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Phone: 437-410-2863

Email: Brenda Carol Vocal Lessons

#newvocalstudio #Beaches/East York #Toronto

If you have a question about vocal lessons, please complete the form below. Thanks in advance.

BRENDA CAROL VOCAL LESSONS

In person lessons now being accepted. Protocols in place.

See Brenda Carol’s LinkedIn

Lessons can be provided in the following formats Online using:

Skype username: yesbrenda / Zoom / FaceTime / FaceBook Messenger Video

Contact: Brenda Carol at Email: Brenda Carol Vocal Lessons for more details.

  • Mentioned in Listening to the Future – The time of progressive rock 1968 – 1978. Written by Bill Martin.
  • Listening the future – The time of progressive rock
  • Listed in The Jazz Singers – The Ultimate Guide written by Scott Yanow

Brenda Carol has been educating and coaching vocalists in Toronto since 1994. She performs in Canada and the U.S.. Holds jazz/rock master classes for all ages and teaches music privately. Carol is presently editing a sophomore album and her third recording officially independently released.

Carol’s practical approach to teaching has evolved through over 30 years of private vocal study, piano, guitar, flute and percussion lessons. Carol continues to study music today, songwriting and practicing guitar and cajon. From beginner to professional, Carol continues teaching some of the finest, up-and-coming, emerging vocalists in all styles of singing from across the globe.

Email: Brenda Carol
Fees rates are based upon request only. Block lesson times available by request. Private vocal lessons. In studio lessons. Group vocal lessons available upon request. Beginner piano, guitar and theory lessons. No audition required. First come first served.

Online lessons are available for students studying vocals, guitar and beginner piano using the following technologies: Skype, FaceTime, Facebook messenger, Zoom and WhatsAp. Payment is offered through PayPal and eTransfer. 

 Do you have a question about singing or music lessons? You can ask questions anytime. Email: Brenda Carol
 

  • What I Teach:
    • All styles of vocal music: pop, rock, hip hop, alt, hot a/c, classical, country, prog rock, blues, jazz (vocalese), swing, Broadway, gospel, folk and R & B. Audition preparation available.
    • Specialization: pop, rock, jazz, prog rock, gospel, country, hip hop and folk, group vocals, live/recording and performance.
    • Ages 4 +: generally some restrictions apply for younger singers. Ages 4 + beginner piano and guitar lessons.
    • Fee schedule and block lesson purchases available upon request. Semester fee schedule for ages 4 – Post Secondary.
    • Emphasis on proper skill development, reading and of course, enjoyment!
    • Reading: Learn to read music, improve sight-singing skills, develop ear-training, and theory practice. RCM theory exam preparation available.
    • Beginner to professional development – voice instruction (vocal lessons) and vocal (repertoire) coaching available.
    • Professional Development: musicianship, style and interpretation, career preparation and development, efficient vocal function and the development of vocal health throughout your singing career.
    • Brenda Carol CD’s are available from the artist directly: Buy from the artist! Also available for download at: itunes!  I Amazon (sold out)  
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      • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology York University, Toronto, ON Canada
      • 30 years of formal and private study: vocal, guitar, theory, piano and flute.
      • Instruments: voice, guitar, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, piano, and percussion. Professional Experience:
      • Producer and professional recording artist – Independent Releases: “brenda carol” 1998 and “Live At HotHouse Cafe” 2000  I Available on itunes.
      • Over 30 years of professional singing experience in established and private venues, internationally.
      • Over 30 years of experience teaching music within the Board of Education and Early Childhood Education settings.
      • 30 years of professional private vocal instruction and teaching experience – all ages, all levels.
      • Co-owner and operator of the independent record label, Darwyn Records. 
      • Member of the Toronto Musicians Association (T.M.A.) and Local 149 of the American Federation of Musicians.
      • Listed with All About Jazz.com
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    •  
      • Computer Skills:
      • Systems: imac 15, macbook pro, Mac OS X, PC, Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator 7.0 and PhotoShop 8.0 CS2, Windows Media Player, Real Audio, Mp3 etc. Web Skills
      • Wix, Word Press, SquareSpace, etc… Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium: Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5, Adobe Flash CS5.5, Adobe Illustrator CS5.1, Adobe Photoshop CS5.1, Studio 8: Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, Fireworks, Contribute, HTML, JavaScript 1.5, Microsoft FrontPage 2000, Claris Homepage, Dream weaver 4.0, Macromedia Flash MX, Macromedia – Director 7, Microsoft FrontPage 1.0b for Mac, Netscape Communicator 4.7, Microsoft Explorer 5.0, Safari, Opera Fine Art Skills & Development
      • Visual Artist: drawing, indian ink, woodcuts, painting, sculpture. (images to come)
      • printmaker: woodcuts, steel etchings, lithography, and mono-prints
      • drawing: pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, and Indian ink
      • painter: acrylic, water colour, oil, and collage
      • Computer Programs: Creative Suite Adobe, Adobe Illustrator CS5.5, Adobe Photoshop CS5.5, Adobe Illustrator 9.0, Adobe Photoshop 8 8.0 CS2, ArcSoft PhotoStudio 2000 Web Site Designs and Site Management:
      • Victoria Dixon: Victoria Dixon Makeup
      • The Discarded: TheDiscarded.ca 
    •  
  • Web Page Designs/Setups for Musicians:

