Committed to making contemporary vocal music more approachable and accessible, Ms. Smither has visited at institutions including the University of Toronto, Monash University in Melbourne, James Madison University, and Rice University. Additionally, she has given a masterclass on traditional operatic repertoire at the Harvard College Opera Society. To book any services, please get in touch using the button at the top right.
Writing for Voice – Composition Classes
Available in single or multi-class packages. Geared towards university students, but an abbreviated high school version is available.
I have given these workshops at Rice University, Indiana University, and as a featured talk through the Cincinnati Song Initiative. Through this lecture or series of lectures you will learn about many important mechanics of writing for voice. Most importantly, I hope to give you some tools, some language you can use as common ground when working together. Working with singers and writing for voice is a special art. I hope that by thinking about communication holistically, we can foster empathetic collaboration that will enable the creation of truly exciting works.
Topics to be covered include: Voice types and the fach system, range and tessitura, passaggi and extended ranges, balance, breathing, vibrato, and extended technique, how to collect important information about your singer’s voice!
“I have personally experienced Ms. Smither lecture “Writing for Voice” on two different occasions: once as a student at Rice University, and again as an Instructor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her lecture was filled with instruction of the highest caliber and was delivered with a wonderfully positive and encouraging attitude that inspired me and my students to pursue writing for voice. Ms. Smither’s prepared materials on “Writing for Voice” have found a permanent place in the front cover of my personal orchestration textbook, and I would never begin working on a new vocal composition, classical or modern, before first going through Ms. Smither's “Vocal Template” with the vocalist. This lecture redefined the way I approach writing for voice in a huge way."
– Patrick Lenz
Vocal Lessons and Masterclasses
I have taught masterclasses at University of Toronto, Monash University in Melbourne, James Madison University. These can be on general repertoire, or specifically contemporary repertoire. I also offer individual lessons and vocal coaching.
“It was a pleasure to invite my former University of Toronto student Alexandra Smither back to the studio as a mature and accomplished artist to work with my existing undergraduate singers. Ally created a positive environment on Zoom where the singers felt free to express and experiment. She was able to pinpoint some very specific musical and technical points of work for each student which gave them valuable feedback from a trusted source. The students all told me later how “cool" and “wonderful" it was to work with her!"
– Elizabeth McDonald
Speech Coaching
Not a singer but want to become more free and comfortable in your speaking voice? Is your voice tiring out because of the speaking you need to do in your job? Do you need to project your voice, but find yourself yelling? Looking for more confidence in your speaking? We can address all of these things!
Through coaching, we can work on grounding and releasing your speaking voice. You will leave with a series of general exercises to continue on your own, as well as specific tools to find both release and specificity in your scripts.