The Vocal Mechanics

You don’t find your dream voice…

YOU BUILD IT.
  • Vocal Lessons
  • Vocal Coaching
  • Artist Development
  • Song Writing
Singer performing into a studio microphone
Recording artistGold Record
Toured withJoe Cocker & Take That
Coached artists fromEMI, Warner & Sony BMG
Master classes on3 Continents
Forbsey singing at the microphone in her West Hollywood studio, wearing headphones

“I’ve taken the cream from years of study and application, and my method gets rapid results.”

5.0 ★★★★★
Based on 52 reviews
Read reviews →
20+years teaching voice
13vocal teachers studied with
Goldrecord as an artist
4countries of master classes
Meet Forbsey

Problem voices are my specialty.

“I have been teaching for over 20 years now, and whether singing is your hobby or your profession, I’m here to help you define and reach your goals.”

Forbsey started voice lessons at 8 and has since studied with 13 vocal teachers around the globe. “Some took a long time to get to the good information, if at all. If it takes too long to see results, students get frustrated and give up. It shouldn’t be this way.”

She has coached some of the Idols, worked with acts from EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG, and is currently working with a Disney child star preparing to cut his first tracks.

Lessons are tailored to each student’s goals, abilities and plans — and designed to feel good, not terrifying. She has taught master classes in Australia, England, New Zealand and Los Angeles.

Who I teach

Every voice. Every level.

AgesAll welcome
KidsTeensAdults
LevelsAny starting point
Beginner Intermediate Professional
Beginner & intermediate

Sing For The Love Of It

  • Just want to sing for fun
  • Want to nail one song at the office party or karaoke
  • Perfecting an audition for Idol, X Factor or The Voice
  • Don’t like how their voice sounds and want better tone
Professional

Stay Show-Ready

  • Signed to record labels
  • Auditioning for or performing in musical theatre
  • Troubleshooting sections of songs for live work
  • Recording a vocal demo, cover or original
  • Dealing with nerves, stage fright or performance anxiety
  • Getting vocally fit for an upcoming tour

“No matter what your reasons are, let me help you achieve your goals.”

Lessons

Built Around You.

It’s all about you and the songs you want to sing. Tell me your dream and I’ll get you there in the shortest time possible — without cutting corners.

  1. 01
    Nuts & Bolts FirstEvery session starts with technical exercises — the building blocks of your voice.
  2. 02
    Then Your SongsWe apply the technique to songs you choose and work toward a seamless performance.
  3. 03
    Real Backing TracksProfessional backing tracks, not sheet music. Songs, not endless scales.

What We’ll Work On

17 focus areas
Technique
PitchTimingToneBreathingControlVibratoBreak notes
Power & range
RangeMastering high notesIncreasing powerEnduranceEliminating strain
Performance
AuditioningStyleChops, licks & runsDemo recordingStage nerves
Genres
PopRockJazzBroadwayMusical theatre
Your first lesson

Walk In Nervous. Walk Out Smiling.

“We’re just two people in a room playing with sounds.” Here’s exactly what happens the first time we meet.

  1. 1

    Before we meet

    You’ll get an email explaining exactly what to prepare, so you get the most out of your first session.

  2. 2

    Sing two songs

    One that feels easy and one that challenges you. Maybe the verse is easy and the chorus is hard.

  3. 3

    Vocal assessment

    A few easy exercises show how your voice works right now — what’s strong and what we’ll build.

  4. 4

    Leave with a plan

    Walk out with the first part of your personally tailored practice program.

Studio Or Online — Your Choice
1:1private sessions, in person
In the studio

West Hollywood, CA 90046

A relaxed, supportive space near West Hollywood.

Get directions →
80%of students learn online
Online, from home

Just like being in the room

The audio is far better than a phone call. Same price as the studio.

ZoomFaceTimeSkype
Lesson rates

Private. One-on-one. Same price anywhere.

In the studio or online — the rate is identical.

1 hour

Single session

Ideal for weekly lessons, one-song prep or troubleshooting a specific issue.

$175per session
Book 1 hour →
3 hours

Intensive session

For auditions, demo recording, tour prep or deep technique work. Saves $30.

