Five stars do very little justice.... First of all, this review is long overdue! Simply put, Loryn Barbeau single-handedly saved my music career. I'll preface my long-windedness by saying that I've been a full-time entertainer in the Bay Area for almost a decade. I sing professionally with multiple groups, bands, booking agencies, and use my voice as a virtual game show host during the week. I make a living using my voice, but once upon a time that almost came crashing down around me. Way back in the spring of 2016 I developed a polyp on one of my vocal folds that threatened to end my budding music career. With a surgical date set for the fall I had to sing all year with a broken instrument. I didn't know if I would make it to the surgery date without it rupturing and causing long-term damage. Needless to say, it was beyond stressful. Thankfully, I fully healed. Coming out of recovery I committed to finding a truly great voice instructor, but that didn't come easily either. By taking multiple lessons from multiple teachers in the Bay Area, I quickly found out that the "methods" these teachers were implementing all conflicted with each other. Some methods felt like snake-oil, others' made me physically and mentally uncomfortable. Some of the teachers made me feel like they were trying to sell me a used car. I was so terrified of damaging myself again and so frustrated with these lessons that it was starting to feel hopeless. Finding Loryn was truly a gift. First of all, she's patient, kind, and PRESENT. Everyone knows how vulnerable it feels to sing in front of strangers, especially in an educational setting. I don't think I've ever felt that comfortable from the get-go with any other voice teacher. It was abundantly clear in our first lesson that she was fully engaged in hearing my story and helping. The more that I worked with her, the more impressed I became by her knowledge of the physiology around singing. She could diagnose tension and air obstruction before any sound left my body. She's so intuitive. I'm sure it would be easy for her to watch/listen to me and immediately pin-point some of the issues, but she allowed me to have those AH-HA moments on my own, often in her presence. Over the course of a year, my entire technique changed. We started from scratch and I cannot stress enough how important that time was for me. I was still performing while re-learning how to sing but I couldn't deny the progress that we were both hearing and seeing from week-to-week and month-to-month. At one point, I was so stressed out that I was preventing my body from creating healthy sounds. She was not only supportive and empathetic, but she gave me all of the resources that I needed to figure myself out. Before Loryn, I could sing two nights a week and I would be totally blown-out. After learning from Loryn, I'm singing five, sometimes six nights a week without tension, soreness, or much recovery time at all. She's magic! Loryn is a great communicator, a fantastic listener, and an enthusiastic, insightful teacher. It doesn't matter what level or amount of experience any singer has, they WILL learn something from Loryn. If you're a beginner, take a lesson with Loryn. If you've been singing for years, TAKE A LESSON WITH LORYN. As long as she has a studio, I will continue to send singers to her. I'll always be grateful for her. read more

The teacher herself is wonderful, my 16 year old really likes her and we booked 5 classes automatically. She was highly recommended from my other daughters quitar teacher. read more

I was lucky enough to have Loryn as my vocal coach for several months back in 2019. Being a total amateur with no training or experience, I was unprepared and nervous for what lie ahead. I thought to myself "certainly this is a foolish endeavor". As luck would have it Loryn is not only a fantastic coach who will bring the most out of your skills and abilities she is also a wonderful person. Her demeanor and guidance put me at ease and for the first time in my life I had confidence and believed in myself. In just a few weeks I saw marked improvements. I wish our lessons hadn't been cut short due to a personal move away from San Francisco, so that I could have seen the full potential of her coaching. But regardless I cannot recommend her enough. You will learn how to control your voice and yourself in ways you didn't think possible. Whether you're a complete novice or a skilled singer I suspect Loryn has something to teach everyone. read more

Loryn restored my voice! I have been singing professionally for the past 5 years and about a year ago I went to the doctor and heard the news that I was developing pre-nodules. Loryn was recommended to me by a friend who only shared AMAZING things about her vocal wisdom and passion. When I went to Loryn I was just looking for vocal health knowledge to help my voice but I received SO much more. Loryn was able to speak to me about voice health in ways that worked for me. She helped me find holistic ways to take care of my voice that were simple and vital to my voice health. Not only did she help me to understand MY voice better she helped me grow in confidence, helping me understand myself as an artist better. Also, after only months of going to Loryn I went back to the doctor and my pre-nodules were GONE! So thankful for her. Every vocal artist deserves a vocal coach like Loryn! read more

