Former New City Opera and Met Baritone, charges $200 for a lesson either in person or online via…read moreskype. This fee is too high compared to what you don't get like a good pianist, showcase opportunities, connections, studio setting, or practice facility.
Mr. Fredricks teaches in his tiny and filthy apartment (no studio!) in West L.A. He does not have a Masters, Ph.d, Bachelors, not even an Associates Degree in Music. He can't help you understand Music Theory, Sight Reading/Singing, or Music Business. He doesn't understand the current Music Industry how to get work, or audition. No job connections or friends who even hire his students for choral roles. Yet he expects students to pay him $200 per class. He's proud of these rates. He should only charge $50 per lesson lets be real. He can't even play piano very good and it's old, ragedy, and out of tune. Is he for real? So sad.
R.F. was not a major star like Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti. He never was signed on major classcial labels such as Decca, Deutsche Grammaphon, Sony or EMI. There is only 2 entire opera works La Traviata and Roberto Devereux.
Unfortunately he does not have any connections in the music industry. A gifted voice student would hope to find some work after paying these high fees. I see this as a problem in Los Angeles where we have tons of acting and music teachers who are so fast to take your money but cannot provide the service that one can have a career in this field even when the student has the talent needed.
Sadly enough he does not even organize showcases for his most talented students or help them to get an audition in an opera house, theater, for an agent or manager. Most likely because he does not have the connections anymore.
Mr. Fredricks teaches his own vocal technique. Many things about his technique are good; however, a vocal coach is like a medical doctor who cannot apply the same medicine for each patient. The entire technique is too mechnical forced and lacks natural smoothness and easiness which produces the beautiful belcanto sound we want. His teaching method is like the man too extreme focused on one direction there is no space for any other. His technique covers the tone too much and he never talks about the importance of head resonance and overtones which is important for all voices especially the higher ones. The correct application of head resonance guarantees a long lasting singing voice.
UCLA Music Instructors think he's crazy so don't tell them b/c they will laugh and say "he's coo coo." USC fired him. Who knows why. If you trained with him you can't even mention it.
He cannot play piano good and does not offer a pianist, you have to bring own piano player. The man does not understand pedagogy how could he since he didn't get a Music Degree. He lacks good communication skills and he yells at singers. Yelling at people does not help to find a inner relaxation which the student needs to produce a free and open sound. It makes it even worst when he pushes his limited baritone range up to sing along which the high voices such as Soprano and Tenor. How can a higher voice learn from a Baritone to sing their high notes who does not have those. He also does not provice proper warm ups. The student just came in to the lesson and must sing out of his full voice without even had the change to be warmed up suffienctly.
Especially the higher voice need to find the connection to the head voice meachanism to reach easy and clear the top ranges. Starting with the darker vowels such as "o" "a" is not a good advise when we have to find first the head resonance and the mask placement of the voice by singing bright vowels such as "e" or "u" vowels.
To sum it up, I am very sceptical regarding all those private acting and music teachers in Los Angeles and eleswhere who mostly take your money but cannot provide the entire musical training such as Music theory, piano, knowledge in the business of music (most important beside the skills as a performer), performing experience etc. one needs to make it in the music field; therefore, my suggestion is it to attend one of those local music programs on a community college or university where a student can get financial aid, permantl use of a practice room (which this private teacher never provide!!) because repetion is more important than the right voice teacher after the student has a clou how to sing. Least but not last a student obtains a music degree (bachelor, master, PHD) where he or she can also find a stable career in teaches music on a college or university full time, part time or later on after the promising career has ended.
Stay away from Mr. Fredricks he proclaimes that only his teaching is the only true way. His credentials are questionable b/c most of the old guys who trained with him are dead and some still alive but they had big careers long before they met Richard Fredricks. In closing, he has a weird attitude but I'm sure he'll say that he's right.