Vocal lessons with a focus on exploring yourself and your ability to perform with a multi-style singer

It’s been almost one full year since I started taking group vocal classes with Katia. I wasn’t sure about the group format at first. I felt awkward singing in front of other people. I went to the vocal studio before and took individual classes only. It took me a while to feel more or less comfortable and find advantages in such an arrangement. I was learning a lot not only by my own practice but also by listening to other people and by hearing recommendations from Katia on their performance and delivery. It is either luck or fate that our group turned out to be very friendly and understanding so that I think that all of us can feel like ourselves now and behave and perform naturally. Katia’s method is not only about singing or I would rather say it is not about singing properly in perfect pitch but about opening yourself to the audience, to the world during the vocal classes as well as in your everyday life. I am constantly pushed outside of my comfort zone by trying different genres, by improvising, by doing homework, etc. And I was taught basics of vocal cords anatomy so now I can literally feel what parts of my thought are working when I make different sounds. Last year we had our first big concert where we performed in front of our friends and colleagues. It was organised rather professionally. We had special people like a sound engineer, and the rehearsals and everything. I can say that I have become more relaxed and creative. I have some musical ideas that I would like to realise some time in the future either during our classes or at the next concert that we are certainly going to have. Thanks Katia creating productive and emotionally safe environment for creativity and expressing yourself through music.

Katia, I came to my first lesson with you in 2021. I was 28.

I had dreamed of singing my whole life, but as a child I was told that I had neither an ear for music nor a voice. Because of that, I was embarrassed to sing in front of people — or to sing at all.

When I came to you, thanks to your support, your belief in me, your grounded, healthy approach, and your professionalism, I very quickly realized that I do have both pitch and a voice. I may not be a great talent, but I can sing. And I do sing.

Before working with you, I had absolutely no idea what belting, mix, or twang were. I had no clue about vocal anatomy, cartilage, or that you can place sound “into the nose” — or not — intentionally. I didn’t know or know how to do any of that. Step by step, you taught me.

Lessons with you were never just about vocals — they were about life. I learned that you can’t really sing well without involving your body and your emotions. That it matters what you’re singing about, what you want to say, what you want to live through.

Lara Fabian once said on a show: “We are singers not because we need to sing perfectly. We are singers because we help ourselves and others break through walls and feel.”
I truly understood that during our lessons.

This had a huge impact on my life outside of singing. I became less of a perfectionist, more emotionally open, more attentive to my body. I even find myself using your words now to calm my friends when they sing or perform somewhere.

I also loved that in our lessons we didn’t just learn how to sing, but how to be on stage: how to move, how not to block the body, how to work with musicians, how to work with an audience. Thanks to these lessons, I went on stage for the first time and realized how much I enjoy it — that it works for me, that I want more and more of it.

Even though I’m not taking vocal lessons right now, I speak at conferences and run workshops. And the skills from our lessons help me constantly. I treat every talk like a performance: I think about what I want to convey, what emotion I want to pass on. It’s the same thing — just spoken instead of sung.

I’m sad that we can’t work together at the moment. I didn’t fully master hearing pitch accurately — I still miss notes by a semitone up or down. I didn’t get to sing musicals or jazz. And I didn’t have time to learn ensemble singing — holding my own part without unconsciously copying someone else’s manner.

But I did learn to belt, to sing falsetto, to use mix and twang, and at some point even ring suddenly appeared. I learned how to hold myself on stage and actually enjoy myself there. I fulfilled a childhood dream — singing on stage, no longer being ashamed to sing. And, more broadly, no longer being ashamed of myself.

Thank you for this experience, Katya. It gave me so much and had a profound impact on me. It was truly much more than just vocal training.

Katya, thank you so much for this amazing experience.
For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I should start vocal training at all, because I already had experience with other vocal schools. But I’m really happy I chose to study with you. I’ve been learning with you for over a year now, and during this time I’ve discovered so much about myself.

