Find your voice together
Vocal and performance coaching for groups seeking unity, efficiency, and expressive sound.
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Ted's Voice Academy offers ensemble coaching for choirs, barbershop quartets, and a cappella groups in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Sessions cover tuning, vowel matching, performance presence, and vocal technique. Custom engagements include single sessions, retreat formats, and competition preparation.
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Strong ensemble singing starts with strong individual skills — and with a shared understanding of how voices work together. I help choirs/choruses, quartets, and other vocal groups develop tuning, unity, and authentic performance presence.
Whether you're preparing for competition, working through a specific challenge, or simply want to connect more deeply as an ensemble, I can help your group find its voice.
Groups of all kinds
I work with ensembles across traditions and contexts. Here's a sampling of the groups I coach:
Church choirs
From small worship teams to full sanctuary choirs, I help church musicians develop their sound and lead their congregations with confidence.
Barbershop quartets and choruses
I've spent decades in the barbershop world as a performer, director, and coach. I understand what judges listen for and how to help groups achieve ring, unity, and emotional connection.
A cappella groups
Whether you're a college ensemble, community group, or professional vocal band, I can help you tighten your sound and elevate your performances.
School and youth ensembles
I bring nearly 30 years of choral conducting experience in public schools. I know how to meet young singers where they are and help them grow.
Community choirs
Singing together builds connection. I help community groups develop their musicianship while keeping the joy at the center.
Competition-focused groups
If you're preparing for contest, I can help you refine the details that make the difference — tuning, vowel matching, phrasing, and stage presence.
A competition quartet with their awards — one of many groups Ted has coached
What we work on
Every ensemble has different needs. Here are some of the areas I address:
Tuning and intonation
When voices lock in, the sound transforms. I help groups understand the mechanics of tuning and develop the listening skills that make it happen. My Intonation Lab ear training tool supports this work.
Unity and vowel matching
A unified sound isn't about erasing individuality. It's about making intentional choices together. We work on vowel shapes, tone color, and the subtle adjustments that create a cohesive ensemble sound.
Performance presence
Great singing deserves great delivery. I help groups connect with their audience, tell the story, and bring genuine emotion to the stage.
Section development
Sometimes the work happens in smaller groups. I coach section leaders and help individual voice parts strengthen their foundation.
Director support
I work alongside directors to address specific challenges, prepare for performances, or bring a fresh perspective to repertoire.
Show preparation
From repertoire selection to staging, I help groups pull everything together for performances that feel polished, connected, and genuinely moving.
Directing a men's chorus on stage — bringing energy, precision, and musical vision to every performance
How ensemble coaching works
The first step
We start with a conversation about your group's goals. Tell me what you're working toward, and I'll share how I might help.
Flexible formats
I design each engagement around what your ensemble needs. Options include:
- One-time workshops — A focused session on a specific skill or piece of repertoire
- Ongoing coaching — Regular sessions over weeks or months to build skills systematically
- Competition prep — Intensive work leading up to contest or performance
- Sectional coaching — Targeted work with individual voice parts
- Custom workshops — Sessions designed around your group's specific goals
Location
I can work with your group at your rehearsal space, or smaller ensembles can come to my studio in Lacey, Washington. Virtual coaching is also available for certain types of work.
What to expect
I approach ensemble coaching the same way I approach individual instruction: expression first, technique in service of expression.
Expression first, technique in service of expression.
We'll work on the physical and musical foundations that let voices come together freely — breath support, resonance, vowel placement, and listening skills. We'll also explore the performance side — how to connect with each other and with your audience, how to tell the story, and how to bring your authentic selves to the music.
I explain the "why" behind what we're doing. When your singers understand how their voices work, they can keep growing on their own. That's the goal. See pricing and engagement options, or explore workshop formats for your group.
Common questions about ensemble coaching
What types of ensembles do you work with?
I work with church choirs, barbershop quartets and choruses, a cappella groups, community choirs, school ensembles, and competition-focused vocal groups. If your group sings together, I can help.
Do you work with barbershop groups specifically?
Yes — barbershop is a specialty. I've spent decades in the barbershop world as a performer, director, and coach. I understand contest judging categories, ring and lock, vowel matching, and the performance expectations unique to barbershop harmony.
How do ensemble coaching sessions work?
Every engagement is custom. Options include one-time workshops, ongoing weekly or biweekly coaching, competition prep intensives, sectional work, and retreat formats. I can come to your rehearsal space, or smaller groups can visit my studio in Lacey, WA.
Can you help a choir that's struggling with intonation?
Absolutely — tuning is one of the most common reasons groups reach out. I help singers understand the mechanics of intonation, develop listening skills, and learn vowel-matching techniques that transform ensemble sound. My Intonation Lab ear training tool can support this work between sessions.
Do you offer virtual ensemble coaching?
Virtual coaching is available for certain types of work — pre-performance consultations, director mentoring, and sectional coaching can all work well online. Full-ensemble sessions are most effective in person.
How is ensemble coaching priced?
Ensemble coaching is priced based on the scope of the engagement — group size, duration, travel, and format all factor in. Get in touch to discuss your group's needs and I'll put together a proposal. See the pricing page for general information.
Ready to elevate your ensemble?
The first step is a conversation. Tell me about your group and your goals, and I'll share how I can help.
Get in TouchQuestions? Reach out anytime: ted@tedsvoiceacademy.com