The Voice Studio

Kathy Kennedy is an outstanding teacher. I’ve sung professionally for most of my life but needed to correct some habits that weren’t serving me. Kathy offers a superb technique that gets results. I honestly felt I was on the right track after the very first lesson — and after only a few months of weekly lessons and daily practice with the CD she records during each session, I feel vocally strong and flexible. I couldn’t be more grateful or impressed with her ability to work easefully and intuitively. Kathy Kennedy is a master teacher and I recommend her highly.

I have taken singing lessons from several sources over the last ten or so years. The Voice Studio is steps above the others. Kathy Kennedy is a great instructor.

The vocal technique this studio teaches, Speech Level Singing, is by far the most effective technique I’ve ever come across for extending your range in a way that makes it easy and pleasurable to sing, even on the very high notes.
I’ve been to many different voice teachers; what makes this studio so excellent is that the teachers are certified by a community of expert master instructors that are dedicated to excellent quality science-​based instruction. This removes a lot of the quackery you might find at other studios.
My only complaint is that I didn’t find this studio 15 years ago! Like the other reviews have said, any other technique is a waste of time. Certainly there are good Bel Canto or non-​SLS instructors out there; maybe you’ll find a good one, but then again you might not. Not everyone that can sing can teach! But with certified SLS instructors you can be confident WHILE you’re practicing that WHAT you’re doing is moving you towards your goals. With other instructors it really could be nonsense, and the danger is that as a student you won’t know, get discouraged, and stop singing entirely. With SLS, if you do the work, you’ll see the results and you’ll see them with as little as 20 minutes a day. It works! It’s an amazing technique and I highly recommend it for anyone singing any style.

I’ve been to many voice teachers between SF and New York City. Katie is the best teacher I’ve ever had. Don’t waste your time going anywhere else. She has a wealth of knowledge and can help you reach your goals and surpass them. Top Notch.

I’ve been pushed into singing more in my band and I went to Katie for some tips on turning from a non singer into a singer. After a few lessons I’m doing well, thankyou. She listens to your needs and teaches you accordingly.

Studying voice with Kathy Kennedy at The voice Studio is as good as it gets. What she can teach you to do with your voice, in a very short time, is surprising and thrilling. Of course you must practice what she assigns, though! She tailors the performance part of the lesson to your tastes and goals, and she works with you on technique so that you can sing any style with confidence. I highly recommend Kathy Kennedy to anyone who is serious about singing.

I work at a «transformational» business that expands our human potential, and the people I work with decided to produce a public event in a few months that involves singing… and damn! I have absolutely no experience singing and I even considered myself tone deaf. Now, I’m a pretty brave guy — I can speak to a thousand people without getting nervous and I’ve even firewalked over 40 feet of red hot coals… but the idea of singing just terrified me!
However, instead of coming up with an excuse for not participating — which is very tough when you’re the CEO, I decided to take a few lessons with Katie at the Voice Studio to see if I could somehow learn how to carry a tune and not embarrass myself.
I cannot express with only the written word, how amazing the process of learning to sing was — over the course of just a few lessons — as taught by Katie… Here, let me demonstrate what I could do after just TWO lessons:
I recorded this on my iPhone this after just two lessons with Katie, using some dumb karaōke app. What’s more, I discovered that singing is REALLY FUN, and I don’t even CARE if it sounds good or not. Singing is learning how to «play» with your voice. It’s like making love with speech. Never having sung in public is like never having made love! It’s, it’s… damn, singing is so fun and exhilarating that it just makes you want to quit your job and become a professional musician!
Finally, I found one interesting lasting effect of learning how to sing. When you sing, and bridge your falsetto with your lower «normal» voice, that usually creaky middle range resonates right in your «heart chakra». This is why great singers, like Sade and Sting, can elicit so much emotion with their songs — they sympathetically resonate in your heart. The lasting effect of learning how to sing, is that I have deepened my natural ability as a public speaker, so that my speaking voice can now also «resonate in the heart chakra» which has made more more compelling as a public speaker.
So I am more than happy to testify… you meet true teachers, like Katie, only once in a lifetime. She shares a deep wisdom & patience that truly actualizes human potential, and makes it possible for the most singing-​impaired people, like I used to be, to become one of those wacky people happily singing in the car as they sit trapped alongside you in a traffic jam on the freeway… there’s an amazing inner freedom available to you when you learn how to sing when you drive… so I am no longer a prisoner, of the fine white lines, of the white lines on the free, free way…

I have been a professional actor and singer for over 25 years. Recently, I was asked to front a rock and roll band here in San Francisco. I decided that since we were going to be covering some pretty difficult material, I should take a few lessons to make sure my voice was up to it.
It’s been a year and a half of weekly lessons and I don’t think I’m EVER going to stop studying with Kathy.
She has completely changed my approach to singing. I have a stronger and more versatile voice now than I did in my 20s. I am able to do things that I never dreamed possible. And I’m using my voice the RIGHT way. Two weeks ago, our band did a gig at a local bar. After singing for four straight hours, (including some AC/​DC covers,) I honestly felt like I could have done it all over again.
Kathy has an amazing ear and an uncanny ability to isolate and fix problem areas. She truly is one of the most gifted teachers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

My daughter has studied with Katie for two years. Her voice, musicality, and delivery have developed in wonderful ways. Katie has helped her become much more confident in her singing as well.
Katie’s approach and musical skill are matched by her ability to connect with and encourage her students. Lessons with previous teachers paled by comparison.

I’ve studied with Katie Guthorn for about 4 years and she has really helped me develop my voice and comfort level with singing. I have added about an octave to my voice I didn’t know I had.
I have studied classical singing and now sing a lot of jazz and cabaret stuff.
Previously, I had worked with several other voice teachers but Katie’s approach really makes sense to me and allows me to learn effectively.
Now when sing in front of people, I am much less nervous because I have learned a technique that makes me sound good.
Katie has a great personality and attitude that really helps with relaxing so the learning can happen naturally.

I took lessons here last year and I really enjoyed them. Kathy is a wonderful and very patient teacher, she is easy to work with and gave me the freedom to work on the songs that I wanted to sing. I also always left with a burned CD of my lessons so I could practice at home.
The location is great, beautiful view of the city, and I loved stopping by the coffee and sandwich shops down the street after my lessons.

I recently started private voice lessons with Heather. I instantly felt comfortable and very well supported by my new voice coach.
The lesson rooms are just the right size, include a seat, water to keep your whistle wet and a mirror so you can make sure you’re moving your mouth correctly. Also, Heather records our lesson so I can later re-​live the nightmare that is my voice, and listen to how its improving…
In a great, safe location in Potrero Hill. Lots of parking. Close to the bus stop (22) and T line.
I heart Heather, and I’m sure the other coaches are great. No one leaves the studio without a smile on their face!