Singing lessons in Amsterdam
The singing voice is not an instrument to show off; you cannot flaunt it visually. But if you can sing beautifully and let your heart be heard through your voice, you can move others. And that is what all musical instruments want to do too: sing!
Baritone Ronald Dijkstra initially studied church music in Utrecht, where he studied piano, organ, choral conducting and singing. After studying with Rom Kalma for several years, he continued his vocal studies with Jos Burcksen, with whom he also graduated. He continued his piano studies with Mattheus Smits and received further choral conducting lessons from Reinier Wakelkamp and Daniel Reuss.
He has also collaborated for many years with Dutch singers John Bröcheler and Henk Smit. He is currently being coached by American tenor James McCray.
Ronald is a much sought-after opera and oratorio soloist and, as a choir conductor, he has been associated with the Good Shepherd Parish in Amsterdam for many years and conducts the Podevijn chamber choir.
He has been working as a singing teacher for more than 25 years, initially at the Muziekschool Zuid-Oost in Amsterdam. He currently gives private singing lessons in Amsterdam and The Hague, to amateurs as well as advanced and professional singers.
On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, lessons are given in Amsterdam at the teacher’s home. He is very easily accessible by car and public transport. On Mondays and Tuesdays, he teaches in The Hague at the Koorenhuis, Prinsegracht 27, and at the Music Academy, Raamweg 36.
[X]The minimum lesson duration is 30 minutes per week, but 40 minutes or 45 minutes every two weeks is also possible.
[X]Lessons are given to students aged 16 and above. If you are under 16 and would still like to sing, the best advice is to join a good choir. If you are already the right age, the lessons are open to everyone, both those who have never sung before and professional colleagues who would like advice.
[X]In principle, individual lessons are the best option because they allow for undivided attention.
[X]In order to allow the voice to sound as free as possible, a great deal of attention is paid to singing technique, working on proper breathing, resonance, sound production and interpretation. This will enable the student to discover his or her own voice and learn to control and “play” it while singing. Ultimately, your voice will sound fuller, richer and clearer, you will discover your “true voice” and singing will become much easier. The repertoire is chosen in mutual consultation.
For advanced and professional singers, a method has been developed to break free from technique, no longer using it as an end in itself, but as a means to musical freedom.
Thanks to his many years of piano study, teacher Ronald Dijkstra is able to provide his pupils with excellent guidance, enabling them to make music more quickly.
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