Business Details
15 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Vocal Coaching Excellence
Founded in 2011 as Forte Vocal Academy, our company has evolved into a globally recognized platform for vocal training. With locations initially in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Santa Cruz, we expanded internationally in 2016, bringing cutting-edge techniques like the 'dark voice' method from Italy and the Shustroff Method from Los Angeles. Our head coach, Audrey McDonald, combines decades of experience performing in prestigious venues like the MGM Grand Ballroom with a passion for empowering students. We offer personalized online lessons, karaoke clubs, and targeted courses designed to address specific vocal challenges. Our mission is to cultivate creativity and technical mastery while making professional-grade vocal training accessible worldwide. Students benefit from a curriculum refined through collaborations with industry experts, including Michael Jackson's vocal director, Dorian Holley. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned performer, our approach emphasizes individual growth, confidence-building, and artistic expression. We pride ourselves on delivering results-driven instruction that adapts to each student's unique needs and goals.
Services
Private Voice Lessons
Karaoke Club
Quick Fix Course
Online Skype Lessons
Vocal Technique Drills
Served areas
- Indio, Palm Desert, Coachella Valley, Cathedral City, Palm Springs, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Bermuda Dunes
Details
- Year established: 2011
Highlights and features
- We offer personalized vocal coaching with proven international techniques.
- Our instructors have decades of professional performance and teaching experience.
- We provide flexible online lessons accessible worldwide.
- Our curriculum includes specialized courses for targeted vocal improvement.
- We combine artistic expression with technical mastery in every lesson.
What people say
Amazing voice teacher
Custom tailored lessons
Improved singing
Energetic and enthusiastic
Professional yet intuitive
Services
Private Voice Lessons
Customized one-on-one vocal training tailored to individual skill levels and goals. Our instructors use proven techniques to improve pitch, tone, and performance confidence. Students receive personalized feedback and practice plans to accelerate progress.
Karaoke Club
Monthly masterclasses and singing events for group practice and feedback. This membership includes interactive sessions like Feedback Fridays to enhance performance skills in a supportive community environment.
Quick Fix Course
Short-term courses addressing specific vocal challenges. Focused drills and exercises help singers overcome technical issues quickly with expert guidance and structured practice routines.
Online Skype Lessons
Live remote lessons with professional vocal coaches. This service offers flexibility for students to learn from anywhere while receiving real-time feedback and personalized instruction.
Vocal Technique Drills
Specialized exercises designed to improve vocal range, control, and endurance. Techniques include the 'dark voice' method and Shustroff Method for enhanced artistic expression and technical proficiency.
Questions
What types of vocal lessons do you offer?
We provide private voice lessons, karaoke club memberships, quick fix courses, and online Skype lessons tailored to individual needs.
Are lessons available online?
Yes, all our lessons are available online through Skype or other virtual platforms for global accessibility.
What vocal techniques do you teach?
We use methods like the 'dark voice' technique from Italy, Shustroff Method, and 'right cog' method from Germany.
How much do lessons cost?
Pricing details are available upon request. We offer various packages to suit different training needs and budgets.
Who are your instructors?
Our team includes experienced professionals like Audrey McDonald, trained by Michael Jackson's vocal director, and Satarupa Thyme with theater arts expertise.
Reviews (18)
Rhodes Kimmell
Jun 28, 2020
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My experience has been great! I never thought of online lessons until I started watching Audrey on YouTube. After a year of watching and then i I found her Facebook group with students from all over the world. I'm very pleased with her techniques and how she can tell you in a couple minutes what you are doing incorrectly with showing you how to practice. I'm continuing with her as she dedicates a lot of time to her students.
Samantha Hogan
Feb 28, 2020
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Audrey is awesome! She is so kind and such a good teacher. We had no trouble with lessons online through skype. I learned a lot after a few months of her teaching me, i think im a much better singer now. She was always flexible if i couldnt make a lesson and she was always a delight to talk to. I would highly reccomend her lessons.
Daniel R.
Feb 01, 2020
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I've been taking vocal lessons with Audrey and she's a wonderful teacher. Knowledgeable, encouraging and inspiring. Everything you want from someone helping you with your musical journey. The Skype lessons are super helpful as she takes video and the ability to watch and listen back to your exercises is incredibly valuable. I'm a drummer who is adding vocals to my repertoire and her assistance has been invaluable! I highly recommend!
Marlana Sugar
Jun 24, 2017
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I've only worked with Audrey once and I already feel like I'm learning a lot. I've been to a few other singing classes in the Santa Cruz area and Forte is definitely the best in regards to the teaching methods as well as the teachers themselves. Highly recommended. :
Mikayla Tom
Feb 04, 2017
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Vocal Forte Academy had me feeling more confident about my voice within the first couple of lessons. Its a great place to help people of any age master their singing abilities in a safe environment.
Mikayla T.
