37 | The Young Singing Larynx: Interview with Dana Lentini
Voice teacher and pedagogue, Dana Lentini shares her passion and detailed research about teaching young children to sing. She discusses the young singers’ larynx and how it changes through childhood and puberty. Her recent study addresses many of the myths about working with young singers in the private teaching studio.
About Our Guest:
Dana Lentini is a voice teacher and pedagogue with expertise in developing teaching techniques for the young singer. A lyric soprano, Dana has performed a number of leading roles with opera companies that include the Great Lakes Lyric Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Toledo Opera, Opera Theatre at Wildwood, and the Shreveport Opera. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Livonia Symphony, and the Dearborn Symphony. In addition, she regularly performs chamber music with her husband,
guitarist and composer James Lentini.
Her vocal studies include a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from The University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. Dana received a Detroit Music Award in the category of Best Classical Singerâ from the Motor City Music Foundation for three consecutive years (2002-2004). Her recordings include appearances on Kerstin Allvin’s CD entitled An Affair of the Harp and on The Four Seasons for Guitar with James Lentini.
As a voice teacher, Dana has been a member of the voice faculty in the Preparatory Department of the College Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati and in the Department of Music at The College of New Jersey. Ms. Lentini is the founder of Born 2 Sing Kids LLC, a voice program designed to meet the needs of children ages 6-13 in the development of beginning singing and performing techniques. She maintains an active private voice studio in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where she teaches a range of students from children to adults.
Dana is a proud mother of three wonderful kids who are all performing artists. When she is not teaching and writing her blog about teaching strategies for young singers, you can find her running and training for half marathons or practicing yoga.
For more info about her studio and blog, please visit her website: https://www.born2singkids.com
Dana, alongside Nikki Loney, is the co-moderator of the Facebook Group Voice Teachers for Young Singers.
If you are working with young singers and you are looking for a supportive group of voice professionals, please join us: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceTeachersforYoungSingers/