One of the biggest realizations was how versatile I actually am. I found out that I have very different artistic sides. On one hand, I can be playful and relaxed, someone who fits rap, hip-hop, and simple, straightforward music. On the other hand, there is a rocker in me who loves aggressive vocals, strong rhythms, and raw energy.
Another big surprise was pop music. When you suggested trying pop repertoire, I didn’t expect it to reveal my vocal range, timbre, and flexibility so strongly. It turned out to be unexpectedly beautiful.

During the lessons, I became much more attentive to myself. I started listening to myself better and understanding my voice more deeply. My attitude toward other people also changed — I became more open, more supportive, and genuinely happy about others’ success. The group atmosphere is always warm, fun, and inspiring.

Music and vocals opened up completely new perspectives for me. I discovered new genres and, most importantly, learned how crucial vocal anatomy is. Understanding how the vocal folds, larynx, and muscles work completely changed my approach to singing. I realized that this knowledge is exactly what helps you sing high notes safely. I stopped being afraid of high notes and now understand, from an anatomical point of view, that they are accessible, comfortable, and even enjoyable when you know how to use your body correctly.

I use my vocal skills not only in lessons, but also in everyday life: at social events, with friends and family, bringing positive energy through singing.
A very important professional experience for me was live performance.

Katya, thank you for organizing a live concert in Budapest for all your students. I performed several songs, including a piece by Falling in Reverse that I once thought was completely unreachable for me. It included complex techniques with fast transitions from growling and aggressive vocals to falsetto. The audience reaction and feedback gave me a huge confidence boost.

One of the most interesting repertoires for me was jazz. I didn’t expect to handle such complex rhythms, but after performing a jazz piece during a lesson, I felt genuinely confident, almost like Frank Sinatra.

I clearly identified my strengths and weaknesses. My strengths are communication and feeling comfortable in a group. My weaker areas are focus and consistency, and I’m actively working on improving them.

My relationship with creativity and the stage has changed a lot. I now truly enjoy being on stage, feel confident at the microphone, and sincerely appreciate both my own creativity and the creativity of others.

What makes the biggest difference in Katya’s teaching is her deep involvement and clarity. She pays attention to every tone, every semitone, and every high note, working through them together with the student. Her explanations are clear, visual, and practical, and her level of engagement is exceptional.

I have experience with other vocal schools, including franchise-based formats, and I can confidently say that Katya’s approach feels much more individual. She works not only with your voice, but with your personality and creative core. That personal attention is what makes her teaching truly special.

Your student,
Artemiy.

For my whole life, I was absolutely sure that singing was not my thing because I had no voice or vocal potential.
And your approach turned out to be precisely what I've been looking for: half vocal class, half therapy. Only thanks to your deep empathy and total acceptance, I was able to continue learning despite my immense fear of performance and external evaluation in general.

The main thing I realised during our classes is that persistence and repetition will bear fruit even if one starts with almost zero skill and experience, even in such a "talent-bound" thing as singing. I'm still shocked and amazed at how I progressed from almost having a panic attack every lesson to standing on an actual scene! If anyone had told me that just 6 months ago, I'd have thought they were out of their mind

It is great that you start with explaining the anatomy of the vocal tract, because it makes it much easier to understand how to produce a wide range of various sounds that are used in songs. It's still difficult for me to control all those ligaments and cartilages, and especially switch swiftly between their different positions, but now it doesn't seem impossible. Also, I noticed that I've started to listen to music differently - not just for entertainment, but now noticing vocal techniques singers use, rhythm and instruments.

At the same time, you demonstrate again and again that performing is not only about the technical side of singing. Its lion's share is in energy (I need to work on that for sure), emotions, attitude, personal experience and connection with the song. These things are non-tangible and therefore easy to miss, but it's so obvious when they are neglected.

Also, I always admire how subtly you feel other people, and the compositions you suggest adding to their repertoire are 100% hit! When listening and looking at my classmates, I always thank that the songs you chose suit their personality very well.

