Testimonials

I highly recommend Tim Smith to anyone who wants to sing like a pro!

Alinta Chidzey

PERFORMER
Lead roles in West Side Story, Chess & Cats,
MAMMA MIA!, Dirty Dancing, Leader of the Pack, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dusty the Original Pop Diva

"The voice technique that Tim taught me was extremely helpful... With reference to the anatomy of vocal and breathing muscles, he taught me in great detail about the fundamentals of good technique, which serve me to this day. His work with me on energy flow helped with phrasing and made high notes in my singing supported and effortless."

Watch Alinta play the lead role of 'Anita' in West Side Story, Australia 2010:

Helen Noonan

ACTOR-SINGER-WRITER
Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, Chamber Made Opera, Malthouse Theatre, Churchill Fellowship, Australia Council Fellowship

"I am thrilled to be working with Tim Smith.
  After a long career in opera and music theatre I decided to do more voice training to overcome some bad habits and to see how my instrument is holding up after years of professional use. 


I would have to say Tim Smith is the best teacher I have had the good fortune to work with in forty years of professional performing life.
 He knows the physical instrument like a surgeon. Knows the structure of the sound human beings make when they sing. Knows music, musical styles, and the variety of commercial professional voice use, from rock to classical. With a precision I have only experienced before in Iyengar yoga, Tim can hear by listening how muscles and pathways are working, and where tension is held.


I can't recommend Tim Smith highly enough.

I only wish I had met him when I was 20 (but then he would not have been born!!)."

Alan Fletcher

ACTOR/SINGER
Neighbours, My Fair Lady, Waiting Room

"I have worked as an actor and vocalist for over 30 years in Australia and the UK.

Despite years of vocal training with a number of coaches I was never comfortable with the placement, range or tone of my voice. Then I met Tim Smith.

Tim’s easily understood and practiced approach transformed my voice, strengthening delivery and vastly improving tone and placement. Most importantly his approach taught me different techniques to suit a wide variety of music styles. This has enabled my success in Music Theatre, Cabaret and Rock Music.

If you are like me, a singer looking to improve your voice and iron out bad habits, you can’t go past Tim Smith."

Watch Fletch sing with his band The Waiting Room

http://www.alanfletcher.net

"One class with Tim Smith is worth ten classes with anybody else.  As an actress first , singer second, Tim’s approach  is so uncomplicated  and attainable. Some teachers are brilliant but don’t have the ability to get the techniques through to you.  They sometimes frighten you with jargon and the unattainable. Tim has the gift of imparting his wonderful knowledge in not only easy ways but with great fun. His attitude to his work is utterly professional . He has helped me in so many ways.  In the big musicals I have done,  he is  often the one I turn to if I am having trouble with a phrase or rhythm . He is always there for me. In solo performance for TV or Cabaret he has given me the confidence , stamina and  techniques you need to get through. He is brilliant in helping with auditions too. Classes are fun and relaxed but very serious so you always feel you have achieved something when you leave. He makes you want to do the work as he really encourages you to be the very best you can. I wish him and Laura all success with this brilliant idea." 

Amanda Muggleton-ACTOR/SINGER Prisoner, Calendar Girls, Masterclass, Mad Max, Hello Dolly, Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita, Gigi, Medea

http://www.amandamuggleton.com.au/index1.html

"I first met Tim Smith in a Disney audition in 1998 and later went on to work with him professionally for a number of years – That was the foundation of a very lucrative relationship as both teacher and friend. Having had basic singing training, Tim and I embarked on a journey to cut, shape and polish my voice into the diamond that would last me the remainder of my professional career.

As a vocal coach, Tim has an exceptional gift of combining all elements of performance. He not only focused on the development of my voice, but on the relationship between the voice, the actor and the artist in whole. His endless knowledge of technique allowed him to sculpt and steer my voice in any direction, providing me with endless tools that I use to this day.

Above all, Tim teaches from the heart. His passion and persistence is evident in his meticulous attention to the remarkable results he continues to produce. Testament to his teaching is the many fine vocalists who are currently working professionals and personal friends of mine.

