Ruthie Ann Miles
Dr. Brian Gill has been my most resonant cheerleader for nearly 18 years. He has rehabilitated me through life’s vocally thickest moments when healthy phonating seemed impossible, and has coached me through the soaring heights of a Tony Award. Over the years he has freed my voice, and even helped open up my register an octave+ higher than before. He has empowered me to speak, sing, and most importantly, think about my voice in a mindful, technical way that gives me confidence in any genre of music and performance. Dr. Gill is an excellent communicator, especially when my left or right brain are confused. He is relentless in seeking vocal technique perfection, but he is such a listener, a kind-hearted and generous teacher, that I have always felt safe crafting my instrument together. Dr. Gill is truly leading the way in vocal pedagogy and health. I am honored to call him teacher, friend and mentor.
Keith Jameson
Brian and I have been working together for over 12 years. I hold him as a teacher of the highest regard and a trusted friend. Either in lessons in New York or on Skype, he has aided me in strengthening my voice, range, stamina, breathing, support, and resonance. He is skilled in various languages that have helped me in learning new roles or refreshing old ones. Even through vocal crises from time to time, I have relied on Brian to guide and direct me to sing my best without damaging my voice. He is a true teacher, scholar, and mentor. I appreciate his honesty, skill, guidance, and friendship. Our lessons together are always filled with great work, combined with a huge amount of laughter!
Nic Rouleau
I had the honor of studying with Brian Gill throughout all four years of my education at NYU Steinhardt. In addition to being an all-around upstanding gentleman, Brian is one of the smartest vocal technicians I have ever encountered. What I love most about Brian’s approach to the voice is that it’s very versatile in terms of style. His technique applies seamlessly to my contemporary musical theatre sound. I am most thankful to Brian for providing me a healthy and mindful approach to singing that has no doubt contributed to the ease with which I am able to sing 8 shows a week on Broadway.
Kirsten Wyatt
I’ve been studying with Dr. Brian Gill since 2007 after running into some vocal issues from a career of belting on Broadway and in regional theaters around the country. I can truly say without any hesitation that Brian is the best voice teacher I’ve ever had. He has changed my entire approach to singing 8 shows a week, and after studying with him I am now a better singer than I have ever been. Not only have I gained a stronger vocal technique, but I now go into rehearsal processes and performances as a smarter, more mindful and more integrated artist. I have looked my whole career for a voice teacher who is not only a master vocal technician but also someone who I can trust, who listens to me and who can guide me to be the best artist I can be. Brian is all that and more. I count myself lucky to continue to call him my teacher.
Brian Giebler
I have been studying with Dr. Gill for 8 years. I quickly realized that Dr. Gill individualizes his approach for each singer, rather than molding everyone into a particular sound or fold. For years, I was told what my voice ‘should’ sound like. In contrast, Dr. Gill listens to each student with open, informed ears and can quickly tweak or diagnose every aspect — even on a Skype lesson — helping to create an even flow and consistent sound for every individual voice. He works to find your truest sound, your most healthy, vibrant voice! Teaching voice isn’t a ‘job’ for him; it’s his true passion. He is continuously learning himself, including by collaborating with the world’s best pedagogues. Almost every lesson, he tells me about some new scientific study or exciting discovery about the human voice. His love for his craft and passion sets him apart as a voice teacher. Finally, but most importantly, Brian is one of the kindest, most genuine, caring humans I’ve ever met. Every moment with him is a delight, met by laughter and excitement at every lesson.
Evy Ortiz
I was lucky to meet Dr. Brian Gill over 10 years ago and have studied with him ever since. My voice has grown technically and expressively under his guidance. With the tools he’s given me I’ve been able to sustain a full singing schedule which sometimes includes 8 shows a week. Not only does he teach a technique that feels good on the voice, he is always the most supportive cheerleader of his students. He has helped me with last minute voice lessons and kept me in shape even while on tour through skype lessons. Most importantly, he has always encouraged me to love my voice and to sing as authentically as possibly. So many teachers teach a confusing technique that involves “muscling” through singing. Brian is the complete opposite, helping you to find the easiest way to sing with a true flow. Furthermore, he has given me the tools to self correct myself and be mindful of how I’m performing. He truly loves all things voice and imparting that to his students in such a positive environment. I am grateful beyond words for his guidance these past years and look forward to our many lessons in the future!
Joan Lader
Caring, creative and competent…I’m so happy to have Brian as a colleague. I’ve observed, on many occasions, Dr. Gill’s passion and gift for linking vocal pedagogy and science to the creative process.
Jennifer Casey Cabot
My experience with Dr. Brian Gill began with a Gill Mindful Voice Training workshop in NYC in October 2016. I found the workshop to be very informative and useful. I learned some semi occluded vocal tract exercises that I have put to work for myself and my students. I also really appreciated his lecture on vocal physiology. He uses pedagogically correct language and manages to make it relevant to singing in all styles. I sang during the workshop as well and was able to experience Dr. Gill’s approach first hand. I found his feedback to be specific and helpful and experienced the ease with which he can diagnose and encourage change. I have since had a skype lesson with him and plan on having them again. Meeting Dr. Brian Gill made me feel like I found not only a teacher but a community of teachers, that are looking to improve the world of vocal teaching to include anatomically correct language and a much more thorough understanding of how the human voice works for opera, musical theater and pop singing.
Ken Helman
Though having a long and varied career as a performer and teacher, it was always my custom to seek further study throughout my life. I discovered Brian Gill at NYU, and began a two year intensive program as a private student with him. Though my voice wasn’t presenting specific problems, Brian opened a whole new world for me in terms of tone and acoustic balance, passaggio and range, and even more ease and flexibility in my voice. I felt as a tenor, he knew and felt himself, what my instrument was actually feeling, sensing, and responding to, that was unique and very valuable. I have since gone on and employed his work with my own students with great success.
