Teaching
Lara Semetko-Brooks is a Lecturer of Voice at The Ohio State University where she instructs applied voice in classical, musical theatre, and CCM Voice and directs The OSU Opera & Lyric Theatre. She previously taught at Washburn University where she served as The Voice Area Chair and Director of Opera Studies, The University of Illinois Springfield as an Adjunct Professor of Voice and at Millikan University as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice. She taught at the Michigan Opera Theatre for their Operetta Workshop as the Vocal Coach since 2013; productions Ruddigore (2016), HMS Pinafore (2015), Pirates of Penzance (2014), & Patience (2013). Dr. Semetko-Brooks is certified to teach Music K-12 in Michigan and maintains a private voice studio working with students across the United States. She has been a guest clinician at universities, high schools, music schools, and competitions throughout the United States and Canada. She enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities preparing for a career in music; focusing on healthy technique, interpretation, style, audition and competition preparation. Dr. Semetko-Brooks is passionate about teaching functional voice / pedagogy and allowing vocalists to explore all styles of music to become vocal athletes. Her research interests lie with updating music school curriculum to better reflect the changing industry needs of vocalists and the industry.
As a contemporary voice specialist, Dr. Semetko-Brooks frequently presents workshops regarding flexible voice technique and cross-training of vocalists. Sessions ranging from “Crossing Genres: A Classical Singer’s Guide to Jazz”, “I’m Not Singing Opera Today”, to “Healthy Belting Techniques for Classical Singers” have been presented at The International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden, The National Association of Teachers of Singing, The National Opera Association, Kansas Music Education Association, Jazz Education Network, and to universities and high schools throughout the Mid and Interior West. Dr. Semetko-Brooks is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Jazz Education Network, The Kansas Music Educators Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the National Opera Association. Dr. Semetko-Brooks has her Estill Figure Proficiency in Estill Voice Training® and is currently working towards her certification as an Estill Method Teacher.
If you would like to have Dr. Semetko-Brooks come to your school to give a lecture on technique, healthy singing, style, audition prep, and work with your choirs, or for lessons, please fill out the contact form.
Teaching Philosophy
In my studio, it is my job to create a fun, safe, and welcoming working environment where students feel the freedom to try new things without judgment. Lessons need to be filled with laughter for the students’ honest voice to come through or else how would they be comfortable trying new techniques with their voices. It is my job as an educator for students learn the traditions of healthy vocal production to continue to support stable, continued singing through any genre in which they sing. Understanding the science of how the voice and body operate is extremely important in learning how to operate your instrument. This is taught throughout lessons and is integrated at every opportunity. Once these are understood through physical and vocal activities in the studio and classroom, the vocalists can begin getting to know and freeing their own instrument. Technique is only developed through repetition and my
students work hard every opportunity towards the goals we set for them.
My journey into the voice studio, rehearsal room, stage, and classroom cannot help but be, passionate, strategic, direct and persuasive. And as a teaching artist, my passion comes from passing on my knowledge, skills, and constant support to the next
generations of vocalists. I believe that any student who wishes to sing, can sing, and that each students’ path is unique to them. A healthy vocalist needs to be able to switch between classical singing to musical theatre and all genres in-between, as singers’
today must become hybrid vocalists. Being able to sing a variety of genres creates rich opportunities for understanding, learning, and growth with each student. It is my goal as an educator to have confident performers who have freedom in their voices and the
ability to make artistic choices once they leave my studio. The role of the student embracing the learning process contains a multitude of characteristics. Each and every pupil should recognize and adhere to what comes naturally to them. The vocalists in my studio grow as people and as artists during their tenure of study. I believe the better the individual, the stronger the artist and vice versa and allows for their unique voice and life experiences to come through in their performances.
Education needs to be implemented with a strong investment towards cultivating the imagination, controlling the voice, playing with interpretation, and educating the whole musician. With gentle guidance and swift expertise, I expect that every student work to their best ability and strive to explore their voices and acting choices. Through specific, detailed and technique filled lessons, discussion, presentation, cooperative learning, performing events, and keeping an open-door policy, the student will always focus on what is successful about his or her voice and the importance of why they learn it. A teacher is a giver of knowledge, and through my life experiences and training, I deliver exceptional facilitation and guidance for the lessons and topics of study and strive to make everything in the studio understandable and accessible for all students, at all levels and walks of life.
What Students Are Saying
“Lessons with Dr. Brooks are very enjoyable! During lessons she gives the student the ability to ask multiple questions and is always giving feedback and finding ways to describe techniques. It’s always a comfortable environment and I look forward to my lesson every week!” - Madison M.
"Dr. Brooks has been my vocal coach for almost three years for musical theatre and I can truly say that I would not have near the confidence, range, and versatility that I have now without her guidance. She is incredibly fun, passionate, relatable, and often intense which makes going to my lesson one of my favorite parts of every week. She really believes in all of her students and pushes them in new ways each lesson to better themselves as artist; because of her I have become the performer that three years ago I only dreamed of being." - Taylor M.
