Christchurch
Singing Lessons
Bio
My coaching style is diagnostic, holistic and intuitive.
Diagnostic means hearing you, then offering practical technical adjustments to help you achieve more ease, strength and confidence with your voice.
Holistic means I work with the whole person – it is my passion!
Intuitive means I trust my guidance about where blocks are and how we can work together to get you the results you are wanting.
Teaching Info
I can help with:
Technical training
Breathing, breath support, posture, resonance, volume, clarity and strength of tone (to name a few).
Mental blocks
Fright/freeze response, anxiety, fear, unpleasant experiences with stage or prior tuition.
Emotional support
Focusing/grounding practices to connect the student to what they are feeling and support to process those feelings. When feelings are met with and listened to, the next right steps appear naturally.
I work with my intuition in lessons to guide you through the growth areas that present themselves.
What I hope you come to feel or notice:
More lightness in yourself and more confidence about your voice/vocal expression.
Clarity around next steps with your career and path as a singer/person.
Testimonials:
Natalie Elms was my singing teacher while I was a student at Rangi Ruru Girls School, between the years of 2012-2013. As an developing adolescent, it was vital time for me to have a creative outlet to explore not only my vocal skills, but to take the time to discover which direction I would go for tertiary studies and into a professional career.
It was with Natalie that I made the decision to study at NASDA (National Academy of Singing & Dramatic Art) and have continued to build a career as a Singer and and Actor. As a vocal coach, Natalie helped me to explored a range of vocal styles from Jazz to Musical theatre and Contemporary. We would discuss and practice the importance of breath control for singing and work to develop my range and smooth out my vocal insecurities.
She also encouraged me to perform publicly where and when I could, which gave me substantial confidence at the beginning of exploring my performing career. Natalie provided me with the fundamental skills for successful vocal control and performance and for that I thank her.
-Sophie Petersen
Natalie was my singing teacher/mentor for the 6 years that I was at high school. Throughout this time Natalie was extremely supportive and caring with my singing and also with life in general. Not only did my voice, technique and singing abilities improve, I gained confidence and received some sound life advice. Lessons with Natalie helped me a lot and I can honestly say I’d be a different person today without them.
– Petra Law
To call Natalie a talented singing coach is not enough of a compliment to describe the full extent to which she has helped me to develop over the past 5 years. Whilst singing with her, I have not only improved as a vocalist but also as a person. Nat’s techniques are incredibly personalised and the bond I have formed with her, has cemented my trust in her teachings and knowledge of singing techniques and exercises in general. Not only this, but the genuine friendship she has fostered with me, giving some incredible advice on life, happiness and passion is probably the thing that I cherish the most. These three aspects also come back to the emotion behind the singing practice, truly connecting with the lyrics and melody of the song. As soon as I walked in to the lesson, I could feel her welcoming and calming energy, I would often remark that the lesson room was my “safe space” and that it felt like another home. After every lesson, I left feeling lighter and more energetic, even on days where to begin with, I felt particularly sluggish and under the weather. Natalie is one of the most intelligent, talented and empathetic people I have ever encountered. Her passion for her job and her students is truly evident at every lesson. She has the ability to make everyone around her feel special. Anyone who has the chance to be coached by her is one lucky person.
-Holly Manning
Hi folks, I had a singing lesson with the amazing Natalie Elms today and I would totally recommend it to anyone who does public speaking, singing (obviously) or speaks for their work! I learned a lot in a short period of time and I know this will help not just my singing but also my work. And you know what? When I was at school I had a music teacher who told me I couldn’t be in the choir ‘cos I was naughty – which I heard as ‘You can’t sing”. I can, and I will! Thank you Natalie – you are amazing! x
-Rebecca Davison
‘I came to Natalie with no formal vocal training but the desire to start learning. She has been a godsend with her patience and understanding of the fears I carried and helped me work through the sometimes crippling fear I had of singing in front of others. She is able to provide the technical support I need and communicate it in a way I can understand while also providing the space and dignity needed when the emotions and fear come up. Natalie has helped me grow in confidence and vocal skills and I highly recommend her, especially to those new to the world of singing lessons.’
– Morgan
If would like to know more, please contact me and ask any questions you may have – I look forward to working together.
I came across a gem when I discovered Natalie. Her knowledge and mastery of the voice has been truly invaluable to me. I have learnt more from Natalie from the mere 6 weeks I have been with her than I have under any other tutelage. Natalie will work on your technical ability if that’s what needs to be done. However the thing that sets her apart from others is her ability to work with the whole performer: the confidence to perform, bringing your whole self to a performance, her acute understanding of the individual barriers and blocks and her ability to work on these through integration work in a safe and nurturing space. Natalie pushes you and champions you in equal measure. There is not anyone else out there doing what Natalie does to the standard that she does it. Cannot recommend her highly enough.
Marianne McLoughlin - Actor and Producer
Natalie is a teacher that goes above and beyond what most teachers are capable of. She excels with technical teaching, but what truly makes her stand out is her ability to understand the student’s patterns of thinking works. She helps them overcome even their most unconquerable mental barriers. As an aspiring musician with the greatest insecurity and lack of natural ability with his singing voice, and having gone through various other singing tutors in the past to little success, I was able to bring out the singing capabilities I had always wanted along with the confidence to perform live. All thanks to her ability to empathise and inspire even those who believe in themselves the least. I could not recommend Natalie enough to anyone who wants to overcome their mental blocks to achieve their ambitions - she will not only help you get far as a singer/musician - I was surprised to see other personal aspects of my life improve through her teaching.
Richard Han - Full stack web developer
Natalie is more than a singing coach - she is my music "therapist" who has helped tremendously in shifting underlying emotional blocks that have kept me from realising my singing potential and confidence. Natalie respectfully gets to the heart of who you are and who you could possibly be as a performer and creates a safe space to learn how to sing correctly while making (many) mistakes along the way. Natalie's holistic teaching approach has truly helped me embrace my love of music and song-writing - it's never too late! I'm well into my 40s and I was inspired by Natalie's success in transforming my son's NCEA performance results, to give it a go. I look forward to realising my childhood dream of being a spectacular singer and am so happy to be on this journey with Natalie.
