Dr. Barbara Dyer
Voice & Music Theory Teacher
Classical | Opera | Musical Theater
Torrance Studio | Online
A Bit About Dr. Dyer
Raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, Dr. Barbara Dyer graduated from the College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) with a BM degree in voice; earned a MM degree in vocal performance from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and earned a DMA, also in vocal performance, at the University of Southern California. Dr. Dyer studied with NATS, NYSTA and distinguished American Academy of Teachers of Singing member, Chloe Owen, of New York City.
Previously tenured as Assistant Professor at Moorhead State University in Minnesota (1981), she is currently on the music faculty of Loyola Marymount University, where she teaches majors, Diction in Italian, French, German, English, and core curriculum courses. Dr. Dyer recently taught the graduate and undergraduate voice science courses at the University of Southern California. She works with private students at her home in Torrance, CA and teaches online to students worldwide.
As a guest clinician, lecturer, and featured article writer for many professional voice publications, Dr. Dyer is well recognized in the US and abroad for her expertise in vocal science and new technology that allows greater understanding of the scientific workings of the voice. She utilizes VoceVista and Madde acoustic software, along with traditional teaching strategies, to help students more fully understand and develop their vocal instrument.
Dr. Dyer has had numerous students in first run and revival Broadway shows such as Light in the Piazza, The King and I, and in October, 2015, On Your Feet (her student, Ana Villafañe sang the title role of Gloria Estefan). She has had several students successfully sing in District Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Many of her students have flourished in graduate and undergraduate programs at Indiana University, University of Michigan, Juilliard School of Music, Academy of Vocal Arts, Carnegie Mellon, New England Conservatory of Music and now sing professionally or teach at universities across the country.
Dr. Dyer is one of only 40 individuals nationwide who are designated as Distinguished Colleagues, having completed the Oren Brown Professional Development Program from the New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA). A frequent adjudicator in the Los Angeles area for various musical organizations as the NATS-LA and the MTAC, Dr. Dyer has also written articles for the NATS Journal of Singing and NYSTA VoicePrints.
Having recently performed in recital at El Camino College, singing Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’Invitation au Voyage with bassoon (Dr. Dane Teter) and piano (Kenner Bailey), and vocal duets with Dr. Vicki Muto, Dr. Dyer is also a regular performer in Faculty Recitals at Loyola Marymount University. She has sung Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Beach Cities Symphony, soloed with various choral groups in the greater Los Angeles area in concerts of Handel’s Messiah, Michael Tippett’s A Child of our Time, and other major works.
Dr. Dyer is an active member and Past President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Los Angeles Chapter.
TESTIMONIALS
"Music is an extension of the heart and soul. Everyone expresses themselves uniquely. Even so, Barbara has the beautiful gift of connecting with her students and making everyone feel seen/heard for who they are. We all share kindred spirits with her. She guides us to channel our voices/energy in a way that honors our being and resonates with the world around us. So grateful to have crossed paths with you."
"I have been taking voice lessons with Barbara for almost a year and have noticed my voice improve. She has taught me how to breathe, make notes sound smoother and an awareness of how the shape we create inside the mouth produces a different quality in the sound. I appreciate the varied examples and analogies she gives to bring out the desired voice. Barbara is warm and has a vibrant energy! I would highly recommend taking voice lessons from her."
--Esther Ushijima
“Dr. Barbara is one of the most amazing voice professors I’ve encountered regarding great singing techniques, excellent morality, and valuable life experience. She does not only give students what they need in singing, but one might as well find some tips of life from her class. Moreover, the way she presents singing by using different means such as vocal pedagogy is just amazing to see how our bodies are comprised and what muscles and bones work together to make the sound. In general, if you want know how to sing; this would be right person to learn from.”
--Jiaao (Arthur) Li
Student at Loyola Marymount University
"Barbara Dyer has been my singing teacher for over ten years. I started with her in a summer session of 10 students and was so impressed that when the session was over, I started taking private lessons with her. Her knowledge of various types of singing (musical comedy, opera, pop, etc.) is vast, and she knows how to teach each of them.
She is extremely knowledgeable about the structure of the whole body as it relates to singing, especially the throat, mouth, and breathing apparatus. Her manner of working with her students inspires their confidence, and she never makes them feel like they have failed, but merely made a correctable mistake.
She sees each of her students as individuals, and recognizes that they each have a different level of confidence, physical abilities, and emotional needs. I would – and have – highly recommended her to any singer, whatever their level, because she is capable of assessing where they are, asking where they want to go with their singing, and then helping them to get there. "
--Delpha Flad
Dear Dr. Dyer,
I just want to tell you how grateful I am to have you as my voice teacher! You really push me to my greatest potential every day and believe in me, which is all I could ask for. I've heard such an improvement in my voice thanks to your tips and care for my wellbeing. I cannot wait for what's to come.
--Michelle Lalezarian