$495save $30
Book 3 hours →

Also available: audition prep, demo reel production and genre adaptation. Ask when you book.

What students say

The Real Deal.

From first-timers in LA to signed artists in Nashville, London and Sydney.

5.0★★★★★
52 reviews · Read all on Yelp →
“In the space of 2 hours, everything changed for the better.”

I have been searching forever to find a vocal coach who really understands the demands a professional singer endures. What I received exceeded my wish list. I am more than satisfied, I am elated! I asked her 3 questions that other coaches have never been able to answer, and she had crystal clear explanations and then some.

Not only does she understand the voice but also the business side of music. I have been doing lessons with Forbsey for a little over 6 months now and the difference in my voice is massive. There are a lot of pretenders in this town, but Forbsey isn’t one of them. She’s the real deal.

EM Erika MProfessional singer · Chicago, IL ★★★★★
★★★★★Kids & teens

Forbsey is an amazing teacher with a love and passion for singing that is infectious. I knew within the first 10 minutes of my daughter’s first lesson how great she was. She immediately picked out her strengths and weaknesses and has been building on them ever since to make a huge difference in her technique and performance.

Forbsey’s lessons are always fun, but she has an honest way of connecting with my 13-year-old daughter to make her work and bring out the best in her voice. In just over a year, her tone, pitch and range have improved so dramatically, she sounds like a pro.

Forbsey is genuine, enthusiastic, a truly great teacher who makes you feel like you are part of her family. We love her and would recommend her to anyone wanting to bring out the best in their singing ability.

DHDeb HawksworthLos Angeles
★★★★★First lesson

The lesson was fun and informative. I actually felt like I learned something and came away with things to work on (something I never got from my previous teacher). Forbsey has awesome energy, too! I’ll be looking forward to my lessons every week :-)

RNRob NLos Angeles
★★★★★Beginners

Forbsey is a fantastic vocal coach and I recommend her wholeheartedly.

As a singer I’m a beginner, but I’ve always wanted to sing with a band, so I set my sights on perfecting a few rock songs I could perform at my 40th birthday party. It was a totally amazing, fun and empowering experience and I’m grateful I had Forbsey to guide me the entire way.

We worked together for several months before the party. She taught me many exercises which, over time, really improved my singing to the point where I was not only capable but confident. I learned how to breathe properly, hit notes that were previously impossible, and power through the vocals without straining myself.

She also taught me something I hadn’t anticipated needing to learn: how to command the stage as a performer. That was one of my biggest transformations and it made all the difference when it came time to deliver.

Forbsey is Australian (which is pretty awesome in itself) and it comes across in her vibe and attitude. She’s frank, funny, effective and always made me feel at ease. When we met I was really nervous to sing for a stranger, but within a very short time it was like singing for a friend. A+

TSTed SLos Angeles
★★★★★Online

We had the pleasure of nearly 3 years of singing lessons with Forbsey. She worked with our then 8-year-old daughter weekly via Skype, and during that time my daughter demonstrated significant progress in her singing abilities.

Forbsey is a very passionate and focused teacher. She is appropriately firm about expectations but in return provides measurable goals and progress. Her teaching skills are effective and the ability to teach online is very convenient. I recommend Forbsey highly and without any reservation.

DADr. Adrienne YoudimLos Angeles · MD FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
★★★★★Long-term

I have been working with Forbsey for 4 years, and I can honestly say that I am a completely different singer than when I walked through her door. Night and day different.

Forbsey is FUN, and she gets results right away. She has developed a system of very specific, targeted exercises designed to address common vocal problems. They’re short, sweet and easy to understand, even if some take time to execute well. Gone was all the unintelligible garble from my classical teachers, and in its place were clear guidelines and exercises. I saw improvement right away.

I had a mission: I was tired of singing like a Disney princess and wanted to add some rock-and-roll grit to my voice. Forbsey taught me how to do this safely, without “ruining” my voice, something every classical teacher told me I would do if I belted too much or sang with intentional rasp. I learned to add grit at will, and I’ve never felt more vocally fit. My voice is better than it has ever been.

