She's so helpful and kind and enjoyable to work with! I love the helpful tips, interesting ways she describes things and scales and everything. read more

I'm a working SAG-AFTRA film and television actor; and, I booked a part in a major studio feature film. My character plays guitar and sings. Playing guitar is in my zone, but I am not a trained singer; hence, I started searching for singing coaches on the Internet. I found HEATHERVOX. She had a lot of positive reviews; hence, I scheduled a session with her; and, I am so happy I did. - She has a beautiful singing voice; and, she immediately assessed my singing competency baseline. - She immediately started me on vocal techniques that quickly controlled the movement of my neck, mouth, and vocal cords. Most importantly, she taught me the importance of relaxing the vocal cords throughout the octaves. - After 40 minutes of teaching proper singing techniques and using the techniques she taught me going up and down scales, it was time to apply the techniques to a song. - I sang, Here Comes The Sun, by the Beatles; and, I was amazed -- I immediately noticed the improvement in my singing -- now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't just "add boiling water and instant noodles" kind-of- thing, but it was a drastic and noticeable improvement in my singing voice. I still have a lot of work and practice to do. Now, I have more controlled volume, my voice is more robust, colorful, and dimensional, AND I am able to hit higher notes easier without strain. I was also amazed with the added tone quality Heather gave me through her singing techniques. Heather recorded my session; hence, I have a starting baseline of my singing voice. I can track my progress. I also have recordings of the techniques she taught me; so, I can replicate them while doing my homework. I have 6 months from today, 23-January-2025, to get my singing skills on-point; hence, I am 100% certain, working with Heather, will get me to my goal. I scheduled additional appointments with her, and she gave me homework and exercises to work on before my next session. I really enjoy the straw exercise -- extremely helpful. Finally, I like that Heather has good business ethics. She assessed my progress and gave me a class schedule that matched her forecast of my progress within the 6 months -- she didn't try to sell me more lessons than I needed. I'm very happy working with Heather to get me to my singing goals for this feature film. Check 6! /s/ Alfonso Faustino read more

Now that I've been able to work with her, I recommend her to everyone who needs a vocal coach in my songwriting circle. I actually wed to reschedule with her!! It's been too long, I'm due! read more

Heather is unquestionably the best vocal coach in the Bay Area. Let me explain why. I've taken vocal lessons on and off for the past decade and have worked with many vocal teachers in the Bay Area. Some good, some not so good. The good ones gave me techniques that were designed to improve my voice slowly over long periods of time, which is great. However, despite lots of practice I was still suffering from some issues that prevented me from making real progress. Most notably, I had issues with stamina. My voice would just burn out after about 45 minutes, which was extremely frustrating. The exercises I had learned did not seem to be helping. Clearly, something was off. Recently I had a recording session booked, and I was seriously worried it wasn't going to go well. Time to call Heather. So back to why Heather is the best: she is able to scientifically pinpoint exactly what is causing your problem and give you a recorded routine to fix it QUICKLY. In this case, time was of the essence. Heather was able to identify some phrasing issues, adjust the vowels in my tune, and voila! The stamina issue vanished. The recording went great. I got more out of 1 hour with Heather than I got out of all of my previous vocal lessons combined. Literally 100 hours in 1. Not an exaggeration. I now fully understand the value of a premium coach. The price is meaningless in this regard. Your options are: a. Spend $50/hr for years to get a result. b. Pay premium pricing for 1 hour to get the same result. No brainer. Finally, she records warm-up and practice routines so I get ongoing value from the lesson. Do yourself a favor and make an investment in your voice and musicality, you won't regret it read more

During a round of California wildfires, I had a lot of problems with my vocal cords. I taught classes at the SPCA, and I would come home feeling like my chest was full of broken glass. I asked around and one of my friends referred me to Heather. She is amazing. I learned so much about how my vocal cords work, she gave me so many practical tips to not put stress on them, she helped me come up with a plan to better project my voice. She helped me work on parts of my life I never expected, like my fantasy of doing storytelling in public. She's also just a really amazing person. I took many classes with her beyond what I needed, just because I enjoyed her attitude so much. I have zero musical ability. She never made me feel like I was wasting her time. She's a cheerleader, she's a wonderful teacher, she's inspiring, and I would recommend her to anyone in a heartbeat. read more

