Before I began voice lessons with Anita, I felt embarrassed of my voice and struggled with allowing myself to enjoy singing, no matter where I was or who I was with. I didn't realize how disempowered I had allowed myself to feel when it came to voicing myself or my truth. Over the past year of working with Anita, she has consistently presented a unique, personable, and flexible teaching approach where she is able to tune in and match my learning style in a variety of creative ways. I am amazed at how she has been helping me to strengthen and evolve from the inside out, and am surprised by the positive changes since the first session. I notice differences in my everyday conversations as I find myself more confidently being able to voice my opinions, concerns and my own truth. Especially as a yoga teacher, I have been seeking to develop a stronger voice for delivering instructions, and with Anita's background in voice coaching and Yoga, she has been able to help me grow the ability to speak with more ease and connection with my body and breath. My perspective of communication has changed completely since working with Anita, as I have been actively practicing to tune in to my breath, stay present and to keep that connection during conversations. I also have learned from Anita how to protect and nourish my vocal chords, especially when working with large groups of children outside where the tendency is to yell in order to be heard. She provided me with beneficial techniques to prevent damage to my voice. I would highly recommend sessions with Anita for anyone!! I think having a voice coach goes beyond learning how to sing. For me, it's been a journey of how to explore my own truth, and how to effectively and consciously express it. I am extremely grateful for our sessions as I continue learning and developing my authentic voice everyday, and look forward to the potential and future growth as I keep practicing the tools she has been providing me with! read more

I have been a self taught guitarist for 11 years, and had mostly played for my own enjoyment. I would focus on rhythm guitar but I did like to enjoy to sing along. Never in front of an audience though. Over the years I had conditioned my mind that I did not have a "pleasant" voice and I was content sticking to guitar. However, during the past year a friend and I started to play regular open mics around Portland. After becoming more comfortable playing in front of an audience, I really felt like being able to express myself with my own voice was the next evolution. At the time and coincidentally, I had a friend who was taking voice lessons and mentioned how it was changing her way of singing, talking, breathing and expressing herself. I was handed Anitas card and I was determined that one day I would follow through. Keep in mind, a year prior I would not have not imagined I would be taking voice lessons. Months passed and I followed through, I met with Anita and I loved her holistic approach to singing. After my own initial shyness, I really started to embrace a sensation completely new to me. Anita guided me to that point. I was surprised how quickly my voice started to change, both with singing and speaking. I started to feel my voice become more free in all ways I express myself. I went from not thinking much about my voice to believing that I have a beautiful and genuine one. I strongly recommend Anita for those who want to develop and free their voice. My point of view has shifted and I sincerely believe all people can sing, it's only something we lose touch with. I recommend Anita because she will meet you where you are at, and challenge you. Indeed my time taking voice lessons has been a lot of work but that has led to tremendous growth. I am looking forward to see where my voice will be a year from now! Thanks Anita! read more

I found my way to Anita just three months ago when I finally decided to see if I could learn to sing after a lifetime of believing I could not. I wasn't sure anybody could help me get over my self-consciousness and, even if I did, to sing more than five notes or in a remotely pleasing tone. It's been a remarkable learning experience. Right from the very first day, Anita took away much of my anxiety by focusing on the physiology of producing and shaping sound. All the challenges that get in the way of my voice have become simple mechanics to work on. I've learned so much from her about the role of the soft palate, the tongue, the vocal chords, and of course the diaphragm and breathing. She watches carefully and explains exactly what's happening so that she can help me adjust to find a clear tone. It turns out I have a much bigger range than I knew and (sometimes) a fine sound. We've used a variety of tools (a tiny straw, a balloon, the mirror, body movements and different vocal exercises) to build my awareness and to retrain my brain about how to make sound. Anita has so much knowledge and expertise, but also immense patience, and the spirit and sensibility to work with people at any level of experience or degree of challenge. What started out as a seemingly hopeless quest has developed into a challenging but fun and exciting journey. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to find their voice. read more

I found Anita after a very thorough search for a teacher I thought I could feel comfortable with. I have deep anxiety around singing... actually scratch that, I have a deep anxiety around making sound of any kind. Or rather, had... I have been working with her for nearly a year now, and have made vast improvements in sound, and confidence. I've even started singing karaoke! (After 40+ years of flat out refusing) Anita has taught me more than how to open my mouth and push pretty sound through. I am working on opening spaces for resonance through my head and core. My tounge has learned how to get out of the way. I have learned how to make beautiful sounds... and some seriously ugly sounds, and the latter has taught me more about my voice than the former. I also found a new skill.... I can imitate Micky Mouse! LOL! More than singing, I wanted to learn how to connect with my voice, and Anita was the right choice for making that happen. I hope you absolutely take my word for it. She studies this stuff like a doctor. Communicates it elegantly, and personally. And probably most importantly, she let me freak out about making noise, like I was going to die if anyone heard me... and still got me to do it anyway. I'll be working with her for as long as I can, since I feel like there is still so much to learn! read more