So, do I recommend Forbsey? Hell yeah! But go in forewarned: you will not be the same after.

KMK. MagliaLos Angeles
★★★★★Pros & artists

Forbsey not only brought out the singer in me, but also a slew of awesome voice-over characters that I use in my work, ranging from grandmothers, dudes, girls and more! Thanks to Forbsey, I’ll never be lonely again!

MOMina OhMiami FL · YouTube personality and actress, creator of Professor Oh & Friends
★★★★★First lesson

I heard Forbsey’s vocal demo on her website and knew she was the teacher for me! I was expecting some meaty older woman to answer the door, but was greeted by this energetic, tiny, brunette Australian.

I sang 2 songs I had prepared, then went through a bunch of really weird exercises, and the vocal assessment was over. Then Forbsey told me what was going on with my voice, what was working and what needed strengthening. She laid out the information like no one ever has. It all FINALLY made complete sense! By the end of the 2-hour session I was singing higher and lower notes than I had ever been able to hit, and I wasn’t sore the next day!

This woman works WITH you to get to the core of who YOU are as a performer. She doesn’t tell you, she asks specific questions that drill down. I’ve been going to her for two years and found a vast improvement in my vocal stamina, my songwriting and my whole outlook on the music business.

LET IT BE KNOWN, I HAVE GROWN! I walk out pumped, motivated and excited about my future. LOVE ME SOME FORBSEY!

ADAdrian D.LNashville TN
★★★★★Pros & artists

This lady is the real deal! She has a TON of experience and it totally shows. Efficient and fun. I needed to get one song down for an acting role and she whipped me into shape in 3 lessons. Don’t waste your time or money going elsewhere.

RWRob WLondon UK
★★★★★Long-term

I have taken voice lessons over the years and all of my previous experiences were quite similar: LOTS of scales and exercises, often to the point where your voice was tired before you tried to sing anything. Forbsey is so different. She gives you the exercises to do on your own time, sometimes using them a bit for warm-up, but never to the point of boredom or exhaustion.

The other differences have everything to do with her knowledge and wonderful charisma in passing it on. Comic impressions, great demonstrations of what she has trained her own voice to do. All inspiring and entertaining.

She also discusses anxieties and doubts, something other teachers ignored, legitimizing their effect and giving you thoughts on how to manage them. This was so very helpful to me. No one like her, I would venture to say. One lesson will show you all of the above.

JGJohn GaitensLos Angeles
★★★★★Long-term

I’ve been working with Forbsey for over a year now. Taking lessons from her is the best decision I’ve ever made regarding my voice. I’ve polished my voice, increased my range and improved my tone to where I hadn’t thought possible.

I recorded a professional demo with her six months ago, which has gone a long way to exposing me to opportunities I had previously missed out on. I would highly recommend Forbsey to anyone, novice to advanced. Thank you for everything, Forbsey :)

BUBobby Utah
★★★★★Kids & teens

We were searching for a top vocal coach for a young girl who hopes to be a professional singer. We interviewed many people until we met Forbsey! One word describes her: AMAZING! She clearly is a seasoned and accomplished singer. She knows how to listen, how to give feedback, and reaches into your vocal cords and tunes them up just like a piano tuner.

What stood out most is her energy and ability to build confidence in her students. It’s not just about singing, but having the confidence to belt out the music and sound like a professional. If you really want results, someone to challenge you, and to walk out feeling on top of the moon, Forbsey is the best choice.

PS: she is really connected in the industry and does work for indie and major label record and management companies. She’s a GREAT person to know if you want to take your voice seriously.

KRKathy RDenver CO
★★★★★Beginners

Amazing! Awesome! FABULOUS! I have been missing out on so much fun but I’m making up for it now. Singing lessons with Forbsey are simply the best. All my fears and misconceptions are a thing of the past. The first question she asks is: do you want lessons just for fun, do you have a goal or event coming up, or do you want a serious shot at it? And we go from there. I was so nervous before the first lesson, but that was just silly. I wish I had started years ago!