Jul 02, 2016
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Vocal Forte is a great place to master your singing skills and learn new techniques. After my first lesson, I had already learned many new breathing techniques and vocal exercises to help strengthen my vocal chords. Much better than my previous vocal instructor's!
JoAn Chace
Nov 30, 2015
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My experience comes through my granddaughter, 10 years old, who just completed her first public performance in a Forte showcase. The occasion was arranged informally, in a restaurant with performance space. The performers ranged in age from my granddaughter's age to the mid-sixties. Everyone had been well prepared with an appropriate song. Every performance had been carefully developed. Yet the atmosphere was spontaneous and easy-going. Performers and audience enjoyed themselves.
My granddaughter has improved her ability to hold a note, to style a song, to sing out with joyous energy, and to pronounce lyrics clearly. The people at Forte give excellent training and impart a love of popular music.
My granddaughter has improved her ability to hold a note, to style a song, to sing out with joyous energy, and to pronounce lyrics clearly. The people at Forte give excellent training and impart a love of popular music.
Linda S.
Jul 27, 2015
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Forte is the best! We have been taking our 11 year old daughter for private lessons with Rachel Rohe, and she is such an excellent teacher! Everyone at Forte lives what they do and their passion is evident by the happy faces of the adults and kids they work with. The self esteem our child has gained is amazing.
Tom D.
Jul 26, 2015
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I've been taking lessons from Forte for the past several months, after having sung for many years in choirs without any formal instruction. The improvement in my vocal skills since I started at Forte has been very noticeable and I feel much more confident about performing solo. Both Audrey and Rachel are very adept in finding very subtle areas in enunciation, breathing and posture that all contribute to the overall quality of the voice, which I never would have grasped on my own.
They are both very knowledgeable about vocal techniques, and music overall, plus they keep the lessons fun and engaging. I highly recommend their services for anyone who wants to improve their singing skills.
They are both very knowledgeable about vocal techniques, and music overall, plus they keep the lessons fun and engaging. I highly recommend their services for anyone who wants to improve their singing skills.
Jennifer S.
May 14, 2015
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I LOVE Forte Vocal Academy! I originally started taking voice lessons just to learn better breath and vocal control but have gone on to learn far more. I've not only gained the confidence and ability to sing and perform in public but have had the most amazing fun learning to explore my individual capabilities under Audrey's excellent guidance. Being able to enjoy participating in their performance events and audition preparation that their studio offers has me even considering the possibility of being able to try out for some local theatre! All ages and levels will thrive Here
Bryan L.
May 08, 2015
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We are thrilled with Forte. Our daughter has developed her passion for singing, and acquired skills and performance training. The instruction is highly supportive but includes enough real expectations and constructive criticism to make sure progress continues. Highly recommend!
Cheryl Ganly
Mar 26, 2015
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Forte Vocal academy is great place to have your self or your kids to sing. My daughter is in private lesson and she has gotten so my better and only been there two months. Audrey is a great teacher I really recommend her if you want private or group lesson.
Sarah G.
Mar 09, 2015
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I have seen so much improvement in just three months of training, Audrey is an amazingly skilled teacher with great lessons to teach how to use your vocal chords correctly and getting you sounding professional! I am now a released artist : Gabriela Heart and have released a track on iTunes https://soundcloud.com/chaosthedj/chaos-feat-gabriela-heart-big-fat-bass Check my music page. https://www.facebook.com/PurrtEcat Don't think about it twice Audrey is the best vocal coach in the area!
Renee S.
Dec 02, 2013
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I just had my first lesson with Audrey last week, and I can't wait to go back! Not only is she totally awesome as a person, but she is a great teacher too! I was so stoked that she gave me sheet music and an MP3 of the song I wanted to work on, and she even gave me a copy of my lesson on DVD so I can keep practicing until the next one. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Audrey will teach me next time, since she taught me a lot about my voice in the first lesson. Forte/Audrey rocks!
Jessie M.
Nov 27, 2013
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I have had the pleasure of working with Audrey in shows and voice lessons. She is an incredibly talented teacher and performer with excellent skills in communicating vocal technique. Her dedication to her students is incredible. She is full of patience and makes lessons fun! I definitley reccommend Her!
Ryan M.
Nov 23, 2013
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I used to drive up to San Francisco to take my son to vocal classes. Not anymore! Audrey knows her stuff, has an amazing way with students of all levels and has prepared my kid for auditions and performances better than teachers twice the price and 10x the distance. We've since moved to SoCal and miss the 1:1 attention we used to get at Forte. Can we do lessons over Skype?;
Dawn Layne Rodgers
Forte Vocals is the best! My daughter has been taking private voice lessons with Audrey for almost a year now and she has loved every minute of it! She has gone from being a very shy and quiet little singer to a "there's no stopping me" ROCKSTAR!!!
Marlana Claire
I've only worked with Audrey twice and I already feel like I'm learning a lot. I've been to a few other singing classes in the Santa Cruz area and Forte is definitely the best in regards to the teaching methods as well as the teachers themselves. Highly recommended.