Heather is an incredible teacher, musician, and coach! We've worked together over the past year on all things voice: smoothing out my range for singing, embracing my musicality, and working on speeches, poetry readings, and hip hop. I really appreciate the format of the lesson: recorded for subsequent review (so we're not spending time taking notes, etc.), starting with scale work, transitioning to song work, and then talking about what to practice. Heather prepared a custom warmup for me that's really easy to follow along with for getting my regular practice in. I was starting on voice with musical background on other instruments, so I *knew* how off key I was or how stilted my transitions were. It really meant a lot to me how supportive Heather was in these moments -- singing can be really vulnerable! Whether it's singing, acting, or using your voice in a professional setting, I can't recommend Heather enough! I get so much out of each and every one of our sessions, and I've been really happy with my progress. Additionally, we started during lockdown, and I was blown away how well Heather's lessons adapted to the virtual format. It was still really nice to start working together in-person, of course :) read more

It all began with the first Christmas I spent with my boyfriend. We were opening presents with his family, and I opened the deceiving large box from him. Inside was a gift certificate for four singing lessons with Heather!!! I literally burst into tears because I've wanted to take singing lessons my whole life but never got around to it... or whatever excuse I made. But now, there were no more excuses. It was time. I was so nervous before meeting Heather. It felt like the first day of school. But she is seriously one of the most awesome people I've ever met. Everything about her just made me feel relaxed and willing to learn. She records every lesson so you can track your progress, and the concepts she teaches has helped with my public speaking and phone calls with clients. Lessons revolve around a song of your choosing, which further fuels your motivation for improving. And she holds monthly salons so her students can showcase their newfound skills. Overall this is the best experience I could have ever asked for in taking singing lessons, and look forward to many, many more! read more

I first came to Heather five years ago as an emerging artist who felt completely overwhelmed. I needed someone who would stand alongside me, champion my unique artistry, and teach me to find the confidence to shine as a singer, songwriter and performer. Through her guidance, she continues to help me do this every step of the way. Heather has been my vocal producer through countless recording sessions, when I am tracking lead vocals, background vocals, and vocal loop arrangements during ten-hour studio days. She always knows when to re-balance me with scales and intuitive vocal relief techniques. Her knowledge of vowel articulation, especially to provide support for my hard-edged singing style makes me feel fearless when I have to hit the top of my bridge at full voice. I now have a B flat to A flat jump up above my chest voice for live shows, and it feels so effortless! Heather also introduced me to the amazingly talented professional music community in the Bay Area, including producers, engineers, studio owners, singers, songwriters, and musicians who I am so blessed to know and be connected to today. I have strength, endurance and stability in my voice that I can totally rely on. Working with Heather has truly changed my life! read more

I took singing lessons as a kid and was told I had to take piano so I could learn the notes first, so I took piano for 14 years then lost interest when I hit my teens. Last year I decided I really missed singing and sought out a teacher to get me started again. I didn't want to perform or make a career out of it, I just wanted to improve my voice and learn how to sing better than I did. I was fortunate enough to find Heather, as she is a perfect fit for me. Heather is great to work with, she's constantly encouraging yet also able to get me to work hard in the areas that I need practice (ugh, those dreaded scales...) - she makes the work part of this fun, and makes the fun part of it REALLY fun. Now I sing to my daughter and am not self-conscious anymore about singing in front of other people (well, in a relaxed setting... I still would throw up if I had to get on a stage and sing...eh, we all have work to do) . I also feel like I have made some good progress in training my voice and learning how to manipulate it. Heather has brought music back into my life and I'm proud to have her as my teacher. read more

When I first reached out to Heather, I was dogged by insecurity, struggling with maintaining vocal power and consistency live, and terribly afraid a vocal coach would turn my charmingly imperfect 'indie' voice into something from Broadway and eradicate everything interesting about it. Heather was patient, very kind and authentically interested in what I was trying to do. She helped me so much with live power, confidence and preventing strain. She is truly a phenomenal person and I count working with Heather as one of the best things I've ever done for myself, personally or professionally. -- Heather N. read more