JCJao CSeattle WA
★★★★★Online

I have had a handful of teachers but NO ONE breaks it down like Forbsey! She is so passionate about teaching and it shows. She told me that if I didn’t understand something, she’d explain it a different way until the light bulb lit up.

Online lessons are surprisingly GOOD and such a time saver! I always walk away totally motivated and inspired. The sessions are organized and methodical. An hour FLIES BY, so I now do double sessions and get a HUGE amount of work done.

SJSammy JManhattan NYC
★★★★★Beginners

I was so nervous before my first singing lesson ever, but there was no need to be. Forbsey made me feel really comfortable. A 1-hour lesson flew by and I learned SO MUCH! That was 6 months ago and I’ve been taking weekly lessons ever since.

My range has increased, I can now sing high, powerful notes without it hurting, and I have a ton of power on my low notes. My confidence has improved tenfold because I know what I’m doing instead of guessing. If I’m out of town, I still do my weekly lessons online. Forbsey is simply AMAZING!

ZTZoe TAustin TX
★★★★★Long-term

Finally! Finally I found a voice coach who actually answers my questions and doesn’t just skirt around the topic or force me to do another round of lip rolls!

Thanks to Forbsey, the Vocal Mechanic, my sustains are much longer and my timing is finally where it needs to be. She practices what she preaches and has a gold record! The saying that those who can’t do, teach, is so far from the truth here. Even in sessions I’m left in awe.

ADAdrian DSan Francisco
★★★★★Long-term

Forbsey is a gifted vocal coach. She has a unique ability to identify problem areas while enhancing your own strengths. She is energetic, caring and passionate about making sure you get the most out of each class. I am absolutely delighted with the improvements I have made with her. Most importantly, she is fun!

JFJen FidlerOntario Canada
★★★★★Beginners

I first came to Forbsey when I was just beginning to sing, with barely any experience aside from some vocal training courses in college. Fast forward 3+ years and a ton of vocal teachers later, I still find Forbsey to be the best around.

She truly helped me find not only my singing voice, but my confidence in it, which is just as important. She is ALWAYS so motivating and oozes positivity. I’ve always found it terrifying to sing in front of anyone, but Forbsey has a way of making you feel comfortable. Finally, a vocal instructor who could do more than TELL me what to do, but really SHOW me! Take one lesson with her and you will see exactly what I mean.

DVDonna VoLos Angeles
★★★★★Pros & artists

Forbsey is incredibly knowledgeable about the capabilities of the human voice, and has a very innovative approach to helping you find your tone, your voice. As an established songwriter herself, she helps connect you to your own songs and gives respectful feedback to connect your songs with listeners. I highly recommend her, especially for singer-songwriters looking to improve their voice and craft.

AUAndrew ULos Angeles
★★★★★Kids & teens

Forbsey is the best singing teacher ever! She actually sings with the students and shows great patience with my daughter, who can be a little moody at times. She is really hands-on, always gets to the root of the problem, and figures out how to make it easy for kids. My seven-year-old is building her confidence every day. Thank you Forbsey!

EBEddie & BrooklynLos Angeles
★★★★★Long-term

I have been working with Forbsey for about a year and a half. I love Forbsey! She is a total pro who will teach you how to sing like a pro. She has transformed my voice and helped me take it to the next level. She constantly challenges me and pushes me forward to achieve my vocal goals. I feel stronger and more confident as a singer.

AHAlice H
★★★★★Pros & artists

Love, love, LOVE this girl! There ain’t a vocal problem she can’t solve, and WHAT A VOICE!

ASAnA SSydney Australia
★★★★★First lesson

I had a really great time. Can’t wait for the next lesson!

STS. ThrasherLos Angeles
All 52 on Yelp →
FAQs

Good Questions.

Everything you need to know before your first lesson.

Still Have A Question?

Call, text or email — Forbsey replies personally.

Yes. Private one-on-one sessions cost the same in the studio or online.

Book a lesson

Ready to build it?

Tell me a little about your voice and what you’d like to achieve. I’ll get back to you with available times and what to prepare.

Prefer to talk? Call or text (310) 600-8628