About Us
Justina teaching her opening session at Writing A Song That Matters
Justina’s Story
I received my Masters in Voice in 1985 and returned to the Pioneer Valley not knowing what my next step would be. Then, in 1986 someone called me and asked me for voice lessons. I refused on the grounds that I didn’t like teaching and didn’t know anything that could be of use. I was persuaded to try and subsequently fell madly in love. Every day since I have been trying to explain how to wield something invisible that has the power to transform lives.
I taught out of my home until 1998, and then moved into the Profound Sound Voice Studio in the Florence Community Center on Pine Street. I have been there ever since.
In these thirty six years I have taught countless voice lessons to individuals and small groups, turning good singers into professional singers. I have coached church groups, coached and conducted choirs, toured the country for twelve years in a singer/songwriting duo, released three albums, sung solo and in choirs, and traveled to Italy and Mexico City to sing both solo and choral works.
Owl Fact: Owls do not have the muscles in their eyes to independently move them. They therefore have special necks that allow them to rotate in 270 degrees.
For ten years, I have been the voice teacher at the Dar Williams “Writing A Song That Matters” workshop. I have taught at the Northampton Community Music Center and at Smith College and at music festivals all over the country.
In March of 2020 the pandemic arrived in the Valley, and within one week the Studio went virtual. I researched and learned how to use audio equipment that would facilitate virtual lessons. I used any means possible to hold my incredible community together and keep people singing in very fearful times. I spent many hours teaching others how to use technology that they would never have imagined using in a million years.
Throughout it all, the Profound Sound Voice Studio has embodied my commitment to working with the whole person as a pathway to increasing each person’s joy and love of singing and performing. Utilizing all styles of music, I help each student cross-train and gain skills that can be utilized in all singing situations. And we laugh. A lot.
Philosophy of Practice
You have everything you need to sing fully, openly and beautifully
Your voice is already magnificent
Your body, mind and spirit are your instrument and therefore utterly unique
Can anyone learn to sing? The answer is everyone can sing! Our ideas about singing and the resulting physical habits can impede our natural and easy voices. We unwittingly get in the way of the amazing flow of breath that goes through us. The study of singing should help you uncover whatever is preventing you from accessing the momentum of this natural flow. As a result, you sing with ease and power, create a joyful noise, and enjoy a direct connection from artistry to sound.
I help my students discover their most organically produced, easy and open sound outside of any particular genre or style of singing. Our voices are pitched exhales, so the breath IS our voice! Learning to trust and ride this amazing physical reality is at the core of singing with ease.
In addition, great singing is more than knowing words and music. It also includes positive self-concept, the understanding of the story being told, dealing with inner critics, the sound of the voice and more.
And it’s not all serious! Having fun is important! In the words of a student: “…that’s a big part of the reason why working with you is so enjoyable and effective – having some fun helps to dispel the fear/intimidation factor that some people feel, helps to keep the optimism and the patience level high, and keeps the joy present along with the discipline of the work.”
The relationship between a voice teacher and a student is a sacred one. We cannot hear our own voices as others do, so we have to trust our teachers to be our ears. As singers we learn to guide our voices by the feelings in our bodies, not by what we hear. Our voices will sound different in every space in which we sing. If we constantly adjust our voice for each space we risk overuse and tremendous inconsistency in our sound. Especially when singing with amplified instruments when we can barely hear ourselves think having this touchstone of how our bodies feel means we are always singing at our best no matter what we do or don’t hear.
I have the best job on the planet – I sit at my piano each day and people sing to me! I have been honored to witness my students transform, opening their hearts and voices, and yes, even changing their lives along the way.
Justina sings with the Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble, 2018.
Listen To Justina’s Music!
What We Can Do For You!
We offer so much at Profound Sound, from beginner singing lessons to piano lessons to music instruction. And each of our amazing instructors add so much more value and specialties to the mix! Check out the complete list of what we can do for you by clicking the button below. And if you have any questions, feel free to send us a message.