Stepping out of my comfort zone was made a lot easier with Heather. I'm looking forward to building a voice that will wow people. We worked on scales and a little bit of song work. She helped make adjustments. I'm an absolutely beginner and had an amazing fun session. Thanks heather! read more

Before working with Heather, I hadn't taken a voice lesson in many years. She really helped me smooth out my voice. Heather helped me develop a solid middle voice and trained me to transition through my vocal registers without a noticeable switch. She's also great at understanding different vocal textures and how this relates to specific genres that her students are pursuing. Because she understood my sound, she connected me with a fantastic producer, (Beau Sorenson and the folks at Tiny Telephone Recording) and then joined us for recording sessions, where she helped me track my vocals. I cannot recommend Heather enough! She's an incredible vocal coach and now a lifelong friend. read more

I am simply a fool for hamming it up at the karaoke bar - that is true. But that's not why I sought out voice lessons with Heather. Instead, my aim was to build a body to hold a stronger speaking voice, since no one ever seems to be able to hear me in a crowd. I wasn't quite sure how to do that until I came across the Voice Studio. Using the method of Speech Level Singing, Heather has helped me progress quickly in just a few weeks. She's warm, approachable, and terribly patient, making her the perfect match for anyone who's nervous about trying singing lessons. It wasn't long at all before people started to notice that my speaking voice was more resonant and powerful. In addition, I love how the vocal strengthening exercises do not sound pretty. At all. This suddenly removes any self-conscious thoughts you might have around singing out loud. Who knew you can craft a beautiful singing voice by practicing with Fran Drescher-esque squawking? How liberating! And Heather has just the sense of humor to make it all the more fun. I've really enjoyed my lessons with Heather. I can't recommend her enough! read more

After years of convincing myself that I sound better than I really do, my inner Simon Cowell howled at me and told me to give it a rest. So I hid behind my turntables and piano, vowing never to sing in the spotlight again. Then I started Yelping and soon, I found an answer... voice lessons! I actually called almost every vocal coach in San Francisco, and even greater Bay Area. Most were ho hum and I didn't feel that instant connection with him or her. Then, I stumbled upon Heather. First, her voicemail greeting voice says it all. She's so soothing and audio-perfect over the phone... I was hooked. I gave her a try and have loved it ever since! One of my favorite things abour my lesssons with Heather is that she helped me undo bad habits very quickly and started me fresh with a solid foundation. I no longer strain my voice when I sing, and with Speech Level Singing, I have a more natural and fuller effect when I belt out my tunes. She's also very mindful and considerate of her clients, even allowing some spacing in between so her clients get the time with her that they deserve. I like woman-owned businesses that are always re-examining, self-improving. Most importantly, she makes you feel empowered, is knowledgeable and professional, patient and kind, makes you laugh when you're not singing, and best of all, it feels like you're doing voice lessons with a very special, yet skilled, friend. Don't wait much longer to fulfill your rockstar fantasies... Heather will help you get there faster! read more

Heather is such an incredible vocal coach! She had really helped me become a better singer by improving the quality of tone in my voice. She has been teaching me how to correctly and easily reach notes I never thought I would be able to so effortlessly- she has improved my range so that I am not only an alto anymore! She can work with anyone (even if you think you are not a very good singer!) to improve the quality of their voice so your singing sounds better, even if you just want to sound better at your local karaoke bar! She teaches from experience- she is the lead singer in a great band called Karmacoda where you can hear all of her training in her recordings as well as their live shows. I highly recommend her if you are looking to improve your voice for any reason!! read more

I've had previous experiences with vocal coaching and I have to say that Heather has been nothing short of a gift from music heaven. I have never written a Yelp review but I had to share my unending appreciation for the amazing talent, warmth, encouragement, humour, and down-to-earth nature that Heather brings to her vocal coaching. At the end of every session I walk away beaming from my insides, just full of music, possibility, and aliveness. No matter what state my voice (or head, or heart) are in.. Heather is always so patient and committed to working with where I'm at while at the same time inspiring a disciplined approach to furthering my vocal skill set. Her style of teaching is both practical and theory based - stopping to explain the method and reasoning behind certain exercises and giving practical advice as to how they can be applied in more than one way depending on what is indicated. The speech level singing is such a useful tool because it is so accessible, efficient, and versatile for any musical style. Heather's impeccable vocals and genuine appreciation for a range of music genres definitely makes her ideal for anyone looking to hone their vocal skills at any level and any style. Heather also currently performs, composes, and records music in a Bay Area band and so can lend much more than vocal training alone, but also impart great nuggets of wisdom from her own past and current experiences. In the last 6 months I've been seeing her I've experienced such a shift in my singing abilities that others have noticed as well. As a graduate student I justify spending the money on ongoing weekly training because I value my sessions with Heather so much, both during and after. I swear my abs are also probably tighter from all the laughter we do too ;-) All in all, I cannot vouch for Heather enough. Feel truly blessed to have found her. read more