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Brenda Carol Tracks: 1. Everything I’ve Got 2. God Bless The Child 3. You Must Believe In Spring 4. I’m Hip 5. Summertime 6. Old Devil Moon 7. Nefertiti 8. Bye Bye Blackbird 9. Lush Life 10. The Man I Love 11. Total running time: 55.22 ©1998 Darwyn Records. All rights reserved. Recorded March 17 & 18, 1998. Recorded and mixed by Phil Sheridan at the Studio at Puck’s Farm. Mastered by Ed Marshall at Marshall Artist Productions. Front cover photography by Jim Allen. Inside photography by Les Bialek. Design by pure. Featured Players: Brenda Carol – vocals Stephen Gardner – piano Ted Quinlan – guitar Lorne Lofsky – guitar Igor Romanyk – violin Stephen Crowe – trumpet Steve Wallace – bass Daniel Barnes – drums Art Avalos – percussion

Media Quotes:

‘Jazz musicians who also have roots in progressive rock, especially the music of Yes, seem a very unlikely prospect, but with vocalist Brenda Carol, pianist Stephen Gardner, and their group ClaireVoyance, this is what we have, and it works beautifully. Make no mistake, this is a ‘real’ jazz group, using acoustic instruments,… and not playing fusion or any of that watered-down ‘cool’ stuff.’ – Bill Martin, associate professor of philosophy, DePaul University, Chicago author of Music of Yes and Listening to the future

‘Carol has a well-rounded set of pipes…. [her] feathery croon wraps the lyrics in a warm caress. Carol’s contributions on [‘Lucky Seven’] respectfully recall shades of Joni Mitchell.’ – Derek Taylor, Cadence Magazine

‘Brenda Carol is one of the finest jazz vocalists singing today.’ – Lee Prosser, Jazz Review

‘This bright new singer is a welcome addition to the Canadian jazz scene and carries on the tradition of such luminaries as Chris Connor and June Christy. The young lady is a pure jazz singer in every sense of the word.’ – Richard Bourcier, Jazz Review

‘[Brenda Carol] refreshingly makes the lyrics of a tune become like seeds flowering into a new life, vision, vitality and dimension. Whether wistful or joyous, she relays the many moods of each song directly, powerfully, yet beautifully.’ – Joanne Brackeen, jazz pianist/educator

“With her beautiful voice, creative explorations, and joyful desire to continue stretching the boundaries of jazz, Brenda Carol promises to be a major force in modern music for many years to come. A very talented jazz singer’. – Scott Yanow, author of The Jazz Singers, The Ultimate Guide.

Reviews

A lovely Canadian vocalist with an enchantment and singing magic all her own has appeared on the scene, and her name is Brenda Carol. This cd is full of standards that will delight any jazz listener! Brenda Carol has excellent backup musicians, and everything comes together in an even flow of musical expertise and harmonic expression. At last, a new George Gershwin interpreter who understands the essence of Gershwin music and can share it fully and soulfully with her listening audience. It is good to have somebody who understands the old standards and can express them so beautifully as Brenda Carol. An excellent cd.”(Used with permission. (c) The Jazz Review, 1999.) — Lee Prosser – The Jazz Review

Another fine recording emerges from the Studio at Puck’s Farm in Schomberg, Ontario. Brenda Carol, a native of Sudbury, makes her CD debut with a fine group of musicians including collectively Stephen Gardner, piano; Lorne Lofsky, guitar; Ted Quinlan, guitar; Igor Romanyk, violin; Steve Wallace, bass; Stephen Crowe, trumpet; Daniel Barnes, drums and Art Avalos, percussion. Brenda is accompanied by both a quintet and sextet. This bright new singer is a welcome addition to the Canadian jazz scene and carries on the tradition of such luminaries as Chris Connor and June Christy. The young lady is a pure jazz singer in every sense of the word. Drawing from the pop charts of the 30s and 40s, Brenda seems very much at home with Old Devil Moon, Lush Life, Summertime, The Man I Love and God Bless the Child. She swings nicely on Bye Bye Blackbird and Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You. (Used with permission. (c) The Jazz Review, 1999.) — Richard Bourcier – The Jazz Review