I owe Tim a great deal of gratitude for his guidance, encouragement and support over the years – and for that, he has mine for all his future endeavors."

Anthony Costanzo-PERFORMER Wicked, We Will Rock You, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats

Watch Anthony sing at his Words and Music Cabaret 2010 

http://www.anthonycostanzo.com

"Tim's incredible enthusiasm and passion for the art of singing is in itself contagious, coupled with an extraordinary knowledge of technique makes this web site a treasure trove for both the beginner and experienced singer."

Martin Croft- PERFORMER/DIRECTOR/LECTURER Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Phantom of The Opera, Cats, The Boy from Oz, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys. 

Michael Cormick-SINGER/ACTOR MAMMA MIA!  Cats, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sunset Boulevard, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Chess, Evita, Beauty and the Beast, The Music of Andrew Lloyd-Webber

"Tim's knowledge on vocal technique is astounding. And his ability to convey the information just as strong. Thanks for sharing."

"A decade ago I was sent to see Tim Smith to prepare for a new role, which required vocal demands outside my comfort zone. Tim's lessons not only prepared me for the role but maintained my vocal stamina throughout the season. What's more, I've used his same vocal principles for every role since!"

Simon Gleeson-ACTOR/SINGER Shoes, Imagine This, Certified Male, EastEnders, Kombat Opera, MAMMA MIA! Eureka, The Royal National Theatre, Sadler's Wells Theatre, New London Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Wexford Opera

"Keep an open mind! - This is what I found Tim Smith to be all about.

I studied under his direction at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne and in our first class this was the first thing he told us.
I had always been singing. Moving from singing teacher to singing teacher. But I always found them to be old-fashioned, expensive and boring!
But Tim Smith opened my mind and kept me intrigued - something I had never experienced with a teacher before. He had new and exciting ways to get me to reach the notes I had always wanted. And the techniques to help you get through an eight show week! Something I have found to be invaluable.

After finishing at the VCA, I was offered the role of Simba in the German production of the The Lion Kingwhere I put all of Tim's teaching's to work and still do today.
He brought me to a complete understanding of my voice, and the connection it has with my body. I highly recommend Tim Smith to anyone who wants to sing like a pro!"

Winston Hillyer – PERFORMER The Lion King, Victorian College of the Arts

Hear some of Winston's original pop recordings

Watch Winston singing "Endless Night" in the German production of THE LION KING

"I first met Tim when I started my Music Theatre Course at the VCA. He was to be my course director but more importantly my vocal coach. I will never forget my first classes with Tim.  

Walking into the room waiting to start singing and being told to stand up and yell "GET AWAY FROM MY CAR"  and  "HEY FRANCESCA"  whilst clenching my fists and holding my arms like handle bars and scrunching my face up, looking as unattractive as possible having to emulate the sound of a whining baby! What I didn't know at the time was that those strange and foreign concepts were to become the very basis of my technique as a singer. These exercises were really just a physical representation of technique that becomes somewhat more internal and inbuilt as you progress but I think you could never fully grasp without someone like Tim Smith breaking them down into something very physically visual and making them accessible and understandable. And that in my eyes is what makes Tim such a great vocal coach.

He's ability to take (what seem like) complex concepts and make them simple. After you've worked with Tim you have this aberration "Singing is Simple"

When I was performing in Respect the Musical 2007 I had the task of covering many vocal tracks, some of which were high and extremely belty! I was having trouble sitting into some of the high twangy notes comfortably and I went to Tim and said "Please fix this."

At the end of the class I came out with one elastic band in my hand and a practical solution to my problem! Easy. I simply needed to slide up to the note a little more (I now know this is called portamento!) rather than vocally attacking the sound causing my poor old vocal cords to crash and burn. So I had my one rubber band that I was to use in my singing booth to remind me what to do. I would hold the rubber band between two hands and when I needed to reach a high note I would stretch it wider in a sliding motion and copy the physical action vocally. So I used that rubber band for a week until the concept sat in my body. Three years on that concept is still as solid as ever and as I reach for a note, in my head I see the rubber band in-front of me every time. These visual reminders are simply brilliant and work for the advanced singer and the novice. Aside from Tim's technical brilliance, the thing I love about his classes is that they are so much fun! Yes pure simple fun! And this in the end is so much more important than anything else. When I lose the sense of fun in singing I honestly lose my ability to sing well and they are the Time's when I need Tim's coaching the most! When I walk out of a class with Tim I always feel uplifted because I have (in that hour) been reminded why I choose to be a singer in the first place. Because it makes me feel joyous, and it's so easy in this industry to get the joy sucked out of you! Tim's classes are like a spiritual experience - he taught me to "breathe with heart" to "sing with heart" That may sound nebulous and flimsy but it's the best advice I ever got.

