Susie
Cloete
Singer & Singing Teacher
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Mindful, student-centered voice lessons, guided by curiosity and exploration
We take our time here.
We identify what we want, we work out how to explore that, and we let our highly intelligent bodies do the rest.
We gradually and gently aim to let go of micro-managing, policing and trying to 'fix' our voices. Because none of that is needed to learn how to sing.
If you:
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Are interested in a more intuitive, embodied approach to learning how to sing
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Enjoy learning in a collaborative, explorative way
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Are seeking a teacher who is interested in how you want to sound and how to help your unique system to get there, more so than following a set approach to technique
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Would like your teacher to be informed by voice science without lessons becoming cerebral
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Want to enjoy singing, rather than feeling you need to police your tongue, your diaphragm or your pelvic floor
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Enjoy the learning process and seeing your progress over time
... then you and I could be a great fit.
My ultimate goal is to help you develop your ability to make choices about how you sound, and for you to build trust in your body.
From lesson to lesson, this looks like helping you identify how you want to sound, and exploring and learning that in an embodied way.
So, who am I, and why learn with me?
I (Susie) studied Music (Popular Voice Performance) at Monash University in Melbourne.
After finishing my studies and emerging from the longest covid lockdown in the world (thanks Melbourne) I taught at various music schools while gigging at events, weddings, pubs and bars as a singer and guitarist.
One of the coolest places our covers duo ever played in was a private function room at the MCG (for a wedding. The groom loved footy).
I now live in Brisbane (yay for sunshine) and in my spare time, I sing in a choir called Resonance of Birralee. Excitingly, we’ve performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra three times in the last year or so, and one of our performances was aired on national radio in August.
Even better, I can now boast that I have gotten lost in both the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and in QPAC.
Most excitingly, I am currently completing a 10-month professional development course for singing teachers. I have learnt so much. I don’t exaggerate when I say that this course has been somewhat life-changing, with the insights gained from it flowing into other areas of my life.
If you’re curious, you can check it out here: The Voice Pedagogy Undegree
Me + uni friends at an event where we got to play our original music
Performing in the duo
The QPAC pass for one of our choir's performances
Here we are on Zoom, learning all of the things
How do lessons work?
I'll be honest with you. I've taught voice for other businesses, but this is the first time I’m stepping out on my own as an independent singing teacher in a focused, intentional way.
I am therefore super excited to open four spots only on Friday mornings in Term 4, which I will be offering at a special, one-time-only reduced price to encourage you to be my guinea pig as I start teaching on my own.
At this stage, I can offer lessons on a per-term basis, with Term 4 sessions starting on Friday 2 October. More details below:
What's in it for you? (Term 4)
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10 x 60-minute voice lessons with me over 10 weeks, starting on Friday 2 October, with our last session on Friday 4 December.
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‘Flex Week’ on Friday 11 December. If you had to miss one of your 10 lessons, we can do one replacement lesson on this date. (These lessons will take place online on Microsoft Teams.)
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Audio recordings of every lesson you have with me so that you can go back and listen to what worked for you.
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All relevant books and sheet music are included. This way, a) we cut down on back and forth emails about what I need you to buy for lessons, b) you don't spend more than you expect to, and c) I can freely give you whatever books or sheet music will be helpful on your journey (which helps me to help you).
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No down-payment to reserve your spot; only pay in the week we start
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A discount of just over 15% for Term 4 while I test-run several things, like the space I’m renting for teaching, payment methods, booking systems, etc…
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A student-centered and embodied approach to singing to give you ownership over your sound
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A teacher who is actively continuing her professional development through study and mentoring
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Be one of the first people to discover and have lessons with me as an independent teacher!
What do I need from you?
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A commitment to 10 voice lessons over a period of 10 weeks.
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A total investment of $1100. This can be paid in three installments of $366.67, or two installments of $550 (or outright, if you prefer).
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Curiousity about your own voice and what it can do!
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If you are open to two to three of our lessons being video recorded, I'd be so grateful, as I will review these with my teaching mentor for feedback on my teaching. This helps me to continue becoming a better teacher for you. Recordings will only be viewed by myself, my teaching mentor and one teaching colleague and will not to critique your singing in any way. Feel free to ask me more about this.
Two simple steps to get started
1. Book a free 15 minute intro call with me.
This call allows us to meet and just have a chat. I’ll ask you about your singing and musical background (it’s okay if there is none!), what your hopes are for your voice, and what you’re looking for from singing lessons.
Please know that there is no obligation to sign up once you’ve spoken to me.
2. Sign up and let's go!
If it seems like we'd be a good fit, all we need to do is lock in a regular time on Fridays between 7:30am and 12pm, and then we're good to go. Once you decide you'd like to join, I will send you all the details about our lesson location, lesson dates, payment schedule, etcetera.
Not quite ready to book a call?
That's okay! Keep scrolling for the FAQ section below, and come back when you’re ready.
Keep in mind there are only four spots available, so if you want your name on one of them, make sure you get in touch!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
How your investment works for you
I see you for one hour a week, but outside of that time, I am:
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Doing ongoing professional development, such as the 10-month Voice Pedagogy course I am currently completing (see the About Me section for more info!)
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Thinking about you :) I put time aside weekly to think about each of the people I work with. 'Holding you in mind' like this helps me grow my understanding of how to help you learn each lesson as I consider where we've been and where we're going.
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Learning the songs you bring to lessons, and singing them myself to get a sense of what coordinations are needed to sing them successfully
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Looking into and purchasing learning resources that will help my students - e.g. method books and sheet music
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Having 1-1 mentoring sessions with an experienced teacher who also happens to lecture about teaching voice at a university level in Canada (Dr Shannon Coates - she's pretty cool)
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Practicing my singing and getting my own singing lessons (it's always interesting being the student when you're used to being the teacher)
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Attending weekly rehearsals and performing in a choir (Resonance of Birralee)
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Going to gigs (I know, this sounds self-indulgent but my goodness, it fill up my 'passion for music' bucket like nothing else)
All of these things help me to be a better teacher for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do lessons take place?
I will most likely be renting a room at Vincent Music in West End. This will be confirmed soon!
How long are lessons?
Usually 60 minutes. This gives us the time needed to identify, explore and build on the skills we want to develop.
What happens if I'm sick or can't make it to my lesson?
Get better soon and I'll see you in Flex Week!
If you could still email me to let me know with as much notice as possible, I'd really appreciate it (this helps with rearranging the day if needed).
Wait, what's Flex Week?
At the end of each 10-week block of lessons, I save an extra week called Flex Week. If you were sick or had to miss a lesson during the term, we can do a lesson on the Friday that week to replace the one you missed. (Please note, the maximum "catch up" lessons we can do in Flex Week is one lesson.)
Do you teach adults?
Absolutely! My teaching style works well with adults and I really enjoy working with them.
Do you teach kids?
I mainly teach singers over the age of 16. This is not because I think younger students shouldn't have singing lessons; it's because my teaching approach doesn’t best suit the learning needs of children or young teenagers.
If your child wants to learn how to sing, I would encourage you to get them singing, whether through lessons or a choir, and to find a teacher who provides structured, engaging and playful lessons – this will be most beneficial to them.
Which styles or genres do you teach?
My own background is mostly in popular music, with some Western classical and jazz thrown in there too. The stuff I really love to sing is R'n'B, soul, blues and jazz. If you want to learn something different, that's okay! I'm happy to work with you on what you're interested in singing.