Your voice already has something to say. I help you say it clearly.
Helping singers and speakers develop a voice that is reliable, expressive, and authentically theirs.
Ted's Voice Academy offers private voice lessons in Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and throughout Thurston County, Washington. The studio is in Lacey, about five minutes from downtown Olympia, and provides private singing lessons, speaking and presentation coaching, and ensemble coaching for choirs and quartets. Founded by Ted Chamberlain, who has taught voice since 1988, coached over 1,000 students, and earned National Board Certification in Music (2005). Lessons are available in person and virtually, and every student starts with a free 15-minute discovery call.
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Master Your Voice Monthly
A free monthly newsletter. Themed deep dives on singing technique, speaking skills, 4-week practice routines, vocal health, and ensemble tips. New issue the first of every month.
Subscribe free → New BookAVF Guide: The Essentials
The entry-point guide for any singer or speaker. Five Pillars, Eight Dials, practical exercises in a concise format. No prior reading required.
Learn more → New BookAVF Singer's Guide: Barbershop Harmony
Lock and ring, formant matching, vowel tuning, and a coaching decoder that translates barbershop terminology into AVF concepts with part-specific guidance.
Learn more →Voice coaching that starts with you
Voice coaching is personal. I take time to understand where you are, where you want to go, and what's getting in the way. When you understand how your voice works, everything else falls into place. That's what I help you build: skills that last.
When you understand how your voice works, everything else falls into place.
How can I help?
I work with individuals and groups at every level. Choose the path that fits your goals.
Singing
Vocal and performance coaching for singers, typically ages 14 and up.
Every singer arrives with different goals. Some want to build technique from the ground up. Others are working through a specific challenge or preparing for something important. I meet you where you are and design lessons around what's most important to you: your style, your experience, your voice.
See Singing Lessons →Speaking
Voice and performance coaching for clear, confident, authentic communication.
The way you speak shapes how your ideas land. I work with professionals, educators, and leaders who want to communicate with greater clarity and presence. Together, we address the physical foundations of voice: breath support, resonance, pacing, and projection. Your message comes through with the impact it deserves.
See Speaking Coaching →Ensembles
Vocal and performance coaching for groups seeking unity, efficiency, and expressive sound.
Strong ensemble singing starts with strong individual skills. I work with choirs, quartets, and vocal groups to develop tuning, unity, and authentic performance presence. Whether you're preparing for competition or simply want to connect more deeply as an ensemble, I can help your group find its voice.
See Ensemble Coaching →Where can I take voice lessons in Olympia, WA?
My studio is in Lacey, Washington, about five minutes from downtown Olympia. I teach private singing lessons, speaking coaching, and ensemble coaching in person here, and I work with singers and speakers throughout Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and the wider Thurston County area. Virtual lessons are available as well. Every student starts with a free 15-minute discovery call.
Coming from around Thurston County
The studio sits in a quiet residential part of Lacey with plenty of street parking, so lessons stay easy to get to. From downtown Olympia it is a short drive east. From Tumwater, Yelm, and the surrounding communities, most students find the trip comfortable enough to build into a weekly routine.
Roots in the local singing community
I have been part of this region's music life for years. I founded Voices of the Sound, a mixed barbershop chorus based in Olympia, and I direct and coach quartets and choruses around the South Sound. That work keeps me connected to the choirs, theaters, and community groups my students sing with, and it means I understand the music you are preparing here. If you are looking for somewhere to sing, my guide to auditions in Olympia walks through the local choirs and theaters and what each one looks for.
Lessons that travel
Some students live outside the area or have schedules that make a weekly drive difficult, and virtual lessons open the door for them. Whether virtual is a good fit depends on your goals, your setup, and how you learn best. That is exactly the kind of thing we sort out together on the discovery call, so you can start with a clear picture.
Voice mastery, many paths
Personal coaching is the heart of what I do. It's also part of a larger picture: a complete approach to voice mastery that includes frameworks, tools, education, and community.
The Adaptive Voice Framework™
The teaching framework behind everything I do, now available as a nearly 700-page book. AVF™ organizes how voices work into a clear, practical system any singer or speaker can use.
Learn about AVF →PASS Profile™
A professional communication assessment I created to help people understand how they naturally communicate. Discover your unique patterns, strengths, and style. Then use that knowledge with purpose.
Take the PASS Profile →Intonation Lab
A browser-based ear training tool with real-time pitch detection, AI coaching feedback, and just intonation targets. 29 intervals and chords, visual feedback, recording and playback, 52-exercise curriculum, and a free demo. Individual and group licenses.
Try Intonation Lab →Riser Chart
A drag-and-drop riser placement tool built for chorus directors. Four layout styles, auto-arrange templates, singer links, canvas annotations, dark mode, share links, multi-account support, 24 voice parts, singer photos, unlimited formations, and branded exports. All from your browser.
Open Riser Chart →Vocal Exercise Builder
A free browser tool that builds a personalized vocal exercise set in seconds. Choose your level, context, style, goal, and energy, and get a warm-up, a targeted drill, and a real-music step, all grounded in the AVF. Copy your set or save it as a PDF.
Open the Vocal Exercise Builder →Pitch Matcher
A free browser tool that plays a target pitch and gives you real-time visual feedback as you match it with your own voice. A simple way to train your ear and build pitch accuracy.