I've been working with Heather for 2 years now and have definitely noticed an improvement in my singing voice. She is always friendly, patient, and pleasant to work with. She helps you develop the type of voice you want while at the same time works with you to eliminate bad habits. The recordings of each lesson are, of course, an invaluable tool for making progress. Heather pretty much rules. :) read more

After not singing professionally for 8 years, I decided it was time to get back into it. Not knowing where to start my search a colleague on Broadway recommended Heather to me. Excited at the prospect of finding my voice again I reached out to Heather and she got back to me right away. Heather's space is conveniently located in a warehouse space in Bayview. It's very easy to get to (Lyft Line / Muni / Bicycle is what I usually used) and there's plenty of parking if you drive. I felt immediately at home during my first lesson and knew right away that this was the start of a great singing relationship. For me, it's really important to have a connection with your coach as you're at your most raw when practicing songs and pushing your vocal range. I had this with Heather right away. Coming mostly from a classical background Heather taught me new techniques on how to phrase together lyrics and modify vowels to make things easier to sing . She broke old habits and helped develop my voice to tackle songs I'd usually never consider singing. Also have to say I love how every lesson is recorded and saved to a Dropbox folder so I can go back, practice warm ups and review the songs we worked on. Finally, I have to mention that Heather also encourages her students to get out there and sing with each other through song salons. It's great, because it helps folks build confidence in a supportive, friendly environment. read more

Heather is an amazing, patient teacher who makes even the most novice (that's me for sure!) singer feel comfortable. I started with her only a few weeks ago and the private sessions along with the take home practice exercises already have me feeling more confident and excited to go further! The studio in Portrero Hill is in an easy to reach location and is very inviting. Highly recommended! read more

Yep, another five-star review for Heather--and well deserved. I had my first lesson yesterday and showed up nervous. It had been years since I sung a note outside of a karaoke bar. She made me feel comfortable immediately. We did a quick check of my voice on some basic scales and, right away, she was able to describe changes that improved my tone. I was impressed that she makes a practice CD for you that you're able to use for personal practice time. Plus, it doesn't hurt that she sounds like an angel when she's demonstrating technique for you. What a voice! read more

Heather is my girl. She's so fun, makes me feel so comfortable, and I'm definitely seeing the difference in my range and breaks. In laymen's terms, I can sing more notes and I crack less! I really look forward to every lesson with Heather. The studio is really classy and just a nice environment to be in. Heather is such a sweetheart and is so great at feeding you positive energy while helping you unlock your sound. I've recommended her both to seasoned pros and friends that are shy and new to singing. Speech Level Singing is such a cool technique and it's so easy to understand. It just feels really natural and I'm excited to see where it takes me. Enjoy her! read more

Heather Pierce Vox + Music, I cannot thank you enough. In 6 months you have given me precision tools to call up during performance, recording, even shower singing. :) I can't recommend her highly enough. If you have EVER thought about wanting to sing, go see her!! If you're a seasoned pro, go to her. She is truly a master, and absolutely delightful to work with. She gives you spa water, makes you feel comfortable, confident and just plain excited to make music - no matter what level or style. Heather is hands down the best vocal coach in the Bay Area. read more

Heather is an excellent vocal coach. Personable, knowledgable, and she really understood what it was I needed. She showed me how to apply my singing skills to speaking, so that I feel more confident in my speaking voice. Thanks, Heather! read more