Rachael Crossman
I am a singer and voice teacher in the Phoenix area. I studied Vocal Pedagogy with Dr. Gill at New York University for 2 years in 2013-2014. I was SO excited when they offered the Gill Mindful Voice Training Intensive as an online stream!! I teach elementary and middle school aged voice students and find the GMVT approach to teaching singing the fastest way to a healthy and happy singer. When I am able to listen and assess with Brian’s teaching approach in mind, I know that my singer is making sounds appropriate for healthy singing. Other teaching styles had me addressing the side-effects of vocal habits, but Brian teaches you how to understand the basic, fundamental and physical reason behind the voice, thus allowing me to fix the source of the problem. I am so thankful for the GMVT online streaming and I can’t wait for more!
Nick Herman
I began working with Dr. Gill when I was in graduate school at NYU and studied with him for three years there. I instantly felt my singing become easier, more consistent, and less “mysterious.” I was lucky enough to study with him in the pedagogy program as well, and spent countless hours watching him teach others. I use the skills I learned every day as I rehearse singers. I find the approach differs in that it focuses on efficiency and stability. Those words don’t sound all that exciting by themselves, but for live singing (and where I work-live singing that often involves moving/dancing) this focus makes an incredible difference. This method bridges the gap between the industry expectations and the “traditional” timbre focused vocal training in schools. When the voice is lined up, my singers are able to express themselves artistically. His technique allows for the ideas that singers are striving for in their musical ear to come straight out of their mouths and be heard clearly. I find that I’m able to give fewer notes than other directors because I am able to focus on lining up the voice first, and this solves a myriad of problems. Brian brings the latest scientific information in teaching and boils it down to applicable techniques that make a difference quickly. His passion and sense of humor make learning from him even more enjoyable.
Katie Harman Ebner
It was an honor and delight to attend the Gill Mindful Voice Training Pedagogy Intensive with renowned innovators Dr. Brian Gill and Dr. Johan Sundberg. The findings presented, as well as the tools for practical application, have significantly shaped the way I prepare/present as a professional performer, and how I instruct my voice students. I have never encountered a more pivotal conference and owe Dr. Gill a tremendous debt a gratitude for influencing me in such a profound way!
Deborah Popham
Today in a lesson I was teaching, my student said both, “This is awesome,” and “this is so much fun.” I am officially a Gillian! (Is that a word?) Thank you Dr. Gill and the willing participants of the master classes for the practical application of the information learned last week!
Molly Webb
I have to say, I was skeptical about whether or not I’d find a way to use the techniques I learned on my students learning contemporary music (all of them), and I ended up using the information on every single one of them today, to amazing effect. One of them shouted with joy at how even her vibrato became all of a sudden.
Margaret Gordon
Finally got a chance to practice these concepts on myself and wow! “The Doll Song” flew through my instrument like a breeze. It used to give me some trouble, now finding high notes I didn’t know I had. I am in awe and sooooo grateful for last week!! Thank you Dr. Gill!
Dan Lyng
I had a soprano student add a perfect fourth to her range today… Needless to say, Dr. Brian Gill knows what he’s talking about!
Eden Casteel
Singer/actress & Owner of Eden Casteel Music Studio
I met Dr. Gill at the Gill Mindful Voice Training Pedagogy Intensive in 2015. There was only one goal: healthy, expressive singing. But through GMVT, he gave us teachers scores of different ways to make it happen! I appreciate Dr. Gill’s balanced application of scientific evaluation and creative pedagogy. If anyone could make formant study exciting, he could. There’s a growing number of substantive vocal programs now, and some good teachers. I’ve been privileged to know and learn from some of the best. Dr. Gill and GMVT belong in the very top tier.
Zac Bradford
Attending the Gill Mindful Voice Training Pedagogy Intensive in 2015 was a highlight of my year. The program was structured and delivered superbly! It was a treat to listen to and talk with some of the world’s leading authorities in the field of voice, from various disciplines (voice practitioners, researchers, medical specialists etc.). I was thrilled that the detailed information in the lectures was frequently linked to practical application, in the vocal masterclasses, repertoire classes, vocalise design class and hone your teaching skills session. It was also great to have the opportunity to receive feedback on my own singing, and the opportunity to participate in a recital at The National Opera Centre, at Opera America. If you are interested in voice, in any way, I thoroughly recommend Gill Mindful Voice Training!
NATS-LA November 2014
NewsletterOne could sense the excitement in the air, as people were already remarking how quickly Dr. Gill managed to demystify some of the more baffling concepts of vocal science.
Al Brightbill
Brian was fantastic! In fact, it’s the first presentation of a “scientific” nature that made sense to me because he explained the Voce Vista from a pragmatic and usable perspective and he’s a wonderful man as well. A true “Mensch.” Bravo!!!!
Sue Secrist
Thank you again for our recent NATS Symposium. The venue was lovely, the attendance just right, the students well prepared, and our master teacher/lecture was outstanding. The breadth and depth of knowledge displayed by Dr. Brian Gill, combined with his personal charm, and his ability to quickly accomplish a worth-while change in each of our singing students, proved the great value of his expertise in the field of resonance. Plus, for us “old hands,” it was nice to have scientific knowledge reinforce what our ears tell us needs to be done. Thank you!
Margaret Dehning
I’m so glad I made the trip to Pepperdine to attend the symposium. Dr. Gill’s presentation was great. It was interesting and “user-friendly.” I must admit that I shy away from the new generation of computer generated feedback to help us better inform our students. But I “got it” this time, mainly because of Dr. Gill’s presentation. He was down to earth and his masterclass showed marked improvement in every singer. Thank you for bringing him to California.