Joy Renee, Singing With Joy Vocal Studio Joy Fields, Voice Lessons Maui, Seth Riggs Associate, Maui Music Conservatory, Joy Renee Scam Artist, Con Artist, Hugh Fraud, Major Rip Off, Full On Thief, Greedy, Mean Spirited, User, Kahalui Hawaii

I cannot say anything about the person that is being judge here. But I can certainly add to this complaint by giving my understanding about the Speech Level Singing "method".

It doesn't work. That's all there is to it.

If a person has a basic understanding of the voice and singing, then it becomes easy to understand why SLS does not work. 

There are people in this world that already have the gift of a good voice and the ability to use it to whatever extent. So for them, it takes very little training to get them soaring high. SLS relies heavily on Lip Roll exercises, which are commonly used in real singing exercises. The improve the voice "some". But not a lot. But that alone is enough to "sell" the SLS scam to a number of people. The rest of the exercises used in this method are improper. They distort the standard vowel sounds used in teaching for centuries, which are supposed to be "ee, aww, and ahh(cat)". Instead, SLS uses "uhh, ooh, and Nayy" which makes it impossible to sing with power. But again, some people will still see improvements. Thus, they will swear they work. But in reality, they are likely to have never trained under a genuine vocal method. So they have nothing to compare it to. 

There is no such thing as speech level singing, unless you are simply singing in the same range as your every day speaking voice. But as many know, most people don't want to hear that unless your speaking voice is already a high tenor or soprano. So those people will buy the SLS system and believe it actually works when they never needed it to begin with. It basically warmed up their voice to make it "seem" more trained. They likely aren't informed enough to know any better.

We have seen the proof that you can use these exercises to increase your vocal range dramatically. I agree with this. But it only gives you the ability to use it as a gimmick, as people like Brett Manning and Jaime vendera do. But it is highly unusable as a singing mechanism because of its weakness and lack of coordination. 

The fact is. Singing requires constant diaphragmatic balance and everchanging breathe support. And the vocal cords MUST have developed the stamina to withstand that support to sing loud enough, emotional enough, and for long periods of time. it is IMPOSSIBLE for SLS to give this to anyone. And I would bet any amount of money on that because long ago I fell for the SLS scam.

But it wasn't until I was trained using Bel Canto techniques that I inadvertantly knew that SLS was a cheap, sissyfied ripoff of real exercises. But the fact that it is a scam is not the worst reality.

The fact that many young singers today are being given this garbage of a vocal system to learn to sing is ruining the quality of music. You see, Bel Canto techniques are what has dominated music since before the 1990s. And we remember just how different and original vocalists used to sound. But today, they all sound the same. It is because they are all following this diluted SLS system. Singing lightly and almost transparent. 

With all these things said, I can see why you feel ripped off. There are so-called teachers all over the place passing off this SLS crap. And they are certifying themselves with "levels" like some Karate belt. The best singers throughout history did not use what SLS teaches. That should tell you something.

Joy has such a big heart and really cares about her students. I have been a student of Joy Fields for the past 8 years.  I am a singer/songwriter who play's shows on Maui 4-5 nights a week. With out the help of Joy I dont think that I would be able to sing as much as I do.  In January of 2012 I started singing 5-7nights a week.  I hadn't seen Joy in a while but knew that I should get back into voice lessons.  I felt that something was seriously wrong with my voice. I had been Hoarse for weeks off and on and couldnt understand why it kept happening.  I thought if I could get more sleep and less stress It would go away but I pushed myself too hard. 

 I then called Joy and told her that my voice was out of wack and I needed to see her.  She got me in immediately and after a few lessons she told me that I should see the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in case I had a polyp or nodule.  She went with me to the appointment and supported me through the whole thing (me crying, breaking down, etc. haha) The Doctor diagnosed me with a Posterior Gap in my vocal chords.  Joy has helped me to repair that gap with specific excercises that I do every day and now after a lot of practice and dedication it is healed.  I am happy again with a healthy voice! I continue to see Joy every week. Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher. I am sorry that someone spent so much time to write something so negative and wrong. You really are so amazing!

Aloha,

I am saddened by the rip-off report I have just read. I am a professional teacher ( Baldwin High School AP Biology), singer, actor, dancer, and host (Maui No Ka Oi magazine's "Making Over Maui" web series and host of many events such as TEDx Maui).  I stumbled upon it while trying to find Joy's number (since my cell phone is dead at the moment). 

Joy has trained a number of the 'Ulalena vocalists over the years, many of whom are the most sought after professional singers on the island. I attribute much of my success as a vocalist to Joy and she has helped rehabilitate my voice TWICE from overuse and stress. (I was teaching full-time AND singing the entire 'Ulalena show 5 nights a week!) In fact, many of the ENT doctors recommend their patients to Joy for vocal rehabilitation.

As a teacher myself, I understand that all student-teacher relationships may not work. It is a delicate relationship that is very intimate. If your child was not progressing at the rate you saw fit, then why did you stay with this particular teacher? Instead of public defamation, you could have simply removed your child from her tutelage at an earlier date. In any educational relationship it takes two to tango. The student is just as responsible for the proper practicing techniques, asking the right questions to move forward, and so on. 

