Wishing for the lead in the next school musical? Hoping your cough stops nagging you during Sunday choir? Whether young or old and whatever the reason, students of voice need help with one critical thing… breath.

Young people often begin voice lessons to prepare for a part in a school play. Older students may want help with issues that have developed through a lifetime of singing. But according to Community Music School of the Piedmont Voice Instructor, Marlene Baldwin, almost all vocalists benefit from help with breath.

"Breath is the number one issue, but it's the same simple technique for any singer to achieve deep breath," she says.

For many years, Marlene Baldwin has been teaching voice and piano to students in the area, 12 of them as a faculty member of The Community Music School of the Piedmont.

Formally trained as a choral/voice/piano major at the University of Maryland, Baldwin has taught students of all ages: as high school music teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, as English teacher in Warsaw, Poland, and as private instructor in Middleburg, Virginia. Although she has extensive training in how to help fix vocal problems, her outlook is always positive.

"Getting to know the students and listening to them sing is the best part of teaching. It's so basic, but that's it!" she says.

Baldwin's emphasis on getting to know the student makes sense, as she explains the need to develop trust between teacher and student. She says that in voice, "the instrument is your body" and that fact can make performing and accepting criticism difficult.

To help students hear their own voices better, Baldwin uses her computer program, "Garage Band," to record lessons and play them back to students. Baldwin strives to teach students how to practice good listening, which in turn strengthens their own voices.

Her students attest to the important role she has played as their teacher.

"I'm eternally grateful that I had Marlene as my first voice teacher," says Megan Hasse, who studied with Marlene for six years before going to boarding school.

"Marlene taught me patience, more than anything. One has to know how to breathe before one can sing. She was the first to plant the idea in my head that singing is an art, a practice, and sometimes a struggle that can even blossom into a career. I will never forget the lessons she imparted," Megan explained.

Baldwin's youngest voice students begin lessons around age 8. She believes it helps to learn proper technique at a young age—mostly to avoid pushing their voices too hard. Age-appropriate exercises and songs can be fun to sing, while also still building the voice.

She encourages students who have received good training and coaching in middle and high school to audition for district and state choruses.

The benefits of voice training go beyond developing a better sound.

Baldwin helps students learn the art of performance and how to overcome stage fright. Discovering proper posture and deep "diaphragmatic breathing" contributes to a certain poise that extends into contexts beyond the musical performance.

Additionally, Baldwin points out, "It feels good to sing. Endorphins!"

Marlene Baldwin typically offers 45-minute vocal lessons in the Middleburg area. Contact Martha Cotter at Community School of the Piedmont 540-592-3040 or visit piedmontmusic.org for more information.