✧ THE COURSE ✧
Becoming a Singer
Setting The Stage To Live A Vocal Life
A Strong Foundation For Your Vocal Life
Not everyone who loves to sing is called to a career in music. But of the singers who are, those who succeed and thrive have a strong foundation and an inner life that’s confident and secure.
Becoming A Singer will help you lay the groundwork for that foundation.
You’ll learn which skill sets are essential to navigating your life as a musician and the mindset that will help you make your career sustainable.
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How do you do this?
Becoming A Singer is practical.
It’s packed with information and tools that you can use to further your artistry and career. But there’s more to a vocal life than information and tools. You’ll also learn ways to support and strengthen your inner singer to meet the external and internal challenges you’ll encounter on your journey.
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Who is this for?
Whether you’re taking your first steps on your musical journey, have been singing and performing for a while and need a refresh, or are a curious, lifelong learner, Becoming A Singer
has something for everyone who loves to sing.
Pay what you can.
I want to make this course as accessible for singers as possible. There is a modest fee on a sliding scale from $49 to $129, this allows me to cover the expenses of hosting this course.
What you’ll learn:
What the WHY is behind your love for singing, and how to stay connected to it when the journey gets rough.
How your body works as an instrument, plus best practices and exercises for maintaining vocal health.
How to choose, interpret, and connect more deeply with the songs you sing.
How to make your practice and rehearsal time more constructive and fun.
All about microphones, sound systems, and stage plots.
How to stand, move, and communicate authentically in performance.
Guidance for overcoming performance anxiety and stage fright.
How to create a deeper connection with your audience.
And ways to take care of yourself while navigating all of the above!
Kind Words from Students
I have had the pleasure of teaching many amazing musicians over the years! Click here to read more testimonials of our time together.
✧ Transformative ✧
“Valerie is a brilliant artist who uses her teaching to transform voices, open hearts, and change lives. Her deep understanding of vocal technique is matched by an appreciation for the many ways we learn and a willingness to meet every student where they are and nurture their potential to develop into the best version of themselves.”
–Darrell Grant, Musician, Educator
✧ Life Changing ✧
“Before I met Valerie, I felt like a singer trapped inside a cage. Through her mentoring, I learned how to release the melodic sounds pulsing just beneath the surface. Valerie's approach combines technique with philosophy; her students gain an intimate knowledge of their how and why, which inspires confidence and purpose. Valerie changed my life, as a singer and artist, and human being.”
–Sarah Farrell Mackessy, Singer, Bassist, Events Producer
✧ Compassionate ✧
“I've gained so much awareness and skill while working with Valerie. Not only is she an expert technician of the vocal instrument, but she also has a compassionate approach and addresses all of the psychological processes of being a singer and musician. She is hands down one of the most cherished teachers of my lifetime, and I can't sing her praises enough!”
–Stephanie Schneiderman, Singer, Songwriter, Educator
Hi, I’m Valerie Day.
My own journey as a musician and educator began more than 30 years ago with the Grammy-nominated band Nu Shooz. It's taken me from smokey clubs to packed arenas, from performing in obscurity to making hit records.
I also spent many years in the trenches as a performer and teacher, working with students of all levels of experience, each with their own dreams and goals.
This has given me a front-row seat to the kinds of struggles that singers wrestle with every day, at every stage of their career.
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So, why this course and why now?
I created Becoming A Singer as a legacy project. It’s my way to give back to the music community that’s given me so much.
It’s for both singers and voice teachers — because I would have loved to have a course like this when I was first starting out in music, and it also would have been so helpful to have during the 20 years I taught in my private studio.
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My biggest lesson:
Creating a life in the arts isn't easy. Making a living, managing the business side of music, taking care of oneself and family, plus carving out time for creativity, practice, and rehearsals can quickly lead to overwhelm and burnout.
What I have learned from over 30 years in the music business is that self-care is perhaps the most critical skill for singers to develop.
Throughout this course, I'll share some strategies and practices that you can experiment with to keep your body, mind, and spirit healthy as you navigate the different facets of your musical life.
Learn more about the course!