I've been singing for a few years but never really achieved the level of confidence or tonal quality that I've gotten from working with Heather the last few months. She is amazingly patient and easy to work with. She makes the sometimes difficult process of singing, fun and enjoyable. If you've got potential she won't let you rest on your laurels but will push you to achieve your goals and continue improving your voice. I take lessons on a bi-weekly basis and I have found that this style of vocal teaching is much more appropriate to the way I learn. I've taken singing instruction with different ranges of singers, opera and jazz and I've never found a method that truly worked well for me; until now. Heather's a great person and she makes learning and improving your singing a fun and enjoyable experience. Highly recommended. read more

As an incredibly self-conscious singer, I felt lucky to find Heather. Her personality will immediately put you at ease. I studied with her previously and learned so much with the Speech Level singing method. I've returned to her recently to help with a recording project. She has been a great source for me...not only does she possess a wonderful voice but incredible instincts with music. We have fine tuned these songs bit by bit. Heather can really zero in on problem spots and suggest tweaks with phrasing, tone, attitude that really make the songs shine as intended. Invaluable! You'll also leave each session with a digital file of what you did so you'll always have a great reference for your home practice. HIGHLY recommended. read more

Heather is an excellent teacher and skilled vocalist. Every lesson I have with her feels so useful and practical, I learn so much with each session. She is super patient and upbeat, bringing a great positive energy to her teaching. I benefit greatly from her individual sessions and her workshops which create an extremely supportive space to practice sharing my music. read more

Hidden behind my shadow self was a little girl who wanted to sing, however, I always told myself I was not a good singer, I was afraid to let my voice free! One day...I decided to take a leap of faith and believe, " I can sing". Willing to face my fear, Heather came into my life, and the rest is history:) I was so nervous during my first lesson, but Heather made the experience a fun, learning, and enjoyable experience! I immediately knew that Heather & I would embark on a great journey together, to experience how faith, trust, and passion reveal treasures of the unknown. Since I started taking lessons from Heather, I have sang in the choir at my church in front of hundreds of people, I am teaching my niece and nephew songs, and my self-confidence spills over into every other area of my life. I am deeply grateful for Heather's passion, her faith in my ability to sing, and her trust in working with me! She has the invaluable skill of coaching my insecure self into becoming a passionate singer! If you are holding your voice hostage, and/or you are looking for a caring, passionate, and highly skilled coach to take you to the next level of success, Heather is the Gold medal you receive for taking a leap of faith! I give my highest recommendation! read more

It would be simply impossible for me to give Heather less than 5 stars, in fact it doesn't feel like enough! She is a fantastic voice teacher and I love the style that she teaches, speech level singing. She is very encouraging and one of the sweetest people I've ever met! I'm working on starting a band with one of my friends and figured a little training wouldn't hurt, and it was one of the best decisions I made! I've lost a lot of the airiness in my voice, and while I still have work to do, the progress I've made has come quickly and consistently... two things I really appreciate :) She even offered full support and help when I'm ready to get in studio and make a demo. She's just great. If you are looking for a voice teacher, look no further, you've got the girl! read more

i worked with for many years, she is an amazing vocal coach - extremely patient and encouraging. read more

I had two goals in mind when I came to Heather for singing lessons. First, was to learn how to become a better singer so I could sing the hell out of one song for my wedding. Second, to learn techniques to help me speak louder (project), because I naturally have a soft voice. Heather was not only instrumental in helping me reach those two goals, she was also an amazing mentor and coach. I was very nervous in the beginning, taking singing lessons was something I never did before, but she made me feel extremely comfortable, and over time, singing started to become more and more of a passion for me. I discovered, I always loved to sing, and I will forever take all the lessons she taught me and use it as my foundation. I highly recommend Heather, new or experienced singers, to take lessons from her! She's awesome! read more

I studied with Heather for a year before moving back to New York. She is patient, kind, and detail oriented. The vocal exercises that she has her students do may sound silly at first, but trust me, they work! Heather's teaching has helped me immensely with my range (I now sing falsetto hooks I never would have dreamed of before) endurance (I still sound my best on the last song of the night, even if we're playing 3 sets) and perhaps most importantly, my confidence. Thanks to her help I am well on my way to success in the music industry. read more

As for a person, Heather has really got herself together. She knows what makes her happy and surrounds herself in it. Happy, that is. As for a teacher, I've never met someone that can push me beyond my limits and still earn more respect with every nudge. She is an amazing teacher, whether it is vocals or something else. This is the one person where you can truly be yourself. :-) read more