There is no doubt that my level is not even close to semi-professional performance However, judging by my starting point, it's impressive how much work you've done in a short time. The approach "analyse - practice - receive feedback - repeat" seems to be working the best, with constant repeating being the key. I'm so happy that it was you who has become my teacher!

Katya, there have been many invaluable and important moments over the years of our teacher/student collaboration. I'd like to share what has been most important to me, both in performance and in vocal teaching.
First and foremost, is the incredibly comfortable creative environment you create. I've worked with many teachers, and their approach has rarely been like yours. In your space, even the inevitable creative breakdowns (and I've had quite a few – the transition from falsetto alone was truly remarkable!) flow naturally and are always so profound and supportive that it definitely inspires confidence and conviction that everything will work out.

Second (but not least), what's important to me personally is your versatility. It's not just a superficial familiarity with styles, but a personal exploration of sound across genres, from classical vocals to vocal distortion. And, of course, your experience in all sorts of breathing, psychological, vocal, and physical practices—all of this clearly allows you to find the perfect, individualized approach to each student. This leads to results not only in solving pressing vocal problems like sound production, intonation, or rhythm, but also in the feeling of being alive and whole on stage at the microphone in front of the audience—as a person with something to say and share.
I also want to mention your musical breadth, erudition, and intuition, and how all of this allows you to meticulously select repertoire for each student, meaning each student has the opportunity to fully express themselves, often in the most unexpected ways. This has happened to me more than once.
Katya, I've embarked on an incredible and interesting journey of self-discovery thanks to you.
And finally, your "Blog Without Blinders" isn't just an empty, elegant title; it's the result I consider most important for me personally: liberation from established stereotypes and narrow-mindedness, the experience of feeling the stage as an integral part of life.

Katya, thank you for our long vocal journey. From a coward who hated the sound of my voice you transformed me into a person who boldly steps onto the stage, knows my strengths and weaknesses and knows how to manage my voice and present it effectively. I thank you for your meticulousness and patience in helping me coordinate my hearing and voice. It was a special pleasure for me to try every vocal genre with you from rock to musicals but I especially miss opera singing. Thank you again for everything =)

Katya, thank you for teaching me how to adequately analyze myself, my voice, and others while singing. And this analysis isn't based on "good" or "bad," but rather on facts, vocal structures, and so on—that is, objectively.
It was also important for me to understand how to properly conduct myself on stage, and thanks to you, I realized that I need to experience my emotions there, not try to act them out or simulate them. Now I feel much more free and confident on stage, and I enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from performing. I've begun to view concerts from a different perspective: what I want to say with this particular song or right now, in the state I'm in at the moment.

Katya, thank you for the space you created in our sessions. What surprised me most is how clearly I started to feel my body — and especially my vocal apparatus — instead of trying to “control” my voice from my head. Through our work, I became much more present in my body, and that awareness turned out to be incredibly valuable, not only for singing but for how I exist in general.

I started to sound louder — not just in class, but in life. My voice feels more grounded, more confident, and more mine. For a long time, I was intimidated by music and music theory, and I believed that without proper musical literacy, enjoyment was somehow not allowed. Working with you completely changed that. I discovered that I can sing, explore, and genuinely enjoy my voice without fear — and without constantly judging myself.

What made the biggest difference is that your approach doesn’t separate technique from personality. Singing stopped being something I was “doing correctly or incorrectly” and became something I was experiencing. That shift changed my relationship with creativity and performance as a whole. I now use vocal skills not only musically, but as a way to take up more space, express myself more freely, and trust my presence.

This experience gave me much more than vocal training — it gave me a deeper connection to myself.

Katya, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for creating such an awesome, cozy community here. Your approach is so different from any other learning experience I've ever had! :)

I really love that the atmosphere in our classes is free, open, and friendly. I genuinely enjoy coming to lessons, and I'm super happy to see everyone who are working with me. Plus, you're someone we can trust —a true professional.

