Meet Claire McKeown of Claire McKeown Vocal Studio in Silver Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire McKeown.

Claire, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I trained to be a professional Opera Singer and was about 10 years deep into that when I started noticing it wasn’t inspiring me anymore. I felt very alienated from my peers. I was falling into a deep depression and knew I had to rethink my path. I had stopped singing for about a year when a friend of mine asked me to arrange vocal parts and sing in an up and coming indie rock band. This got my passion for singing and music back. Around this time, I started teaching privately and since I was playing so many local shows people would always ask If they could study with me. It was a very beautiful and easy transition. My clientele grew quite rapidly. People loved that I was both well trained with a classical background and still have a down to earth indie music sensibility.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I am very lucky that it has been a smooth road. When your work is in alignment with what you came out of this earth to do I am a deep believer that it always rewards you.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Claire McKeown Vocal Studio – what should we know?
Most of my clients are here to work on their voices. I work with mostly adults at all different levels (beginners to professionals), with all different goals. At the heart of our work together is to find their authentic voice. I teach Bel Canto technique which promotes healthy easy singing but I teach it to modern singers. So I work with Rock singers, Jazz singer, Pop singers, Folk singer, country singer, opera singers, and punk rockers… I teach both individuals and work with groups and bands.

I also teach piano, music theory, songwriting, and ukulele. I will teach you pretty much anything you would want to know about music.

I am most proud of how I have created a safe and positive place for people to explore their potential and reach their excellence. This is hilarious since my training was taught in a pretty abusive and strict manner. I don’t think it is very helpful. Besides, people are already so mean to themselves they don’t need another person being a jerk to them.

What sets me apart from others is my intuitive ability to recognize how different brains like to receive information. It is something I pride myself on, and something that fascinates me to no end.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My friends deserve the credit for me starting my vocal studio. I’ll never forget 8 years ago when I was looking for a new job and I kept asking my friends what I should do. Each one of them suggested that I should teach voice. I am so glad I took that advice because I love what I do so much.

The other credit is to my amazing vocal teachers that helped me master the technique that I teach to my students. William Bohn, Gail Gordon, and Timothy Mussard. Thanks for letting me dissect and analyze every piece of knowledge that came out of your mouths. You guys made me the singer and the teacher I am today and I treasure our time together.

I was very lucky to have worked with these brilliant singers and teachers.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1206 Manzanita Street,
  Los Angeles, 90029
• Website: http://clairemckeownvocalstudio.weebly.com/
• Phone: 310 871 1593
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/clairemckeownvocalstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMcKeownVocalStudio/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/claire-mckeown-vocal-studio-los-angeles

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