Loryn's genius as a vocal coach is at the intersection of practical skills and knowledge, depth of somatic and psychological understanding, and heartfulness. She's the kind of teacher that sees you in all of your brightness and then supports you in learning how to embody your own light. Loryn is truly masterful at helping you find your voice and share it with the world. read more

I have told many people about Loryn as I was blown away by both her innate talents as well as how skilled she is at her trade. Loryn is incredibly knowledgeable in holistic health and has an insane intuition. Those two things combined make for a powerhouse. Highly highly recommend working with her. read more

Loryn looks at the big picture. Everything from your pulse, your digestion, and your hydration habits to your posture, your fears, and your personality are taken into consideration in her practice. She helps you understand what is going on on the inside, both physically and emotionally, in order to improve what you present on the outside as a performer. Loryn meets you where you are and moves at a pace that's appropriate to you. While there were numerous changes she could have recommended when it came to my lifestyle/diet, she totally accepted that I didn't have the bandwidth to make lots of changes at that time, so she helped me to focus on just the one or two most important ones. I am an amateur singer with dreams of being a public speaker in the future, so finding my voice and learning to be in the moment on stage are just as important to me as my health. During our first session, after I finished explaining my frustrations and fears on stage, she asked me if I was willing to sing for her, which I did. She made a few comments and requested I change one simple thing and sing again. The second time through, it was as if a HUGE weight had been lifted from my shoulders and I was able to really hear my own voice for the first time! Loryn's holistic approach and thorough understanding of ayurveda coupled with her extensive experience as a yoga instructor and opera singer make her uniquely qualified to coach performers who understand that speaking/singing/acting is about so much more than just what you put forth - that it all starts on the inside. read more

I'm an athlete with a very physical job that requires daily movement, training, eating, and a lot of go, go, go. One of the most important lessons Loryn taught me is if I want to be fully effective in my work and sport, I also need to stop, stop, stop. She taught me a whole new yoga practice centered on the idea "yin". It's a restorative practice that helps to heal the muscles and replenish the energy that carries me through my days. She also helped me immensely in understanding my body's needs around food and heat. I was having a hard time digesting stuff, which she sorted out, and I was having a lot of sugar cravings, which she helped me understand and address in a healthy way. She taught me so many things in one session which were easy to understand and do on my own. Loryn's work and approach is different than anyone else out there. I can't exactly explain how she does what she does, because it's based in Ayurveda combined with her own life experience -- it's definitely not a traditional Western approach. I can say I am a better athlete, happier eater, and more grounded human having worked with her. If you have problems with your diet, weight, skin, digestion, breathing, or mobility that no one else has been able to fix -- go see her. She's a teacher, healer, detective, and spiritual guide-- and she's 100% awesome. read more

I don't have enough positive things to say about Loryn's voice practice. As a professional vocalist with a degree in singing as well as a private voice practice of my own, I can strongly assert that she knows exactly what she's doing. From day one, it was clear Loryn knew the mechanics of the voice. She is clearly studied in good vocal technique as well as the physiology and anatomy of the vocal mechanism. She speaks to what occurs at the laryngeal level and is clearly very knowledgeable and experienced about the voice. Loryn understands how to identify areas for growth in every singer. In my work with her she consistently identifies and maintains a path for growth and improvement and speaks to my own ideas for growth as well. She pushes me but understands that growth must come from within and has taken the time to get to know me personally as she uses that to inform her "diagnosis." Loryn is an empathetic, understanding individual who possesses insight into performance anxiety and treats the whole singer with her holistic approach. She teaches from the perspective that the whole person is the singer which has been the most helpful in all my many years of vocal training. She is warm, kind and lighthearted while staying focused and goal-oriented. She is interested in people and cares about her students while maintaining a very professional, legitimate business. I can not recommend Loryn's work highly enough. She has figured out how to teach singing in a way that is effective and accessible that also promotes individuality and longevity. Prices are reasonable and she is quick and responsive to email. read more

