“Singing is music making. This is the essential thing, more important than the sound of the voice. Singing realizes its full potential when we are able to give voice without distortion or affectation to the entire spectrum of human emotion, within the dynamic form of music.” Deborah Carmichael, Libero Canto
My experience as both teacher and student of voice can be described as a practice of listening, focusing on human relations. I envision the body and voice in performance as utterances of cultural construction and habits. My work as a vocalist, composer and improviser often proposes an instrumental, non-verbal approach, advancing the role of the singer as a musician who thrives on challenges. Through my path, as a leader or collaborator, I have questioned roles singers are usually assigned. Deemed as non-musicians, singers are often separated from instrumentalists in their educational and professional settings. With my work, I bring to light a counteraction to this exclusion. As an artists that navigates in distinct music worlds, I believe this fluidity provides me the practical knowledge to access different sonorities, challenging pre-determined labels.
I am fascinated by the sound of the human voice. My task as a teacher is to hear/ listen/ watch the student attentively. I guide the lesson time through an arsenal of exercises that focus on body movement and bring awareness of the physical aspects involved in the act of singing. The ultimate goal is to let go of unnecessary tensions and habits, to explore one’s vocal sound, connecting deeper with the process of music making. I focus on body and voice as a whole, while focusing on musicianship: this might involve working on music theory, improvisation, harmony or exploring different kinds of music styles.
I have studied Classical Piano, Classical Singing and was a member of a Choir before getting involved with contemporary music. Upon my move to the United States, I have focused my musical studies in Jazz, Improvisation and Composition. Since 2010 I have been studying the Libero Canto approach to singing with Deborah Carmichael, and my teaching is deeply influenced by this work.
Along with my private teaching in New York, I have taught at Creative Jazz Workshop at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Berklee Global Jazz Workshop at Newport Jazz Festival, Banff International Jazz and Creative Music Workshop, The School of Jazz at New School, City College of New York, New York Jazz Academy, Hot Clube de Portugal, Conservatório de Tatuí (Brasil), Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (Perth), Lisbon Summer Jazz School, Jazz Seminar at Alhaurin de la Torre (Spain), Madeira Conservatory, Panama Jazz Festival, Wheeler School (Providence), among others.
I am currently teaching at The School of Jazz and Contemporary at The New School and at the New Jersey City University.
I see the lesson time as a time for self-discovery for both sides. I expect my students to be open-minded, focused, persistent, creative and respectful.
Lessons usually develop within the following topics:
VOCAL EXPLORATION | IMPROVISATION |MUSIC THEORY & HARMONY |REPERTOIRE
STUDENT’S TESTIMONIALS:
“What had most impact on me, from Sara’s workshop, was learning how to explore and interpret a song – to make it my own, to think about its message, and to follow this exploration process with my voice.” Aida Rosa, Hot Mornings, Lisboa July 2017
“Sara is an amazing teacher who has the ability bring you into the present moment. This helps to connect with the music and sound in a very organic and intuitive way, embracing the beauty of one’s own vulnerability and going beyond expectations as a result.” Linda May Han Oh, Private Studio
“Sara is a knowledgeable and energetic teacher, who helped me understand deeply certain aspects of what a vocalist needs. I loved how she had the ability of making everyone feeling comfortable in their instrument, and she made the subject easily approachable and understandable for all of us, no matter the level. After taking a masterclass with her, I was able to formulate a more efficient daily practice routine, which has affected not only my vocal and improvisational abilities, but also my compositional skills.” Laura Tagliatelle, Rome Workshop 2017
“After Sara’s workshop I have decided to enroll on the Vocal Jazz Introduction Course at Hot Clube. Her workshop was very important for me, it showed me how singing is meaningful and challenging, and how it can be done it a serious and focused way.” Inês Abrunhosa, Hot Mornings, Lisbon, July 2017
