Claim Your Voice And Sing

Top Pro

$40

starting price

Zip code

Interested musical styles

Lesson length

Student age

Responds in about 2 hours

Introduction

ATTENTION: - I'M OFFERING A SPECIAL: IN PERSON OR ONLINE, 4 1/2 HOUR LESSONS FOR 1/2 PRICE $20 EACH. WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE $160 IS NOW $80. In person lessons must be fully vaccinated. I’ll be raising my rates on November 10, 2024, to $45 1/2-hour, $80 hour. My introductory rate of $20 for 4 1/2-hours will be unchanged. People want to study singing for so many reasons. You've sung all your life and want to sing better. You'd like to be able to audition for a better chorus or a part. You were told you were tone-deaf when you were 5, and haven't dared make a sound since, or if you have, people have laughed at you. Those are all good reasons. My job is to take you wherever you are, whatever you hope to achieve, and help you sing better whatever that is. The lessons themselves can be done online, or in person within New Jersey only. New Yorkers usually don't want to come to NJ, but you could take lessons online. If you're apprehensive doing lessons online, please read my reviews. Quite a few of them are from online students. There's never a contract. You can try one lesson and see what you think. Your health is the most important thing to address in lessons. People come to me with chronic sore throats from strain, limited ranges, breaks. We fix these things, and you sound great and have fun. I don't let 12-year-olds sound like they're 30. I care, and I'm good. The human voice is the most wonderful toy I can imagine. As a teacher, I get to play in everyone's toy box. It's all fun. I love helping someone who thinks they can't sing on pitch sing on pitch. I love working with people who've sung all their lives and just hope people won't laugh at them. I show members of the chorus that they're soloists, and no one's laughing. I love working with beautiful, strong, healthy voices that just need a little help to fly. I love it all.

Overview

Current Top Pro

Hired 230 times

Serves Caldwell, NJ

Background checked

51 years in business

Business hours

Sun4:00 pm - 8:00 pmMon10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, PayPal, and Zelle.

Social media

Facebook

Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

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Featured Projects

3 photos

Specialties

Interested musical styles

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Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

137 reviews

98%

Read reviews that mention:

Jordy K.

Oct 29, 2023

Hired on Thumbtack

Rae is not just a vocal teacher, she's a vocal visionary. From our very first session, she recognized the untapped potential in my voice and has since dedicated herself to guiding me towards it. With her expert techniques and intuitive teaching style, I've learned to sing from a place of genuine ease and freedom. I've uncovered layers of resonance and depth in my voice I never imagined I possessed. Our sessions aren’t merely lessons, they are the beginning of a lifelong journey in voice and self-discovery. I cannot recommend Rae enough for anyone serious about finding and honing their true vocal essence. She's a game-changer!

Details: 26 - 44 years old • Yes, the student can read music • 2 - 4 yrs of formal training • Rap • Gospel • Musical theater • Pop • R&B • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location

Claim Your Voice And Sing's reply

Jordy, Thank you. You melt my heart. I'm grateful for the chance to work with you. It's a complete joy, and I truly look forward to what we'll discover in the future. Rae

Singing Lessons

Toni H.

Oct 22, 2024

Hired on Thumbtack

I felt safe. I have to experience singing and have always felt embarrassed to sing in front of others. I felt brave. Rae explained the physiology of singing and was very knowledgeable.

Details: 65 years or older • Yes, the student can read music • No formal training • What the teacher recommends • 30 minutes • Remotely (phone or internet)

Claim Your Voice And Sing's reply

Toni, I'm so touched that the first thing you said is that you felt safe. That's very important for a learning environment, and I'm very glad I was able to give that to you. You're better than you knew.

Singing Lessons

Evan N.

Sep 25, 2024

Hired on Thumbtack

I am only a couple lessons in but I have throughly enjoyed each one. They are very informative and she really wants each student to get better.

Details: 18 - 25 years old • No, the student cannot read music • No formal training; some self-taught experience • Pop • Rock • 30 minutes • At the pro’s location

Claim Your Voice And Sing's reply

Evan, I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner. I thought I had. You're very talented and smart. It's a joy to work with you, and I enjoy our lessons. Thank you.

Singing Lessons

Emily C.

Sep 10, 2024

Hired on Thumbtack

Rae is by far the best vocal instructor I have ever worked with and probably ever will. She is extremely knowledgeable, even going into the anatomy of the vocal structure and explaining it in a way that is easy to comprehend. She is very kind and patient, always understanding of when I've had a rough day and need to vent before the lesson. I've been working with her for almost a year, and my lessons with her are the highlight of my week. I really feel I'm making noticeable improvements and will continue to work with her for years to come!

Details: 18 - 25 years old • Yes, the student can read music • No formal training; some self-taught experience • Pop • Classical • Musical theater • What the teacher recommends • 60 minutes • Remotely (phone or internet) • My home, venue, etc. • At the pro’s location

Claim Your Voice And Sing's reply

Emily, Thank you very much. I'm so proud of this journey you're on and I'm grateful to be part of it. You're an amazing young woman and I look forward to the years ahead. Besides, I'm having fun. Rae

Singing Lessons

Alexis U.

Apr 4, 2024

Hired on Thumbtack

I’ve had an amazing experience with my vocal coach. Not only is Rae incredibly patient and kind, she also has a remarkable ability to guide me through moments of frustration with ease and understanding. She prioritizes vocal health to ensure that her students maintain a healthy voice in the long run. Also, she takes the time to focus on the basics to build a solid foundation of proper technique. It is apparent that Rae is dedicated to and passionate about her craft, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their singing skills.

Details: 26 - 44 years old • Yes, the student can read music • No formal training • Pop • R&B • What the teacher recommends • 30 minutes • Remotely (phone or internet)

Claim Your Voice And Sing's reply

Alexis, Thank you very much. I do love my job. I learn so much from all of you, and I do want you to sing forever, so you have to be healthy. I'm very grateful that you enjoy what I have to give, and I'm proud of your progress. Rae

Singing Lessons

Credentials

Background Check

Rae De La Cretaz

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
1/2-hour $40 45-minutes $70 1-hour $75 I accept cash, check, Paypal and Zelle (Bank-to-Bank transfer including Chase Quick Pay) I DON'T work with children. Students need a reasonably mature instrument to study singing. Before that, they can take general music, sing in school, in choir, study instruments. They can destroy themselves studying voice too young. It varies on physical maturity, but the youngest I'm comfortable with is about 13-14. This is in the student's best interest. I make my full-time living teaching singing. I lose money when I send people away. This is my ethics. 1-hour lessons are great, but if you can't afford that, 1/2-hour is all the same things, just less of everything. I don't give 45- minute lessons, but I want you to be able to see my profile and choose. Lessons are a luxury item. Get as much luxury as you can. I don't use contracts or package deals. Try a lesson. You have to pay for that one, but you don't have to come back.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The lessons themselves can be done online or in person within New Jersey. I do not currently service New York. We start wherever you are. No matter how much training you've had, you're new to me, so we have to go back to the beginning. We always do basic vocalizes. We review posture, pitch, diction, how to evaluate what you're doing. If someone has a strong background, we can progress to songs quickly. If you don't, it takes longer, but the journey always travels the same path. After however long is appropriate, if you can't read music, we work on that. We always work on the entire voice, not just one aspect of it. As you sing better, you stop straining, your range increases, you gain dynamics. It's all a package. You can't work just one aspect. It all comes together.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I'm a graduate of Oberlin College, major in music, voice applied. Since then, I've taken private lessons for 30 years and am still in contact with my teacher.