Loryn is a such a gift. I was inspired to take singing lessons to tap into my creative expression and find my voice in new ways. I have thoroughly enjoyed my work with her and learned soooooo many things. She focuses on the breath as the key to supporting the voice. Through her coaching, I've been able to tap into a power in my voice that I had never experienced before. Loryn is warm, wise and incorporates mind, body and spirit into the work. She's rigorous and curious and a great coach. I highly recommend her for those students who are new and curious, as well as more experienced singers. Everyone will benefit from her talented coaching. Oh and by the way - she's an incredible singer herself. Check out her band Gutter Swan - so great. read more

Loryn Barbeau is truly remarkable. It sounds like hyperbole, but our work together helped to save my music career--and in a broader sense, my life. I came to her after suffering a vocal cord hemorrhage that then developed into Muscle Tension Dysphonia. I had seen a variety of ENTs, vocal coaches and speech pathologists, but none were quite able to crack the code of my case until Loryn. When we began working together, I was nearly two years into the struggle of regaining my speaking voice, let alone my singing voice. I was admittedly discourage and my morale was low at best. However, I was immediately struck by her extensive knowledge and experience and her warm, supportive and thoughtful teaching style. She really listened to my symptoms in ways that previous professionals had not and worked with me to explore and trouble shoot the different causes and find possible solutions. This can often be difficult and tedious detective work, but she did so with patience, inquistiveness and real encouragement that quickly translated into clear, measurable gains. After being stuck so long with this injury, I can't tell you how huge this was for me. We worked together for many months and she guided me each step of the way. Because of my unique scenario, we started from the ground up focusing on breath support, relaxation, posture, etc...and slowly progressed to singing, focusing on the many nuances of phonation and eventually got back into song performance. As a self taught singer, our lessons provided me with a foundation of knowledge and form that not only strengthened and opened up my voice, but provided me with safe and healthy guidelines to sing from. My voice is stronger now than before the injury and, almost more importantly, I now know my vocal instrument with a depth and sense of safety that I did not before. I wish so much that I would have met Loryn years ago and perhaps saved myself the frustration and heartache that came from my preventable injury, but such is life. I've recommended her to a number of vocalist friends ranging from the self taught rock singer to the studied professional and every time I say the same thing: I just can't recommend her enough! If you're looking for a vocal coach with years of experience, mastery over her instrument and a teaching style that brings out your best, then look no further, Loryn is it. read more

Loryn is amazing as a vocal coach. Beyond being an incredible singer in her own right, she really has in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of singing. She taught me techniques and gave insights on how to sing the right way, that have really strengthened my abilities. I found her approach to be very holistic and methodical with an emphasis on health and longevity of the vocal chords and as well as overall singing accuracy. On top of that, her kind and warm personality make the vocal sessions really comfortable and easy. I would highly recommend her services! read more

Loryn is an amazing teacher; I am so happy I found her! She is extremely professional as well as warm and enjoyable to work with, and she always gives feedback in positive terms. She has classical training, so she knows what she's talking about in terms of vocal production, and she sings pop and Americana, so she understands various other styles as well. Loryn has given me great and thoughtful answers to every question about singing I've ever come up with. She has studied me to see how I learn best and uses this in her teaching, and I see results from every lesson. The more I work on what she teaches me, the more progress I make. read more

Loryn is wonderful! I am a singer and went to Loryn primarily to work on performance anxiety. She was able to help me in many different ways. We were able to come up with some diet changes, breathing exercises and a yoga sequences that were immensely useful. After working with Loryn I felt a lot better about performing and being on stage. My voice has only gotten better and stronger from the breathing exercises she gave me and I feel more grounded in my art. My favorite part about working with Loryn is that she is very intuitive and is able to help me in a way that I will understand. She doesn't just tell you to do something without helping you understand why you are doing it and how it will help you. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Loryn and I truly cherish the knowledge she has given me. She is so talented and such a wonderful person. I highly recommend her. read more

This woman is amazing. She is changing my life with each lesson. She's brilliant, a wonderful communicator, very perceptive. She's been helping me a ton through my vocal issues. LOVE! read more