As far as Joy being a Level 5 SLS teacher, you are absolutely right. She deserves this title and has worked very hard to attain it. I know as an accomplished vocalist and performer that sometimes the BEST teachers are NOT ones who have a lengthy resume. (Also, many of the top Ballet Master Teachers are NOT dancers) Just because you can sing doesn't mean you can teach people how to sing. Joy has endured many rigorous tests, workshops, and teacher training in order to advertise her Level 5 status. I know this because I have a colleague that was at vocal training camp with her. 

Perhaps the real issue is that no one can teach a person with a mediocre instrument (and yes we are born with our instrument and can't go upgrade to a new one) to be Mariah Carey or Celine Dion. I have seen marked improvements in my voice and continue to grow and attack pieces of music I would never have been able to if I hadn't studied with Joy.

In the past two years I have been voted in the top ten for The Maui News' top theatre performances. #1 for my performance as Velma Kelly in Chicago and this past year (2012) for my performance as "Rizzo" in Grease. I attribute a lot of my vocal success to Joy and I hope that anyone reading this takes note of that.

I hope you find the right voice teacher for your child.

• I am a student of two years with Joy, I have become serious about a vocal career to add to my professional dance career.



• As a professional dancer, I worked with Barishnakov, Michael Jackson & Cher to name a few.



• Whether you are a student of dance or voice or other and you seek a professional level it is soley up to YOU to obtain any goals in those areas. Teachers and Coaches ( even if there 12th level in Gods Academy of the Arts) are only there to hone your skill/s.



• It is up to you the student to find the correct masters to teach you what you seek for the path you are choosing, and in this day and age creating for yourself. At the highest levels of entertainment potentials, even establishing an agent and publicist does not guarantee you will become a marketable hired performer in your field or sell music.



• Joy is at the highest level of mastery and thus if you are not already a serious student or performer or not showing that you are doing any of your own due diligence it is easy to see how you would be either overwhelmed or just not with the correct coach. She is direct and yet sensitive, constant yet ingenuitive. She provides a recording of every session, priceless for this single mom's hard earned money.



• Joy is responsible for connecting me with a professional songwriter in Los Angeles, two producers that are now recording my first C.D. and inspiring me with the confidence to have re-written the melody to the national anthem. Stay tuned for that...I will probably thank Joy out loud at the super bowl I perform it at!



• I believe Joy will teach you how to have the best voice you can have, my ENT doctor applauds her ability to catch or hear problems in the throat.



• I believe if you want a successful rewarding career entertaining, you are best not to judge even those of the masters whom teach you, but to create your story and career then let them be proud to have strengthened your wings as they see you fly your own course. 



• If you want more homework....Equilibrate...look to see how each negative has a positive side. How did your "negative" experience with Joy provide a complimentary opposite of which you may be grateful to her for as well.

I am a professional singer and have studied with Joy Fields for over twelve years. I am saddened to see that she has been targeted in this manner. This attack against her moral character, her teaching and her achievements is vicious and untrue! 

Yes, she achieved Level 5 status in Seth Riggs' Speech Level Singing organization. How? By putting in many hours of study and much money, being tested vigorously to make sure she deserved the credentials. Just the opposite of being "mean spirited", Joy exudes COMPASSION, knowing full well what it feels like to be the student.

Her expertise far outweighs what she charges her students. In fact, other Level 5's on the mainland charge almost double her rate! She knows that to live in paradise is expensive and has no desire to break anyone's bank.

As for not seeing results from her teaching, was practice involved??? Joy can give you the tools, but YOU have to put them to use.

Contrary to the remark that her "aggressive" techniques have caused people damage to their voices, if this were true, why would three (!) Ear, Nose and Throat doctors on the island refer their patients to her for rehabilitation? Because she's great at what she does.

By the way, you should hear her sing, she's pretty da**ed fantastic in that regard as well!!!

My name is Miranda Ellis. I am from Maui, Hawaii, and I have been taking voice lessons from Joy Renee Fields every week for the past five and a half years. I will honestly say that working with her has been incredible. Because of Joy, my voice has grown immensely. When comparing the way I started out to the level that I am at today, I can hardly believe that such a drastic change was possible. I am now attending Berklee College of Music, one of the top music schools in the United States, with my main instrument being my voice. I could never have accomplished this without the lessons, guidance, attention, support, and love that Joy has given me. I do not know who wrote this report against Joy, but I do know that they must not have known her very well, because Joy is a loving, caring, and supportive teacher who wants nothing but the best for all of her students. I have never once felt like the exercises that she gave me were too aggressive, and of all my friends who take from her as well, no one's voice has ever been damaged. Joy did have the opportunity to work with Seth Riggs, but this is not why she is such an excellent teacher. While she may have an even greater knowledge because she has that background, I have never heard her brag about it, or use it to put herself in a higher position than another teacher. She simply uses her knowledge to help her students progress. Having had the opportunity to work with several other vocal coaches, I will say that Joy Fields is by far the best I have worked with in terms of techniques, results, and kindness. Joy is an inspiration, and I can only hope that those who have the chance to read my view on this issue can see Joy for the truly amazing person and vocal coach that she is. Thank you.