Helping you learn in the way that best supports your individual learning style matters a great deal to me. I want you to succeed! This course includes:
Video Tutorials
Each lesson has a video ranging from five to 15 minutes long. Don’t have time to watch it? Listen to the content like it’s a podcast. If there are visual elements that you don’t want to miss, you can always watch them later. (As you’ll learn in the course, repetition is the key to remembering!
Transcriptions
Some students do best when they read what’s being said in the spoken content. You’ll have a choice with every lesson — watch, listen, and/or read. And, if you like to takes notes, you can copy and paste whatever information’s most important to you in whatever cloud system you use.
Links & Quizzes
There’s so much to learn! So you don’t get overwhelmed, each lesson is a bite-size chunk of easy-to-digest goodness. But if you want more, most lessons have links to go deeper. Plus, each module has quick and easy quizzes designed to help you remember what you’ve learned.
Modules
The course modules are sequential and each builds a bridge to the next one. But if a specific module topic jumps out at you, you are welcome to dive right in! This is a self-study course, so you can learn at your own pace.
Finding Your North Star
In Module 1, we'll start with your why and use it to help you create a map for your musical journey.
Your Body Is Your Instrument
Your body is your instrument. It's YOU! And because of that, no one else will ever sound like you. In Module Two, you’ll learn how your body makes sound and how to maintain a healthy instrument. Understanding how the body works when you sing will help you make the sounds you want to make consistently, in all kinds of performance situations throughout your life.
Repertoire: The Song & Your Relationship To It
Songs are the vehicle for your voice. They’re the vessel through which you express yourself. Your connection to the songs you sing matters. In Module Three, we'll take a look at how to choose, interpret, and communicate through them. Plus you’ll learn how to figure out which keys to sing your songs in.
Preparing For Performance – Part One
Part One: Practice
In Module 4, you'll learn how and what to practice to achieve your musical goals. We'll take a look at the difference between practicing technique vs. practicing artistry, and we'll talk about your gig book, charts, and rehearsing with other musicians.
Preparing For Performance – Part Two
Part Two: The Eyes Have It
In Module 5, you’ll go from practicing alone to rehearsing with other people. You'll learn how we "see" each other through gestures, facial expressions, and body language. And you’ll learn how to practice with video so you can feel comfortable in your own skin and communicate more authentically with your audience.
Stage-Ready Success
From Microphones & Sound Systems to Show Planning. In this module, you'll discover the essential tools and skills that make shows run smoothly. We'll explore sound equipment—from microphones to monitors—and show you how to make them work for you. You'll learn to create stage plots and navigate sound checks like a pro. Finally, you'll master the art of crafting thoughtful set lists that create the perfect atmosphere for your performance while maintaining your vocal health.
Stepping Onto The Stage
Coming in Winter 2026
Finally, in Module Seven, it’s time to step onstage. We’ll start with a lesson about one of the most important relationships of all, the one you have with your audience. I’ll share some helpful techniques for warming up your body and mind before performing and how to navigate performance anxiety. We’ll also explore the what, when, and how to talk with your audience and what to do once the show is over. And that’s a wrap!
Want to learn more about each module?
Click the button to view the full curriculum with an overview of all lessons.
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Ready to create the Foundation for your Vocal Life?
This course is my legacy to you, the aspiring singer who wants to create a fulfilling career in music. I offer it on a sliding scale, which allows me to cover the expenses of hosting the course.
Same course, pay what you can.
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FAQ
Will this course teach me HOW to sing?
No. This course won’t teach you how to sing. But you will learn how your body works as an instrument, and some tips you can use to sing better. There’s also a section on voice teachers and how to find one that’s a good fit for you.
Will the course cover how to get more gigs, set fees, build a brand, or use social media to market my music more effectively?
This course focuses on the foundations of your artistry as a singer: your body as your instrument, the songs you sing, and how you communicate with your audience. It’s designed to help you take the stage and perform with confidence, but it doesn’t cover the business side of music, such as getting gigs, fees, branding, or social media marketing.
The Resources page on my website includes excellent courses and books on those topics. I will also offer bonus lessons on branding and making money in music in the future.
Subscribe to my newsletter, Vocal Notes, to stay up to date on new lessons, bonus content, and future resources for building your music career.
Do I need to know music theory or how to read music?
No. It's helpful to have some background in notation and music theory, but it's not absolutely necessary. You'll still get a lot out of the course.