“Sara Serpa was my voice teacher for four years. I felt that my lessons with Sara were more than technical exercises and learning new material – she helped me appreciate the daily connection between my body, mind, and emotions when using my voice. The lessons felt very personal, and I appreciated Sara’s patience and knowledge. It was also important to me to have a teacher who was an artist actively involved in her own work and performing. My work with Sara resulted in a profound and positive change in my attitude about my voice, and singing in general.” Linda Nagaoka, Private Studio
“I met Sara Serpa during a workshop she did in Rome last year. She is a very deep person with an open mind approach to music and with a solid knowledge of what she teaches. I really appreciated her work and she left me with desire of knowing more about myself as an artist.” Ludovica Manzo, Rome 2017
“Studying with Sara has truly been transformative in my journey towards finding my own voice. Instead of offering quick fixes or built-on techniques, Sara has patiently helped me to find my own natural way of producing voice and to learn ways to address tensions and emotions in the body that may affect the natural flow of voice. While this may seem like a longer journey than some of the techniques I’ve learned previously, I feel like the results have been ever so much more sustainable. Sara’s warm and supportive energy and her talent and musicality always create a safe and inspiring space to excel during the classes. She’s also been a great guide in discovering new material, from jazz, improvisation, latin trova to bossa nova. ” Milja Laakso, Private Studio
“I had the (very!) good fortune of being mentored by the wonderful jazz vocalist Sara Serpa during the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop at the Newport Jazz Festival last summer. As the drummer for the vocal jazz ensemble that she directed, I was inspired by Sara’s deep musical insights and her effectiveness in communicating the most artistic ways to bring the rhythm section and singers together into true harmony. She brought in amazing arrangements of her own for us to perform, which showcased our strengths as individuals and as an ensemble. Sara also pushed us out of our comfort zones, teaching us to let go of our musical inhibitions and really tap into the fun and joy of music-making. In two short weeks, our group experienced the kind of musical and personal growth that comes from getting to work with such an exceptional and unique artist, singer and composer like Sara. Needless to say, I am incredibly thankful for the impact that Sara Serpa has made on me as a musician.” Maya Stepansky, Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop at Newport Jazz Fest
“Sara Serpa’s vocal workshop was engaging, insightful and interactive. She had the student’s full attention as they warmed their voices, paid attention to their whole body, it’s structure, and it’s capacity for resonance and support. Sara’s exercises for improvisation as a group, were really great and many of the singer’s commented afterwards how much they got out of the workshop. I would recommend her skills as both an educator and a performer very highly.” Kristin Berardi, Australia Workshop
”I had the pleasure of participating at Sara’s weekly workshops twice, and it was one of the most exciting and refreshing experiences I’ve ever had, especially in what matters to music, singing, improvisation and expressing myself as an artist. In those workshop weeks I could only think about my homework and wishing to be able to do it for months, instead of a few days. It is truly challenging and fun, everyday with Sara is different. She can put ourselves completely out of our comfort zone. Meanwhile, she teaches us to release what does not serve us anymore, working and discussing not only technique, but also our posture and movements, our way of hearing music and how we think about it. Sara is a hard worker and she loves everything that she does, everyone around her can feel this energy. I am thrilled of being a part of her lucky group of students, hearing her music and be a witness of such an amazing and constantly evolving musician and singer. She is a strong inspiration for me, as it is for so many of us.’‘ Rita Fernandes, Hot Clube de Portugal, Lisbon 2017
“O workshop que nos deu a Sara Serpa foi óptimo para ver novas abordagens de improvisação tanto do ponto de vista, melódico, como harmónico e rítmico. Foi muito interessante também a interacção em grupo em exercícios vocais, de interpretação assim como pequenos exercícios de composição.” Josina Filipe, Lisboa 2017
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I am based in New York for most of the year. If you would like to schedule a lesson or organize a workshop, please get in touch. I am also available for Skype lessons.
contact: saraserpa (at) saraserpa.com