Heather is an amazing teacher and vocal coach. I tried many teachers before I met Heather, and many of them spoke in terms that were either too technical or too abstract for me to really put into use. Heather gets down to singing immediately, and provides feedback in ways you can actually understand and absorb. She also really helped prepare me psychologically for some large performances I was nervous about. She's also incredibly nice, a great singer and her studio is very relaxing. read more

Heather is a great teacher and I couldn't recommend her more highly! I began taking lessons so that I'd feel more comfortable singing along with my guitar, and eventually began participating in her song salons which are fantastic. One of the best things about the techniques she teaches is that you can take them home and practice them on your own or apply them to just about any song you're working on. Plus, she'll help you in person with songs you're actively working on. Beyond her song salons, I had never performed for an audience until recently. I just wanted to sound better singing along to my guitar at home. But recently a friend asked me to sing at his wedding and I obliged. I had built up some confidence and Heather's techniques around vowel modification and relaxation especially in my jaw helped me to prepare beforehand - which turned out to be sooo helpful. I couldn't stress that enough because once I was on stage with the mic in front of 200 people it was a little difficult to focus on technique. It was all about preparation and muscle memory at that point and I was so grateful I was able to prepare appropriately thanks to what I learned with Heather. The performance went really well and the crowd and the newlyweds loved it! Again, couldn't recommend her more highly. Plus, you'll have a great new friend in Heather :) read more

Great service! I purchased a gift certificate for my wife for voice lessons but she wasn't able to take them. I emailed Heather to see if she would provide a refund and got a full refund about 2 minutes later. read more

Heather is an inspiring vocal coach! It's that simple. Because of her, I have more confidence in my singing abilities and have an increased awareness of what is going on with my vocal chords and how to control them. She has an upbeat and fun personality and is encouraging and supportive, so I always feel relaxed and have a lot of fun in our sessions. She also records your sessions and gives you a CD to take home so that you can listen to what you did in the session and how you are progressing and can practice. I always learn something new in each session and look forward to going back again and again. Our lessons are often the highlight of my week :) read more

I highly recommend Heather Pierce for anyone who wants to improve their singing and develop their voice. Although Heather uses a standard approach - speech level singing - her personal approach is highly customized to where you are starting and what you are specifically trying to accomplish. She is very talented as a singer and an teacher. I have been amazed at the improvements in my singing since I have been working with Heather. Whether you are just having fun, or seriously preparing for a performance or recording, working with Heather will get you a great result. read more

I've had many different voice coaches but no one like HEATHER!! Working with Heather has shown me in a just a few sessions the limitless strength and range of my voice. She leads her classes with a sense of humor and fun, yet pushes you to work in a safe and comfortable way. Her confidence in her craft fires up my enthusiasm and I look forward every week to working with her. I highly recommend Heather as a voice coach. Even in one session, you will gain so much. read more

I won a set of lessons with Heather in a silent auction. I bid on them because I had heard of the Speech Level Singing technique, and was really interested in trying it. I am so happy that I discovered her! I had been trained most of my life as a soprano in classical vocal technique, so I felt like my voice sounded kind of wrong in anything contemporary, and couldn't sing comfortably in mid to low registers. Heather helped me change that, and balanced out my range so that I can feel as strong in low registers as I do in higher ones. Now I feel comfortable singing country, rock, pop, musical theater, pretty much anything, and really enjoy trying new things in my lessons all the time. Besides being a great teacher, she is a lovely person, and made me feel immediately at ease in her studio. I recommend her any chance I get to anybody who wants to sing, even if they think they can't. read more

After not having sung for almost 8 years, I decided a couple years ago that I wanted to get back into some of my old hobbies. After doing some research, I decided to give Heather a try and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made! Heather gave me back my confidence when singing while also teaching me how to better project and change vowel sounds in order to better reach notes I didn't think I could reach. I love that she lets me sing songs I'm really interested in and has constantly been encouraging me to push myself. She's also a wonderful person outside of her teaching and someone who I feel comfortable with through and through. If you're thinking of starting to sing whether you've ever sung before or not, do yourself a favor and schedule an appointment with Heather ! read more