The day that I finally understood what it was to connect my learnt vocal technique to my heart was when I realized there was no limit to my vocal expression and nothing I couldn't do as a singer and doors just began to open up for me.

What more can I say...the man's a genius and I'm so lucky to be able to learn from him."

Danielle Matthews-PERFORMER Respect the Musical, Inaugural Winner Rob Guest Endowment Award, Victorian College of the Arts 

Watch Danielle doin' the blues in Japan!

"I have been working professionally as a singer and dancer for the last 5 years.I have been lucky enough to have been taught by Tim Smith. I find his lessons inspiring and beneficial. In the short time I had with Tim I found that his knowledge and his ability to explain technique in a clear concise way was second to none. The changes he made to my voice were astounding! Despite having lessons from other people for a number of years, I was stunned at the how quickly these changes occurred compared with my earlier teachers.

I now feel when I am singing it is more organic. I find that my singing requires less effort to make a better sound. I am thrilled that Vocal Alchemy is here. The more people that can benefit from this amazing source of knowledge the better! I also cannot wait for Tim to make his way to Scotland for masterclass! An amazing opportunity."

Dougie Walker - SINGER/DANCER Universal Studios Japan

Watch Dougie sing Lost in the Wilderness

"Well, what to say about Tim?
The man doesn't let you get away with anything!  There's a start and this, just in case you were wondering, is a great thing!
Tim has a unique ablity to see and hear beyond the facade of the performer. He encouraged me to use my greatest asset - me!-my personality and my experiences in life. I have worked with so many vocal coaches, here in Australia and the UK and it is truly the first time that I felt someone rejoiced equally (if not more in some cases) with me in the sounds I was producing. To be able to marry the physical mechanism of the voice and it's sensations with the sounds you want your instrument to produce is the most profound experience for me, one I have been searching for and trying to master for such a long time. Perhaps that makes me a slow learner, but I know this is due to a wonderful vocal craftsman. Thank you Mr Smith. I sob and tilt because of you!"

Brigitte Rennie-INTERNATIONAL CABARET PERFORMER

"I’ve told a few of you about this already. I’ve been writing songs & musicals with Tim Smith for almost ten years now. He also has a distinguished music theatre career as current MD for “Mamma Mia”, Assistant MD for “Billy Elliot the Musical” & Assistant MD/Vocal Coach for “The Lion King”,in Australia and China as well as hundreds of other projects including setting up & running some of the most prestigious music theatre courses in the country. He’s also known as one of the best and most technically knowledgeable singing teachers in the country. Being in such high demand his private lessons are understandably priced accordingly, often beyond the financial means of many singers.

Tim is now starting a new venture – VOCAL ALCHEMY.COM.AU These online lessons are VERY reasonably priced, can be run a million times if you like until you’re ready to move on and give you quality, technical and inspiring lessons from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. I’d highly recommend checking it out."

Tony Appleby-PRODUCER-WRITER-PERFORMER

http://www.tonybones.com.au/

"Just wanted to say it was so good to sing with you again today! I forgot how inspiring you were, such a joy to learn from you!"

Alicia Attwood-PERFORMER Victorian College of the Arts

"I have been associated with Tim Smith since I became an agent in 2000.  As a singing teacher & vocal coach Tim has trained numerous singers (& continues to) for the grueling 8 show per week regimen of a Musical Theatre career.  Tim’s diligence and professionalism are second to none – and he always endeavors to extend his student's vocal range – & as such their increased capacity for employment in this ultra competitive field."

John Powell-ACTIVE ARTISTS MANAGEMENT