I'll never forget the moment in 7th grade chorus class when my exasperated teacher told me to please lip sync during the upcoming performance. In that moment, I decided that I had no singing ability, and that singing only leads to one thing... embarrassment. Years later, I decided I'd spent long enough in shame and avoidance, and signed up for private singing lessons with Anita. I was nervous, but I also trusted her a lot. We started slowly from where I was at. When tears came up, she met me with nothing less than full love and support. I quickly became more comfortable. What's unique about Anita is her uncanny psychic ability to "feel" where your breath and voice are stuck, and suggest movements and sounds to open things up. Turns out I have a beautiful singing voice. (Who knew?!) And over the course of my lessons with Anita, she helped me relax more and expand my range. Soon after we started working together, I was actually having fun with singing and enjoying a new form of self-expression. I even performed at a talent show, which I NEVER would have done. Singing is still incredibly vulnerable for me, but now in a good way. read more

I took a series of voice lessons from Anita without any prior experience and I treasure the process of seeing a new part of myself unfold during her lessons. She helped me move past my initial doubt and worry around singing and had me focus on the feelings and sensations in my body that told me I was loving this process and had desire to explore it more. The more I felt into singing and the less I thought about how to sing, the better it sounded. After our second lesson I found myself singing to myself and others, excited to share this new tool. I never expected to find a new confidence from our lessons that has stayed with me to this day and has touched my personal and professional life. I highly recommend Anita if you are wanting to get to know yourself, stretch your boundaries or are curious of what your singing voice sounds and feels like. read more

Anita is an incredible voice teacher with compassion, enthusiasm, and creativity, grounded in deep knowledge about vocal anatomy. I'm a professional singer and I started taking lessons with Anita after being diagnosed with vocal nodules. A year later, my voice is healed and stronger than ever thanks entirely to Anita's support, guidance, and knowledge. Whether singing through a straw, blowing into a balloon, checking my soft palette in the mirror, or leading a guided meditation, Anita's teaching practice is always original, practical, and intuitive to grasp. She'll find whatever method she needs to communicate the sensation or vocal tool she's imparting. She teaches me the tools I need to create more embodied ease in my voice whenever I'm singing. I recommend her far and wide! read more

I've worked with Anita for more than two years now. I came in with no singing background and had a vision about getting more comfortable with singing. I achieved that goal and got other perhaps even more important benefits. Anita taught me about the body mechanics related to singing and speaking. She introduced me to a variety of techniques and tools that helped me understand both consciously and unconsciously how to sound better. I've become a better speaker in my professional and personal life. Through improvisation exercises I have also become more at ease with expressing my creativity. I feel like I have received really solid benefits from working with Anita and the process was interesting and fun. She is easy to work with and the environment is comfortable and safe. read more

I met Anita at a National Speakers Association meeting where she was one of two presenters. I was struck by her presence and how she used her body and breath as a tool to convey her message. I saw something I wanted and contacted her to see about some coaching. I've had 4 sessions so far. It's impossible to convey in words the layers that have been touched by Anita. I feel like the deepest part of me has opened up. The log jam is no longer there! She has an uncanny ability to hone in on those places within me that prevent full expression...psychologically and physically. I love her bubbly laughter. I feel completely supported and encouraged and I trust her in a way that is very rare. I wholeheartedly recommend her. read more

Anita's attention to breath, muscle action, and the anatomy of voice is inspirational. This is more than learning to make yourself make pretty sounds. I initially came to Anita to be a better public speaker, but I'm learning about breath and sound on a level that goes beyond projecting to an audience. In fact, these lessons are informing my life as a yogi, and as a person in the world. Not only will I be able to perform my fiction and poetry on a higher level, but my teaching and perhaps my business practices will improve, as well. Also, I found out that I am, in fact, a Baritone - long-term question answered! read more

Anita is such a warm and insightful teach! Lessons with her were always full of laughter and I always left feeling light hearted and inspired. Sessions were therapy in their own way. I really appreciated how attuned Anita was to connecting with the body, our instrument, in singing. She is very knowledgable about mouth anatomy and helped to explore and reveal habits of mine, which I would have never picked up on (such as how I sometimes move my jaw in order to try to "correct" my voice). She helped me to find a resonant space of ease, in my voice, and I am so appreciative to have been able to connect with her. read more

As a music major I was looking for a teacher I could work with long-term. Having moved from another state, I decided to go 'shopping' for voice teachers. Anita was the first teacher I found and after our first lesson I decided I didn't need to look for anyone else- she was the one! She is enormously supportive and clearly passionate about her work. She is talented, giving, and highly intuitive. My lessons with her are helping me to grow as a person as well as a singer. Thanks Anita! read more

Anita creatively combined multiple talents in a session of body-led dance and voice unlike any I have experienced. As a dance challenged guy, I was apprehensive at first, but found myself easily and freely caught up in an integrated flow of breath and movement. I can easily recommend this unique form of expression with Anita. read more

Anita is hugely supportive and enthusiastic, and at the same time I feel challenged to go further and to make the most of each workshop or session. I think it is this 'edge' - which comes authentically from how much she is showing up in her own life - that makes her work potentially transformative. read more