Brenda Carol engages material that looks all too familiar. To her credit she pulls it off. Carol’s rather plain expression becomes a prime strength as it serves to reveal not the singer but the songs. Maybe that’s why songs so closely associated with Billie Holiday, like “God Bless The Child” and Gershwin’s “Summertime” and “The Man I Love” are among Carol’s best. Her music is also well served by the maturity of the settings. Solo highlights include Igor Romanyk’s violin in “God Bless The Child” and “The Man I Love”, Wallace’s bass in “You Must Believe In Spring”, Gardner’s piano and Crowe’s trumpet in an atmospheric interpretation of Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti.” Yet it is the solid group interplay in performances like “Summertime,” “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Lush Life that indicate why Brenda Carol is such an unexpected surprise. (Used with permission. (c) Cadence Magazine, 1999.) — David Lewis- January, 1999, Cadence Magazine

From the Label

“We are grateful to all who participated in the recording of this debut album for Darwyn Records. The expertise and quality brought forward sets this new and independent label significantly apart, not to mention this very fine cd, “Brenda Carol”. Definitely a solid foundation for a new jazz artist and an up-and-coming, independent label, as well.

From the Artist

Incredible Empathy in Every Song
“I believe that a singer is only as good as the musicians that accompany her/him. I am forever grateful to the musicians who made my debut album so easy to sing on. Thanks for your empathy and superb playing. Thank you to Phil Sheridan for capturing it all. Thank you to all our fans for listening.” – Brenda Carol – (Used with permission. (c) Darwyn Records 1998.)

About the Artist

“Endlessly swimming and playing by the banks of the Grand River, Brenda Carol was raised in the Brant County region of Ontario, Canada. From her earliest days she remembers adoring music, soaking it in during long sweet summers spent outdoors. As a teenager, she took an audacious step. Moving into live performance, she began singing rock and jazz. This was the beginning of Brenda’s apprenticeship period: collecting knowledge, ideas, and images from vocal jazz, blues, and popular song.


Moving to the city; a classic singer’s story, she began developing her craft; singing anytime and anywhere. Inspiration came from many sources: the bebop vocal-jazz styling of Annie Ross, the confidence of Betty Carter – whose work developed Brenda’s ear for original improvisations, the playfulness of early Ella Fitzgerald and singer Chris Connor. As always, the greats are part of any jazz performers necessary listening: Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Miles Davis… they have given Brenda Carol a grounding in this musical tradition. From the spaciousness of a country childhood to the sophistication of an artist parlaying an urban musical form, she draws from the multiplicity of experiences in her life. Confidence and emotional control embodies her independent debut CD “Brenda Carol”.


“Brenda Carol” encompasses ten timeless jazz classics. Like the great Bill Henderson, Brenda Carol uses her voice to evoke time and place. In Nefertiti, the vocal overlay on the great Wayne Shorter composition, she raises the image of an Egyptian high priestess invoking the Sun God Ra to bring a new era to the land of Ancient Egypt. With her rendition of the Blossom Dearie classic, I’m Hip, she contrasts the deadpan wit of the Dearie version. Using humour, (with a wink to the audience), she portrays the giddiness of the very modern desire to be au courant. Finally, in the hidden gem of the CD, Lush Life, she brings the words of Billy Strayhorn to life, conveying the world-weariness of a young romantic lost in sultry melancholy.


Taking notes from the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald, Brenda Carol plays easily with the musicians; making space in the melodies for the talented players that accompany her on the CD. The ensemble of Stephen Gardner on piano, Stephen Crowe on trumpet, Ted Quinlan and Lorne Lofsky on guitar, Igor Romanyk on violin, Steve Wallace on bass and Daniel Barnes on drums bring a delicately-tuned sensibility which acts as a frame for Brenda Carol’s remarkable performance.


With her emphasis on emotion, originality and malleability of the boundaries of vocal jazz, Brenda Carol is a new talent on the jazz horizon. She is part expert storyteller, part vocalist who has made a unique instrument out of her voice and part cultural historian who mines a knowledge of the blues and the avant-garde. Inspired by the unique women who came before her, Brenda Carol brings a fresh perspective to the vocal jazz song-book.” Written by: Vinny Chachra – August 1998 (Used with permission. (c) Darwyn Records, 1998.)

