I LOVE Andy. Not only is he one of the best teachers I've ever had (in any subject, really), but also he is a good and true human being. He is incredibly skilled and talented, but still so real - never arrogant or impatient. Andy also has a giant heart, which is particularly lovely in a teacher for voice. I really think that one is never more vulnerable than when singing, and he taught me to embrace that vulnerability and use it to my advantage. My own skill and confidence grew every time I saw him. In fact, I joked that he was my therapist, because he helped me grow and develop so much under his tutelage! I've taken singing lessons from two other teachers before, and Andy is the only one who never pushed his own agenda or "set lessons" on me. He helped me find my own voice and style, but also introduced me to a few songs I hadn't thought of trying, just to show me how my voice could adapt. He was the only teacher who really taught me how to breathe while singing and how to control the sound/quality with breath. If I didn't understand one explanation, he tried another, and he was encouraging all the while. By the time I stopped lessons, I was singing my own compositions and getting his feedback on voice and technique. I sent my 15-year-old daughter to Andy last summer for voice lessons. She adored him and learned how to tap seamlessly into her head voice (her personal goal). Both of us would like to go back for more lessons with him, when our schedules allow. As to the one-star review here, that puzzled me. While I might call Andy eccentric on that "crazy-talented musician" scale, he is utterly professional, competent and methodical in his teaching. What he does not do is take himself too seriously. He focusses on what's important: teaching. In this pursuit he is passionate, and he treats his students with dignity and respect. read more

Andy is a talented, passionate, patient and understanding teacher. You will never leave a lesson feeling confused, he always tries to make sure that you fully understand what he's explaining to you. Andy is very quick to correct any mistakes you make, it's clearly very important to him that you're singing the best you possibly can. He never seems to get frustrated if you're having a hard time learning something, and he's very good about giving lots of encouragement and positive feedback. The lessons are usually very casual and laid back, he tries to build a rapport with you to ease any awkwardness or nervousness you may feel. If you have a personal issue that's holding your singing back (For example, low self-confidence) Andy tries his best to help you overcome it. I never expected for these lessons to get so personal, but I'm very glad they did. Don't go to Andy expecting to put in minimal effort for great reward. He makes you work very hard both during the lesson and at home, but he makes it fun as well. I always leave a lesson thinking "I can't wait to do that again next week." Definitely check Andy out, you will not regret it. read more

Andy Shaw is a great teacher to work with. I've been working with him the past several years to develop my vocal range. I'm a tenor, and the higher range has always been difficult for me. Since taking lessons with Andy, he's helped me break into my higher range while also developing volume and full tone. My time and money have both been well spent with Andy. He's able to consistently identify voice techniques that are holding me back, and provide exercises to help overcome them. Also, Andy's easy to work with. He works with broad variety of experience levels, from trained singers, to beginners. When I first began singing with Andy, I had no about technique. I have a band (Fellow Traveler), and just wanted to improve my singing. He's taught me a lot about proper technique to the point that I can now hear different singers voice and identify what their doing technique wise. For instance, I can tell when someone's not raising their soft palette. My girlfriend is a trained Opera singer... and although I'm not at her level, she's impressed with how far my range has come. In short, Andy's rad. read more

For years I pushed off getting back into music, nervous about if I could ramp back up and really rediscover my love for music. I am SO GLAD I took the plunge and found Andy. Andy's passion for music is contagious and he customizes lessons based on your individual goals. We have spent lessons jamming, working on more technical skills and breathing techniques, pushing boundaries and trying out new singing terrain - all of them equally as enjoyable! I have personally experienced a notable difference in the strength of my voice, my breathing/posture, my artistic confidence, and my vocal variety. What 's more is when I was in a rut figuring out my vocal style, Andy offered to go visit a music store with me to browse for genres and sheet music that might fuel that fire. He even added music to his collection and started sending me gig ideas. These lessons are the highlight of my week! Whether you are looking to just sing and jam, no strings attached, or you have a specific goal in mind for your growth vocally, I would recommend Andy a million times over. read more

Andy is an excellent teacher. For me, like many others, finally taking the plunge and signing up for voice lessons was a stressful process and took a lot of consideration. I could not be happier with the choice I made to have Andy as a teacher. He will take you under his wing and make you feel right at home on the first day. He makes the process so easy and you will never feel intimidated or embarrassed to have him hear you sing. He has a great musical ear and is able to quickly "diagnose" the areas of your singing that need the most work and will work with you to get to wherever you'd like to be, whether you're singing professionally or just for fun. I'm very glad to say that in the time I've taken lessons with Andy he's become not just a great mentor to me, but also a friend. I highly recommend his lessons. read more

