Exceptional Student Feedback:

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"Elaine is a consummate professional! By far the most knowledgeable and impactful vocal jazz teacher I have worked with in Chicago. Not only is she an extraordinary talent but she’s also a delightful and kind person. It is truly such a gift to study with her and to see her perform!"

-Hannah P.

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"Elaine Dame is the best vocal jazz teacher in the city! She tailors her lessons for your skill level, and can provide advanced lessons in music theory as well as performance opportunities with working jazz musicians.She is the real deal! And she’s incredibly funny and personable as well as talented. I highly recommend taking voice lessons with Elaine Dame!"

- Gillian G.

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"Working with Elaine has been such a joy. She’s kind, patient and incredible with her instruction. In a short time, she has transformed my singing voice. She’s an amazing teacher!"

- Amy A.

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"Elaine is an undeniably talented musician, but she is also an incredible teacher. She is down-to-earth, fun, and meets her students at their level. I love her! If you're looking for a vocal or piano teacher, look no further."

- Eliana M. 

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"I have been taking vocal jazz lessons with Elaine Dame for quite some time now, and I love it!! She has introduced me to so many iconic jazz artists, styles, and classic songs as well as teaching me techniques to sing them in a healthy way. For jazz lovers (or just students looking for a vocal coach) I would definitely recommend working with Elaine because she is a master at her craft!!"

- Sammie C.

 

"Elaine is a wonderful teacher and singing with her is such a pleasure! I have so much fun at her lessons, and her love for jazz, and singing is contagious. I've learned so much more than I expected when I began, and I highly recommend taking a lesson with her :)"

- Lumi B.

 

"Amazing singer, instructor, and person. Warm, nurturing, and honest. Hands-down knows her stuff in vocal technique, performance, and the jazz music industry. Highly recommended."

- Veronica KG

 

"A truly excellent teacher. Caring, understanding and above all gives real fundamentals that made me understand singing and my voice to start the journey to being a singer with more possibilities for flexibility, repertoire and more. High value, highly recommended!"

- Hannah F.

 

"I started taking lessons with Elaine in 2019. I was at a point in my singing where I felt I needed to know some theory. She was able to incorporate it into my vocal lessons in a way that made my lessons more exciting and meaningful. She is an excellent teacher and I'd highly recommend her."

- Tina S.

 

"I started taking jazz singing lessons with Elaine last year and I couldn't have found a better teacher. Not only did she instantly improve my singing with tips she gave me after hearing my voice, she breaks down music theory in a way that is incredibly easy to understand. She also teaches how to lead a band as a vocalist when performing live. With Elaine's instruction I'm both learning how to become a better singer and receiving a full jazz education. I'm so grateful for the lessons that Elaine gives me!"

- Katrina R.

 

"Elaine is a GEM of a human. She takes time to get to know the needs of all of her students and tailors a plan just for them. We worked together to create a goal list and followed up every month or so to make sure we were on the right track with what I wanted to accomplish. She also helped me find where to go see other Jazz singers and even places to practice singing in public myself. This really helped me see and apply the things we are learning in our lessons which has taken my performance ability to the next level. She is so eager to help and teach that makes lessons so much fun. So if you are looking to be a professional singer or just want a fun outlet for your creative side, you are in good hands with Elaine, she can do it all."

- Chelsea B.

 

"Elaine is such a gift to jazz. She's an incredibly gifted and engaging singer with the warmest spirit and intuitive approach to teaching! She's a pleasure to learn from and really takes a true genuine interest in her students. She keeps in touch and invites everyone out to see concerts and to connect with one another! And I can't thank Elaine enough for hosting her Vocal Jazz Jam/Open Mic once a month. Each time, she features a special guest (and they're always great!) musician on the accompaniment, She provides feedback that is invaluable. It has been a great way to get practical experience in a low pressure setting and connect with other music lovers. Elaine performs too! I can't recommend her enough as a teacher and to see her sing live because her voice is incredible and she's funny. What a gem"

- Nicole P

 

"Elaine Dame is an excellent vocal jazz teacher. She has a huge amount of knowledge and is patient and relaxed when teaching. Providing opportunities for her students is really important to her, and she makes sure that we have regular outings to increase our experience with performing. I would highly recommend Elaine to anyone who is wanting to learn about jazz."

- Charity P.

 

"I was very fortunate to participate in a workshop that Elaine held last November. I was impressed by how she immediately put the room at ease. Her teaching style is a rare combination of total command over music theory, expertise in jazz and classical music, an amazing jazz voice, humor, demonstration, spontaneity, confidence, humbleness, creativity, positivity, encouragement, caring and kindness.
She paced the workshop perfectly. Our workshop was sold out, but it never felt rushed. She spoke very candidly about her early jazz experiences and how she learned through doing. She encouraged us to ask questions along the way, and many of us did. Her responses were very thoughtful, detailed and relatable.
She was exceptionally encouraging to each singer in her feedback to our individual songs. Her comments and suggestions were totally on point and helpful. The way she conveys her feedback makes jazz singing feel like a great adventure of possibilities, rather than a critique of something you ‘did wrong’. I left the workshop feeling inspired.
If you get the chance to work with her, either through private lessons or a workshop, absolutely do it! It will be an extremely worthwhile experience!

