Teaching guided by vocal science and a holistic approach to students' vocal goals and needs.
Isabelle Cowan (she/her) is a voice teacher based in the North Shore of Chicago. With over 5 years of teaching experience, Isabelle enjoys working with students of all ages and experience levels on Music Theatre and Pop Styles. She is certified in Estill Voice Training and has a comprehensive background in vocal science and anatomy. Isabelle's teaching is guided by the belief that voice lessons can be a tool to instill confidence and agency in students. Her research specially explores teaching adolescent singers through an interdisciplinary lens. From those who are looking to feel more comfortable in their voices, to those preparing for their next big audition, Isabelle looks forward to working with you!
Let's sing together!
Services
Voice Lessons
Voice lessons are key to developing a strong technical and musical foundation for singing. Isabelle works with each student to find their vocal strengths while also challenging them to try new techniques or repertoire appropriate to their age and ability. Students build their vocal technique in warm ups, and apply their skills to repertoire that Isabelle works with each student to select. Voice lessons allow for Isabelle to get to know her students' voices and helps her create a comprehensive plan for their growth over time.
Length: 45 minutes
Ages: 8+
Pricing: $60*/lesson, Northwestern Student Rate: $50*/lesson
Frequency: Once a week/bi-weekly
*Isabelle is committed to the financial accessibility of music education and offers pay what-you-can options to students who would otherwise be unable to participate in lessons. Please contact Isabelle for more information (isabellecowan21@gmail.com).
Coachings
Coachings are appropriate for singers looking for short-term guidance during their audition, college audition, or performance preparation. During coachings, students bring in piece of their choosing or work with Isabelle to select a piece most appropriate for the circumstance. Isabelle centers her feedback around each student's goals and helps students work through their vocal challenges. Coachings take place over a series of 1-3 sessions. Isabelle can also refer musical theatre students to an acting coach for additional preparation. Students already enrolled in lessons do not need to schedule seperate coaching sessions.
Length: 60 minutes
Ages: 12+
Pricing: $50/coaching for ages 12-16, $75/coaching for ages 17+*
Frequency: As needed
Other Services
Practice/Audition Tracks = $15/song
Audition Cut Music Mark-up = $15/song
Resume Formatting = $50
Reel editing = $50
Location Options
Downtown Evanston
Days: M/W/Th/F
Immanuel Lutheran Church
616 Lake St, Evanston IL
North Wilmette
Days: T/Sun
Address available upon registration
Zoom
Days: Contact Isabelle for specifics
Link available upon registration
“Isabelle is an incredibly driven individual, and her positive and constructive coaching encourages her students to be the same. She is excited about teaching and is always ready to help her students with anything they would like to work on. I truly enjoyed working with Isabelle!"
Natalie (age 19)
Statement of Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, & Belonging
Taking private voice lessons is a vulnerable experience in which singers will be challenged to try new things. They must be able to put their trust in their teacher and have the bravery to make mistakes. Creating a lesson environment where every student feels safe to learn means embracing and celebrating the unique identities and backgrounds of every student. Isabelle welcomes students of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, size, gender expression, immigration status, socio-economic background, mental health, physical ability, neurodiversity, country of origin, cultural heritage, or native language. Isabelle strives to instill agency and confidence in all students through a collaborative dialogue between us as teacher and student. No matter your background in music and singing, Isabelle is excited to work together to find what makes your voice unique and beautiful without an aesthetic bias.
Statement adapted from Benson, Robinson-Martin, & Naismith (2022), https://doi.org/10.1080/23268263.2021.1964723
Statement of Pedagogical Purpose
• Isabelle's teaching aims to reflect that voice lessons are for everyone, no matter their age or experience level with singing.
• "Happy singing is healthy singing" -- Isabelle operates under the principle that a "good" voice is one that feels empowering to the singer and can be produced consistently without pain or strain. Her pedagogy emphasizes the stylistic biases placed upon the singing voice and how singers have the agency to choose if they wish to tailor their voice to these vocal genres.
• Isabelle aims to foster a collaborative relationship between herself and her students based on mutual respect, trust, and patience.
• Isabelle believes that the learning process in lessons and practice sessions deserves as much emphasis as the final product. She strives to instill in her students the ability to apply vocal strategies independently so that progress can be made both in and outside of the lesson setting.
• Isabelle believes that students deserve teachers who have spent time and resources developing their pedagogical approach and understanding of the vocal mechanism. She aims to consistently utilize and stay updated on the existing vocal pedagogy scholarship.