"Dr. Brooks is an absolute gem! Her studio has become a safe space for me to do all sorts of fun and experimental vocal methods that WORK! She's helped me grow so much as both a singer and a person, she is truly an amazing teacher and mentor." - Christina H.
"Dr. Brooks has been an amazing vocal teacher to work with. She has helped me learn so much about different styles and techniques to get the healthiest vocal production possible. With her help I actually feel confident enough to perform CCM vocal solos for people!" -Ivon C.
As a contemporary voice specialist, Dr. Semetko-Brooks frequently presents workshops regarding flexible voice technique and cross-training of vocalists. Sessions ranging from “Crossing Genres: A Classical Singer’s Guide to Jazz”, “I’m Not Singing Opera Today”, to “Healthy Belting Techniques for Classical Singers” have been presented at The International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden, The National Association of Teachers of Singing, The National Opera Association, Kansas Music Education Association, Jazz Education Network, and to universities and high schools throughout the Mid and Interior West. Dr. Semetko-Brooks is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Jazz Education Network, The Kansas Music Educators Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the National Opera Association. Dr. Semetko-Brooks has her Estill Figure Proficiency in Estill Voice Training® and is currently working towards her certification as an Estill Method Teacher.
If you would like to have Dr. Semetko-Brooks come to your school to give a lecture on technique, healthy singing, style, audition prep, and work with your choirs, or for lessons, please fill out the contact form.
Teaching Philosophy
In my studio, it is my job to create a fun, safe, and welcoming working environment where students feel the freedom to try new things without judgment. Lessons need to be filled with laughter for the students’ honest voice to come through or else how would they be comfortable trying new techniques with their voices. It is my job as an educator for students learn the traditions of healthy vocal production to continue to support stable, continued singing through any genre in which they sing. Understanding the science of how the voice and body operate is extremely important in learning how to operate your instrument. This is taught throughout lessons and is integrated at every opportunity. Once these are understood through physical and vocal activities in the studio and classroom, the vocalists can begin getting to know and freeing their own instrument. Technique is only developed through repetition and my
students work hard every opportunity towards the goals we set for them.
My journey into the voice studio, rehearsal room, stage, and classroom cannot help but be, passionate, strategic, direct and persuasive. And as a teaching artist, my passion comes from passing on my knowledge, skills, and constant support to the next
generations of vocalists. I believe that any student who wishes to sing, can sing, and that each students’ path is unique to them. A healthy vocalist needs to be able to switch between classical singing to musical theatre and all genres in-between, as singers’
today must become hybrid vocalists. Being able to sing a variety of genres creates rich opportunities for understanding, learning, and growth with each student. It is my goal as an educator to have confident performers who have freedom in their voices and the
ability to make artistic choices once they leave my studio. The role of the student embracing the learning process contains a multitude of characteristics. Each and every pupil should recognize and adhere to what comes naturally to them. The vocalists in my studio grow as people and as artists during their tenure of study. I believe the better the individual, the stronger the artist and vice versa and allows for their unique voice and life experiences to come through in their performances.
Education needs to be implemented with a strong investment towards cultivating the imagination, controlling the voice, playing with interpretation, and educating the whole musician. With gentle guidance and swift expertise, I expect that every student work to their best ability and strive to explore their voices and acting choices. Through specific, detailed and technique filled lessons, discussion, presentation, cooperative learning, performing events, and keeping an open-door policy, the student will always focus on what is successful about his or her voice and the importance of why they learn it. A teacher is a giver of knowledge, and through my life experiences and training, I deliver exceptional facilitation and guidance for the lessons and topics of study and strive to make everything in the studio understandable and accessible for all students, at all levels and walks of life.
What Students Are Saying
“Lessons with Dr. Brooks are very enjoyable! During lessons she gives the student the ability to ask multiple questions and is always giving feedback and finding ways to describe techniques. It’s always a comfortable environment and I look forward to my lesson every week!” - Madison M.
"Dr. Brooks has been my vocal coach for almost three years for musical theatre and I can truly say that I would not have near the confidence, range, and versatility that I have now without her guidance. She is incredibly fun, passionate, relatable, and often intense which makes going to my lesson one of my favorite parts of every week. She really believes in all of her students and pushes them in new ways each lesson to better themselves as artist; because of her I have become the performer that three years ago I only dreamed of being." - Taylor M.
"Dr. Brooks is an absolute gem! Her studio has become a safe space for me to do all sorts of fun and experimental vocal methods that WORK! She's helped me grow so much as both a singer and a person, she is truly an amazing teacher and mentor." - Christina H.
"Dr. Brooks has been an amazing vocal teacher to work with. She has helped me learn so much about different styles and techniques to get the healthiest vocal production possible. With her help I actually feel confident enough to perform CCM vocal solos for people!" -Ivon C.