Band members: Brenda Carol – vocals; Stephen Gardner – piano; Lorne Lofsky – quitar*; Ted Quinlan – guitar; Stephen Crowe – trumpet; Igor Romanyk – violin; Steve Wallace – bass; Daniel Barnes – drums; Art Avalos – percussion.

George Koller & Brenda Carol, Peace Theatre (Brenda Carol Renaissance Jazz Fair, 2007.

Pedagogy & Qualifications:
 

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON Canada 
minor in Music Composition. 

Over 30 years of formal and private study: vocal, guitar, theory, piano and flute. Instruments: voice, guitar, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, piano, and percussion.

Lineage Of Vocal Pedagogy: 

Bill Vincent – spoken level singing technique training

Lynn McDonald – private jazz vocal lessons

Louise Lambert – private pop/jazz vocal lessons

Ms. Jaye – private rock/folk vocal lessons

Jazz Vocal Masterclasses & Study:

Jon Hendricks – The Art of Jazz Series 

Kevin Mahogany – The Art of Jazz Series

Susannah McCorkle

Meredith d’Ambrosio

Annie Ross

June Christy

Doris Day

​______________________________________________________

Jazz Vocal Influences:

Jon Hendricks – The Art of Jazz Series 

Kevin Mahogany – The Art of Jazz Series

Ella Fitzgerald​

Flora Purim

Annie Ross

Progressive Rock Vocal Influences:

Jon Anderson – YES

Chris Squire – YES

John Wetton – King Crimson, ASIA, Solo

Peter Gabriel – Genesis, Solo

Anne Wilson – Heart

Composition Training: York University

Professional Experience: Producer and professional recording artist – Independent Releases: “brenda carol” 1998 and “Live At HotHouse Cafe” 2000. Available on itunes. 

Over 30 years of professional singing experience in established and private venues, internationally. 

Over 30 years of experience teaching music within the Board of Education and Early Childhood Education settings. 

Over 30 years of professional private vocal instruction and teaching experience – all ages, all levels. 

Member of the Toronto Musicians Association (T.M.A.) and Local 149 of the American Federation of Musicians. 

Listed with All About Jazz.com

Listed in Scott Yanow’s, “The Jazz Singers – The Ultimate Guide”, 2009. 

Listed in the “World Who’s Who In Jazz, Cabaret Music And Entertainment.” (Vol 1) 

Performance review and reference in Bill Martin’s, “Listening To The Future – The Time of Progressive Rock, 1968-1978”. 

QUOTES:

“Brenda Carol is one of the finest jazz vocalists singing today.” – Lee Prosser, Jazz Review 

“If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear them live, grab a copy of this CD. After listening I predict that you’ll be in the audience next time.” – Bill McLean, beach metro Community News 

“Carol has a well-rounded set of pipes…. [her] feathery croon wraps the lyrics in a warm caress. Carol’s contributions on [“Lucky Seven”] respectfully recall shades of Joni Mitchell.” – Derek Taylor, Cadence Magazine 

“This bright new singer is a welcome addition to the Canadian jazz scene and carries on the tradition of such luminaries as Chris Connor and June Christy. The young lady is a pure jazz singer in every sense of the word.” – Richard Bourcier, Jazz Review.com 

“[Brenda Carol] refreshingly makes the lyrics of a tune become like seeds flowering into a new life, vision, vitality and dimension. Whether wistful or joyous she relays the many moods of each song directly, powerfully, yet beautifully.” – Joanne Brackeen, jazz pianist/educator 

“There is an economy, and a directness, to what Brenda does that is exceedingly rare, moreso every day.” – Bill Martin, associate professor of philosophy, DePaul University, Chicago author of Music of Yes and Listening to the future 

“With her beautiful voice, creative explorations, and joyful desire to continue stretching the boundaries of jazz, Brenda Carol promises to be a major force in modern music for many years to come. A very talented jazz singer”. – Scott Yanow, author of The Jazz Singers, The Ultimate Guide 

Listed in the “World Who’s Who In Jazz, Cabaret Music And Entertainment.” (Vol 1) 

Performance review and reference in Bill Martin’s, “Listening To The Future – The Time of Progressive Rock, 1968-1978”.

Photo Credits: Hair, Makeup and Photography by Victoria Dixon, 2019.

Brenda Carol signed autograph on ebay