- Susan L.

 

"I took a workshop with Elaine recently when she was here in Seattle. Elaine is a gifted and knowledgeable singer but best of all, as a teacher, she is able to come alongside her students to provide positive critiques and doable solutions all with warmth, humor and honesty. It was a great experience!!"

- Cynthia D.

 

"Elaine Dame is a caring, intuitive and incredibly effective vocal coach. I learned so much from working with her! She has helped me learn to sing with more ease and grace, get more "in tune" with my own singing style, and get the most out of my voice. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Elaine whether you are a beginner wanting to learn how to sing, how to sing jazz, or even if you are pro looking to up your game. She is fantastic! And a great gal to boot!"

- Suzanne S.

 

"Elaine Dame teaches like she sings, without affect or ego; yet with great care, skill and positivity. Here's the greatest praise I can bestow upon a teacher: she makes you feel good about yourself."

- Alan G.

 

"Love love love Elaine! Beyond having a beautiful voice, she has an amazing personality and takes a real interest in developing you and your vocal pursuits. Her sessions are fun, informative and she makes sure you not only get to learn the fundamentals of music theory but get practicing your breathing, and proper tonal/pitch control. She's a beautiful jazz singer and would recommend getting lessons from her to anyone."

- Rob C.

 

"Elaine is not only an excellent jazz vocalist and teacher, she’s an incredibly inspiring and caring person. Elaine helped me to improve my vocal techniques, as well as my confidence levels in performing. She made me believe in myself both musically and holistically. I came to her with an unruly vibrato and fear of performing and she helped me tame and conquer both. She helped me develop greater vocal control in relation to pitch, projection, breathing, and scatting. She helped me to listen more keenly and sharply to myself, as well as to new jazz artists and styles I hadn’t previously known until she exposed me to them. We worked on theory and song structure, and we talked about the poetry of lyrics.
On top of all this, she provided tangible real-world advice on how to work with other musicians. When I started taking lessons with Elaine, I quickly learned that I wasn’t just taking lessons, but I was entering into a community of jazz fellowship. Elaine offers workshops with other students and world-class guitarists, invites you to jam sessions to cut your teeth performing, and even hosts yearly fundraisers with other jazz musicians in support of local women’s groups. There are many things to love about Elaine, and one of them is her dedication to supporting women. Elaine is a gem. I’d encourage anyone to embark on a learning journey with her."

- Rachel M.

"Elaine is everything you could ask for in an excellent private teacher. She has ample experience, is an incredible musician, caters to each student's individualized needs, is a holistically balanced and positive person, is an excellent communicator, and is very organized and professional.
"I've had a very positive experience learning from Elaine. She picked songs with specific goals in mind, and was able to challenge me to find different ways to interpret meanings I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. She really knows her stuff, and presents it in a great way. I would recommend her to anyone!"

- Minji W.

 

"Learning from Elaine is a breeze - everything from vocal technique and production, to song selection, to jazz culture and etiquette will be presented to you. It is also an enjoyable and fun experience for Elaine's great personality and true dedication to a student. As an Elaine's student myself, I can highly recommend her as the best!"

- Zorana B.

 

"Elaine Dame is incredible. After 3 years of privates I was more than prepared and prepped to begin my professional career as a jazz vocalist. Whether you are seeking jazz vocal lessons as a hobby or to enter the world as a working jazz vocalist, no one will prepare you more than Ms. Dame. Her incredible patience, passion and knowledge for this beautiful vocal art is beyond inspiring....not to mention her jaw dropping voice. You will fall in love with jazz, if you weren't already, AND the lovely Elaine. Choosing to be educated by Elaine was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I could never have dreamed to be the vocalist I am today if it were not for her. Go ahead, make a great choice and contact Elaine. You will NOT be disappointed."

- Lindy E.

 

"Elaine Dame is one of those very rare combinations of traits: not only is she a stunning performer, but she is also an amazing teacher. She is painstaking in terms of tailoring her lessons to suit the particular needs of her individual students and she manages to convey the fine points of singing in ways that are clear and memorable. I've studied with Elaine for several years, and in this time I've grown in ways I could never have imagined. I think Elaine is a wonderful teacher because she knows her stuff and she really loves to help her students become the best they can be. Go hear her sing!!"

- Lola B.

 

"Working with Elaine Dame is not just a lesson with a great singer, It's a business classroom. You learn everything from booking shows to reading a bass clef! She is the sweetest person in the world and she cares about her students! I would recommend her to anyone, Beginning or Vets!

- Dom