My father used to say that in any given profession, only 15% know what the hell they're doing and out of that 15%, only 5% are really good. Loryn is in that 5% bracket. She combines expert level knowledge of the physical and psychological components of singing to achieve the unveiling of ones true voice and how to use it. She is great at helping with performance anxiety as well. Her feedback is supportive but honest. She's helped me enormously and I cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

I can't imagine where I'd be if I had not crossed paths with this amazing woman. I am a coloratura soprano with a degree in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music; when I met Loryn I was struggling to simply keep my head above water as I attempted to readjust to life in the city after spending several years recovering from a traumatic back injury. I had tried everything traditional Western medicine had to offer as well as several alternative healing methods but nothing was working to get me back on track towards the performing career that I wanted. Many practitioners that I had met with previously had at most a shallow understanding of the unique and very complicated physical and emotional demands of a professional operatic career and I was dispirited, hopeless and seriously considering giving up the thought of ever performing at all much less professionally again. Since I began studying with her in August she has helped me find a physical and mental equilibrium that I previously thought was unattainable. In addition, I have gained an invaluable and specific practical understanding of my personal challenges and strengths as a direct result of the unique and deeply insightful ways in which she handles any problem I bring to her. In just five months my life and outlook has changed tremendously. I had the courage to audition for and consequently be accepted into the voice studio of Jane Randolph, booked my first professional gig since my injury, began the process of planning a joint recital as well as a production of an original composition and have been encouraged by my teacher to seriously consider singing for both national and international auditions next year. If there is a "Soprano Whisperer", she's it. To be truly understood as a performing artist (and one dealing with chronic pain while attempting a career revival at that) is a rare and amazing experience. Not only is she amazingly well versed in several nutritional, spiritual and physical disciplines but her unique ability to adjust them into a specialized program for your specific situation and personality type make the service she offers invaluable and like nothing else I've ever experienced. Not only is she deeply empathic and sympathetic but also refreshingly disciplined in her ability to organize her lessons in a way that makes them easily accessible and memorable. She has the rare ability to inspire without making you feel judged or attempting to 'shame' you into compliance but instead encourages and wins you over with a warm and comforting sense of humor and grace. I am deeply grateful to have had and continue to have the opportunity to work with such an original, remarkable and talented individual. I can't recommend her services highly enough and personally consider them an essential part of a professional vocal career for anyone who wants to stay safe, healthy, happy and sane. read more

Loryn is great. I went to her with the specific goal of improving my live performance singing and otherwise. Loryn was so friendly and has a very warm demeanor and astute solutions to whatever your problem(s) may be. She showed me an easy and quick yoga regimen, some basic breathing techniques and suggested various foods and beverages I could take leading up to a performance. I admit sometimes my schedule doesn't always include the yoga stretches and breathing but when I do start working them in my mind and body feel so relaxed and focused. It allows me to be pro active in the most deliberate and methodical way. Just taking that little amount of time everyday to listen to yourself makes a world of difference in harnessing your potential. Loryn is very knowledgeable and extremely easy to communicate with. I recommend her for any field that one may be seeking improvement in. read more

Loryn is amazing. I started taking lessons from her three months ago. I always liked to sing but prior to meeting Loryn, my singing was completely off (off tune, off beat, off rhythm, and everything you could name on). Loryn was very encouraging, patient and passionate about what she does. She helped me build my confidence and become a better singer. She made me feel confident to sing in front of a small group of unfamiliar crowd for the first time. She's truly inspiring and she continues to make me want to be a better singer. Her band, Gutter Swan, rocks! My family and me really enjoys their performance. read more

From the minute you meat Loryn, it's clear that you've made the right decision to call her; she's an incredibly warm, empathetic and intuitive person who just seems to "get"what's going on beyond the surface. Using her natural intuition and a detailed questionnaire she had me fill out prior to our first session, Loryn helped me to identify what was going on in my mind and body. I love our sessions together because she keeps the atmosphere fun and light while getting me to address deeper issues that are negatively affecting my wellbeing. From what I was eating to how I was thinking, Loryn has helped me to redirect my lifestyle around my individual needs. In addition to helping me build positive habits, I now have tools, including meditation and yoga poses, I can use when I feel stressed or anxious. I can't thank her enough and wholeheartedly encourage others to contact her. read more