Even though I have some experience with singing, I've learned so much in such a short time thanks to you. I've never looked at my vocal apparatus from an anatomical perspective; everything I did was mostly aurally and by intuition. I didn’t even know the names of the vocal techniques I was using, let alone those I thought were out of reach for me.

I was shocked to learn that to hit that high note, I actually need to take in less air, not more—it turns out that makes it way easier!

Another important topic: I want to dive deeper into the musical taste and the appropriateness of vocal techniques across different genres. It seems like a basic stuff that’s rarely explained, but it really impacts the results.

I can see my progress, I'm enjoying the process, and I'm loving it—I hope to keep going with you️!

As long as I remember myself , I was always singing - but - mostly in the locked rooms , at the staircases , in the shower - practically everywhere where zero audience can hear or see me. Low self-esteem, shyness, previous traumatic experience were pushing me down and made me avoid something I love to do so much.

Then I heard about you, Katya. Amazing feedback from my friends made me think that I should try to learn a new skill at a higher level, so I signed up for a trial class.

Katya, I really appreciated your approach of getting to know the students better even before the first class - for instance, asking to send various recordings of us singing, post that providing a detailed feedback, which was very professional! I immediately thought that - okay, I definitely want to know more about it :).
Below is just a small part I learnt from you:

- I was surprised how complex anatomy of a larynx and vocal cords is , also - got to know how important it is to explore and use those parts of my own body at the full capacity. What was even more surprising - the position of tongue, teeth, cheeks, the way you smile , legs and back, and even - mood, stress, hormones, etc. - take crucial part in sound producing.
- Singing is not as easy as some might think. Even the most talented artists with years of experience need training and a “helping hand” to bring the vocals to perfection. It helped to get courage and confidence to go forward and study more.
- Singing is not as easy, but - everyone can sing! Need to find the suitable tone based on my own voice capabilities, suitable repertoire, not to be afraid - and voilà! :) I heard the guys from other groups singing during the class , and then heard them at the concert - the progress was just amazing! I can also see and hear great progress made by the girls from my current group, including myself.

I love that you pay a lot of attention to therapeutical part of learning process, I would say you are the first couch in my life who actually paid attention to it. It turned out to be a crucial part. From you, I learnt not to be afraid of the microphone, not to be scared of my own voice’s power, even when it’s loud, to enjoy the low notes (still getting used to it :D ). I was not sure I can sing something very simple before properly, now feeling confident to try and sing more complex things, though it’s been just 2 months since I started.

I really like your groups coaching approach, as I could learn not to be scared and shy of the audience, other peoples’ experience, immediate feedback from the independent listeners, additionally - it’s a lot of fun and a great possibility to make new friends and widen this lovely community :).

I also find it amazingly cool that you organise concerts where we can show ourselves to the world, this experience costs a lot!!! Visiting the first concert in Budapest melted my heart - I LOVED to see the guys singing so good and performing so great! And it’s at a huge part - your personal input ️.

Also, I absolutely love how charismatic, free , opened and badass you are

Katya, thank you so much for the lesson. Even though it was unfortunately just one lesson, it truly changed a lot in how I see myself as a musician and as a person.

Thanks to you, I learned how the vocal apparatus works and finally managed to hit high notes using the belting technique, which I had not been able to do before. A very important moment for me was feeling much freer during the lesson. I allowed myself to make “wrong” or “ugly” sounds without fear, and now I see the process of making music in a completely different way full of experiments. I also started paying more attention to the techniques that artists use in their singing.

Today, I know for sure that I truly love singing, and I allow myself to do it not for a perfect result, but for the process itself, which brings so much joy

During the lesson, you helped me understand that there is no need to be afraid of or ashamed of my own voice. Instead I started to notice more positive qualities which I can bring to the singing.

I would recommend you to anyone who wants not only technical clarity, but also a more confident and kind relationship with their voice. Even one lesson with you could shift how I relate to singing and creativity as a whole