities top that of any other teacher in this area!

• Pros: Unparalleled vocal instruction in every possible way
• Cons: None to be found

08/31/09

AMAZING voice teacher!

by sheilaostl at Citysearch

My son has been studying with Sheila for a little over 3 years, I believe. Yes, he had a beautiful voice before studying with Sheila, but he had no idea of how to use/control it. Sheila Dugan has been able to connect with my son using terminology and imagery that he can relate to, thereby teaching him not just "how to sing", but the actual physiology behind singing. This knowledge has enabled him to not just follow directions, but to understand what he is doing with his body and voice, what is harmful and beneficial to his anatomy and physiology where singing is concerned, and to become connected to his anatomy and voice while singing. The importance of this is immeasurable. My son is now so connected to not only his own voice while singing, but he is constantly hearing harmful techniques used by others while THEY are singing!

Also, as a senior in high school, my son is preparing for college auditions. Since his voice has not completely changed yet, Sheila has provided specialized work with him to help "pull his voice down", allowing him to reach some lower notes than he'd been able to achieve before their specialized work together.

My son has performed for most major professional theatres in St. Louis, and has had the opportunity to study with and be critiqued by Broadway professionals in New York. All of the people with whom he has worked in New York have praised his training (not just his voice!), and have had very limited (if any) ideas for improvement. I attribute ALL this to my son's training with Sheila Dugan!

• Pros: Unique ability to connect with each student on his/her level
• Cons: ?