Celia Castro , the Teacher

My Studio...

My voice studio is located in Edison, NJ and I also keep a studio in midtown Manhattan. I am very proud to say that I TOTALLY enjoy teaching! I am not a "those who can't do" teacher. I have taken my own personal experiences and training and decided that I love passing on what I've learned along the way. When a student recently told me he got a job to sing a concert in a local church, he told me this while beaming from ear to ear. This student started with me 2 years ago only in touch with one octave of his voice. Today he's accessing a full 2 and half octaves and singing very openly and freely. It's a joy to hear how far he's come. This is why I teach. I love to watch people go on to enjoy successful singing. Nothing makes me happier.

In my studio I have beginners, intermediate students and professionals. I have rock singers, R&B singers, folk singers, classical singers, actors, professional speakers... absolutely anyone who needs to know how to use their voice efficiently and effectively for their profession. It is really a labor of love to work with such a diverse group of people. The ages also vary from 13 to 60+. I do not take children younger than 13 because I find the intense one-on-one focus is still more than they can handle. Anyone hoping to place their young child in voice lessons should consider a class setting with other children their age.

My Method (or "All the various ways to get to the same result")

My theories on good singing do not differ much from everyone else's. Every legitimate voice teacher wants their students to produce beautiful, free, resonating, round tones. Understanding how air is used is important. Achieving a proper, relaxed throat opening and proper coordination and balance throughout the voice is what I believe most everyone is aiming for. Most of my exercises and approaches are taken from the Bel Canto masters -- Manuel Garcia being my greatest source of information. I have also supplemented the teachings of Garcia by turning to William Vernard's "Singing, the Mechanism and the Technic" when I found it necessary to back my information with a more scientific explanation. And, then of course, there are the years under a number of fantastic teachers from whom I took away all kinds of tips and tricks. I take all of this knowledge and then assign each student their own targeted exercises for their voice, their goals, their genre of singing, their experience, etc. Individualized training.

The pursuit of good vocal technique...

The pursuit of good vocal technique is for most a lifelong pursuit. Brilliant, clear vowels and stunning crisp diction can be elusive until one has learned proper balance and relaxation in the throat, tongue and breathing apparatus. Many a teacher and student have tried to put the cart before the horse. The truth is that what makes this an inexact science and an art is that there is no one "true" way. There are good ways and better ways (we won't discuss the bad ways).

It is my belief that we can't all learn the same concepts the same way. What I offer my students is the benefit of my own journey and study. I have studied under many of the best (and some of the worst) teachers the arts have had to offer in the past 15+ years. My study continues. I have an excellent set of ears. I can hear when someone is pressing, squeezing, just plain not singing... and I can usually pinpoint what's getting in the way. When I cannot specifically hear what's getting in the way, I use a variety of exercises to help weed out the bad tensions that are the usual culprits until I find what it is.

I always search for what the student will respond to best. Sometimes I know immediately from the student's personality what will work, other times I might have to try a few different exercises before the right fit is found. I do not believe in doing things rigidly. This makes for rigid results!!

I do not advocate quick fixes. There are none. These are muscles and must be worked slowly and regularly for long-term results. I believe there is no other way.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss approaches to vocal training with other singers and voice teachers so feel to email me with your thoughts and/or articles you might want to have me link on this website. Singing is a process. A wonderful study that, when applied with joy, can be much like zen practice.