Donna Wickham offers high-level private instruction for advanced students and professional musicians seeking focused, personalized training in voice, piano, conducting, theory, composition, and improvisation.
Each lesson plan is tailored to the individual musician — their goals, weaknesses, and stylistic interests.
Each lesson plan is tailored to the individual musician — their goals, weaknesses, and stylistic interests.
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Studio Standards
Rate: $80 per hour
A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Designed for advanced adult students and professional musicians. |
Schedule a Consultation
If you are serious about developing advanced musical skills and sustaining a healthy, flexible artistic voice, contact Donna to schedule a consultation.
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Voice
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM), Jazz & Classical
Many singing teachers approach vocal health exclusively through a bel canto lens. While beautiful, that approach does not always serve contemporary commercial styles such as jazz, pop, R&B, or country.
The voice is capable of producing many different sounds — and it is possible to sing across styles healthfully and sustainably.
Donna teaches principles from Somatic Voicework™ (Jeannette LoVetri), a body-based, science-informed vocal pedagogy developed specifically for contemporary commercial singers while also supporting classical technique.
Students develop:
• Vocal health and longevity
• Style flexibility
• Expanded range and stamina
• Confidence in their unique sound
In addition to vocal technique, serious vocalists also build essential musicianship skills — including band-leading, key awareness, and basic lead sheet literacy.
The voice is capable of producing many different sounds — and it is possible to sing across styles healthfully and sustainably.
Donna teaches principles from Somatic Voicework™ (Jeannette LoVetri), a body-based, science-informed vocal pedagogy developed specifically for contemporary commercial singers while also supporting classical technique.
Students develop:
• Vocal health and longevity
• Style flexibility
• Expanded range and stamina
• Confidence in their unique sound
In addition to vocal technique, serious vocalists also build essential musicianship skills — including band-leading, key awareness, and basic lead sheet literacy.
PIANO
Fundamentals • Jazz • Improvisation • Advanced Harmony
Whether piano is your primary instrument or not, keyboard fluency strengthens every musician.
Understanding harmony at the keyboard improves:
• Vocal accuracy
• Composition
• Arranging
• Improvisation
Donna designs piano study around each musician’s specific needs. Drawing from both jazz and classical training, she builds a strong technical and harmonic foundation — and even composes custom etudes to address individual challenges.
Understanding harmony at the keyboard improves:
• Vocal accuracy
• Composition
• Arranging
• Improvisation
Donna designs piano study around each musician’s specific needs. Drawing from both jazz and classical training, she builds a strong technical and harmonic foundation — and even composes custom etudes to address individual challenges.
COMPOSITION & ARRANGING
For musicians who want to move beyond covering repertoire and develop original material.
Students work on:
• Songwriting craft
• Harmonic development
• Personal style
• Professional-level arrangements
Donna also offers guidance in notation software (Sibelius, MuseScore) and chart preparation for bands and ensembles.
Students work on:
• Songwriting craft
• Harmonic development
• Personal style
• Professional-level arrangements
Donna also offers guidance in notation software (Sibelius, MuseScore) and chart preparation for bands and ensembles.
Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship
Music theory and aural skills are professional tools.
Advanced theory study strengthens:
• Faster learning
• Accurate collaboration
• Stronger arranging skills
• Confident improvisation
Donna assesses each student’s current skill level and creates a structured plan to develop fluency in theory, ear-training, and harmonic understanding.
Advanced theory study strengthens:
• Faster learning
• Accurate collaboration
• Stronger arranging skills
• Confident improvisation
Donna assesses each student’s current skill level and creates a structured plan to develop fluency in theory, ear-training, and harmonic understanding.
Conducting
Conducting is not only for choir directors.
Clear, efficient conducting improves:
• Rehearsal leadership
• Rhythmic precision
• Tempo control
• Ensemble communication
Whether leading a choir, instrumental group, or small ensemble, conducting skills transform musical direction and rehearsal clarity.
Clear, efficient conducting improves:
• Rehearsal leadership
• Rhythmic precision
• Tempo control
• Ensemble communication
Whether leading a choir, instrumental group, or small ensemble, conducting skills transform musical direction and rehearsal clarity.
Improvisation
Improvisation is central to jazz and contemporary styles.
Donna uses a structured, experience-based methodology developed over many years to help musicians gain comfort and confidence in improvisation — whether beginning or refining advanced vocabulary.
Students learn to:
• Develop phrasing
• Navigate harmony
• Take creative risks
• Enjoy the process
Donna uses a structured, experience-based methodology developed over many years to help musicians gain comfort and confidence in improvisation — whether beginning or refining advanced vocabulary.
Students learn to:
• Develop phrasing
• Navigate harmony
• Take creative risks
• Enjoy the process