Open Pitch Matcher →Vocal Health
Your voice is an instrument that deserves good care. I share what I've learned about keeping voices healthy: daily habits, home remedies, conditioning exercises, and knowing when to seek help.
Vocal Health Resources →Workshops & Presentations
Group learning experiences for singers, speakers, and organizations. My offerings include the signature AVF Workshop Series, conference sessions, and custom events for groups of all sizes.
View Workshop Options →Blog
Ideas, insights, and practical guidance on vocal technique, performance, health, and the mindset behind lasting growth. New posts regularly.
Read the Blog →
A bit about me
I'm Ted Chamberlain. I've spent my career studying voices: how they work, why they struggle, and what helps them grow. I've taught in classrooms, rehearsal halls, and private studios. I've coached beginners and professionals, soloists and ensembles.
What I've learned is this: every voice is different, and every voice can improve. The path forward depends on understanding what's actually happening when you sing or speak. Then making small, specific changes that add up over time.
That's the kind of work I love. If you're ready to understand your voice better, I'd be glad to help.
Read my full story →What people are saying
I've been learning from Ted for quite some time now. Not only is he a genuinely great person, but he's also an exceptional teacher. He built his singing ability from the ground up, which makes him especially valuable—as he understands the process deeply and brings multiple tips & tricks to solving any vocal challenge.
I've been working with Ted for about 6 months (virtually) because I sing in a local barbershop chorus and wanted to improve my technique and be a better chorus/quartet singer. We focus on things like building a smooth and balanced tone…
Truly friendly and very knowledgeable.
Loved my lessons with Ted, very knowledgeable and very helpful.
Ted is an incredible voice coach! He meets you exactly where you are in your vocal journey and tailors each lesson to focus on the specific areas you want to improve. He's not only supportive and encouraging, but also extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend working with him!
I can't recommend Ted's Voice Academy highly enough. Ted is an incredible coach who brings both expertise and passion to his teaching. His ability to break down complex vocal techniques into clear, practical steps makes a huge difference…
Ted has helped my daughter come out of her shell and helped her become top of her class in chorus. Highly recommend even if you have trouble speaking in public.
As I have aged gracefully, my voice hasn't. I was frustrated and was very excited when I found Ted. He has been very kind and encouraging! I have experienced a difference even in the short time I have been going to him. He is always…
Phenomenal, I have seen a huge transformation in my daughters confidence in singing from working with TED
I have done some vocal coaching with Ted. It just so happened that he watched me give a 5 minute talk just prior to our appointment, so he offered excellent feedback and suggestions. If you decide to work with Ted, I highly recommend…
Highly recommend for any professional needing to perfect verbal communication in person, over video or on the phone.
Before I met Ted, I had never sung in front of anyone. I was pretty nervous about starting in my late '50s, but Ted changed all of that. He's been so supportive and patient, teaching me the ins and outs of singing in a way that's easy to…
TED'S IS TOPS I've worked with literally hundreds of directors and thousands of singers and Ted's Vocal Academy is who I entrust my voice with. Ted's Vocal Academy is…
Ted is the consummate professional; not only as a musician, but as a kind, non-judgemental person. He provides a safe place to explore while having a responsive and accurate sounding board that catches incorrect technique. He is most…
As an individual who has under gone a plethora of career and personality testing, I found Ted's PASS profile to be very precise and well organized. It presented the findings in a very positive and helpful format that actually made me feel very empowered and having a true sense of direction for my career.
Ted really focuses on his clients and what his clients needs are.
Perceptive, clear, and creative advice. Thank you, Ted!
Makes great adjustments for both individual and quartet sound improvement.
My Quartet had a session with Ted and we all improved! It's exhilarating to see quick progress. Wonderful!
Ted has been incredibly helpful to my singing, both as a choral director and as a coach. He is a fantastic teacher, and has a wide array of techniques and deep knowledge. His superpower (IMHO) is the ability to tailor the coaching to each student.
I heard Ted coach several quartets. While there were certain common themes, such as space around the vowels, authentic expression, good posture and solid posts, he tailored his comments to each quartet and each singer - all within a 30…
Ted is great and very supportive. He also always gives me the next thing to work on!
Great coaching for our chorus' quartets as we prepare to send singing valentines!
We had an incredible coaching experience with Ted. He helped our quartet as an ensemble, and gave us each things to work on to improve ourselves individually. All of this from a place of kindness. It was time well spent. Thank you, Ted!!
Very positive experience. Lots of constructive advice for a newbie quartet singer.
Ted brings such a breadth and depth to his quartet teaching! Very sensitive, intuitive, and intelligent he was able to help our experienced quartet with a bass new to barbershop sounding “ready for prime time” in only a 1/2 hour.
I just completed a voice session with Ted's Voice Academy. Ted is extremely knowledgeable and very patient and fun to work with. I'll definitely sign up for future sessions. Thanks Ted!
Highly recommend his service. It is a great tool if you don't think you are reaching your true potential.
Ted coached our barbershop quartet (again!) a few days ago. As always, he quickly identifies, and works on, the key vocal issues that will provide the greatest improvement in our ensemble sound. Ted is definitely one of the very best vocal…
Ted Chamberlain has been a huge influence on my work as a singer, chorus director, and contest adjudicator for the Barbershop Harmony Society. In the ten years that I have known him, I have watched him work with singers of all ages and…
I worked with Ted to help me achieve better control of my voice and become a better speaker.
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