Andy is hands down the most knowledgeable and inspiring teacher I've worked with. He is actually the reason I became a singer--I never would've had the confidence or inspiration to sing publicly without his encouragement, guidance and inspiration. I went to him as a straight up beginner years ago and he forced me to get 'out there' and DO it. Priceless! He is an exceptional communicator with an amazing ability to teach abstract concepts in a way that is understandable, and he actually inspires you to do the work and make progress, too. He's also an amazing singer himself! I moved away from Seattle for a number of years, and I met and briefly worked with other teachers--most of them talked a good game and had helpful input, but their actual singing didn't move me like Andy's does. He's the real deal. read more

I have been a student of Andy Shaw for many, many years! His knowledge of singing technique and his ability to teach it are unsurpassed. Beyond that, he helps his students to find their voice, both musically and emotionally. He is always positive, always encouraging. His knowledge of jazz is encyclopedic. Anybody who wants to become a jazz singer can do no better than to study with him. And anybody who wants to hear the best jazz singer alive today should try to catch his gigs which are too rare! btw--his studio is in a charming suburban neighborhood in a little free-standing building where a timid student need have no fear of being overheard. read more

Andy has done so much for me musically that I don't even know where to begin. My range, tone, versatility and repertoire have been incredibly strengthened from his teaching. Everyone that I sing with has told me how much my singing has improved. I have more confidence and feel like a real musician instead of just a "chick singer" because of everything that I've learned from him. every time I go to a lesson I learn something new. You can tell he loves music and loves teaching music. I've had other singing teachers over the years but Andy has taught me more than all of them. He's awesome. read more

I've had lessons with Andy on and off over the course of 15 years. I've had other teachers. but no one who could so quickly diagnose what was needed and get me on track to where I needed to be. I am ten times the singer I was before his instruction. He is also a great guy, and helpful, with an encouraging word-a straight shooter. Andy will not tell you a mistruth, especially about your abilities. He keeps the lesson interesting and monitors improvement. He's an ace!! I loved his teaching, and I'm an instructor of over 30 years, and not easily impressed-this cat can teach!! read more

I studied with Andy for several years, starting in the late 1980's. I was very shy about my voice, and lacked confidence, and he very patiently worked with me to begin to develop myself as a singer. Andy has a knack for making the process fun and helping to find the right material to suit both a student's taste and natural abilities. His encouragement and support lead to my going to Cornish College of the Arts to seriously pursue music, and developing myself as a professional musician. Thanks so much Andy! read more

Andy has been my voice teacher for a little over a year. I find him to be skilled, sensitive, and worthy of trust, for voice work involves great vulnerability and power. Lessons with Andy have opened my voice with both fundamental scales and exercises as well as his diagnosis to specific quirks in songs I am working on. Andy is supportive, encouraging, direct, demanding, and zany. I laugh a lot at our lessons and continue to develop my voice and confidence. Lessons are in a quiet residential neighborhood. read more

What makes Andy Shaw special is his ability to truly understand your strengths, weaknesses and needs and tailor his instruction to address those elements. This is definitely not one-size-fits-all vocal instruction. The end result is that you quickly come to understand the mechanics of singing properly and also build confidence in your own ability. I am a songwriter who never performed publicly because of my inferior singing. That's all changed for the better. I couldn't recommend Andy more. read more

Andy is a teacher who combines great teaching ability with insights from a lifelong career as a performing artist. He's passionate about the music and has 'got your back' as a coach for the aspiring performer. He was instrumental in pushing me to seek medical advice about my lack of resonance. In the end, this has made a huge difference for my health and my singing. If you want a veteran voice teacher who can help you make your singing goals a reality--look no further! read more

Andy is a guru, who can cut right through to what I need to learn, and can do it with the utmost respect and kindness. That means his space is a safe place to learn, and if you've ever figured out that singing can be terrifying, that really makes a difference. He has helped me make friends with my own voice, and that is a powerful gift. I highly recommend him, if you are seriously seeking a space to learn what your true voice is... read more

Andy is a great teacher who really helps you to understand the fundamentals of singing to make you a much better singer. Andy is flexible, easy to follow, and he also provides a cd of your lesson to help you practice between lessons. I've seen consistent progress through Andy's lessons and I'd recommend him to anyone who would like to improve their singing. read more

Andy has totally blown me away! I chose to sing months ago in hopes that by learning to sing I would feel comfortable projecting my voice and gain confidence. Andy has helped me achieve this and more. Singing has become a integral part of my life. I highly recommend Andy if you are looking for one on one lessons that are catered to your needs. read more

I worked with Andy for quite sometime in the past and he has been overall partially involved with giving me the ability to make me the singer I am today. I still use many of his exercises and warm-up techniques. He will also work with you, being flexible and understanding. read more

Perfect if you have a lot of time and money to throw away. If, however, you expect to work with someone who isn't heavily medicated (or w/e his deal is)...you'll want to find someone else. BTW: The studio is in the middle of a high crime area...and is a dump. read more

Andy helped me take my singing to the next level. He has unlimited patience and keeps working on problems in my voice until they get resolved. Highly recommend. read more