Julie Norman
Voice Teacher | Performance Coach
Personalized instruction for singers and performers at any age and level seeking healthy technique, musical expression, and lasting artistic growth.
About Julie Norman
Welcome! I am a professional operatic soprano, voice teacher, and vocal & performance coach in the Netherlands.
My practice is founded on one simple principle: every singer has a unique voice, and that voice needs a chance to grow from a healthy technique.
Growing up with a family of musicians and music teachers meant a lot of the same things for me that it does for others who share this upbringing: I was reading music before I could read actual books, held my first violin before I knew how to ride a bike, and was telling my second grade class that my favorite music was Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in g minor. Classical music was a part of my language and identity before I really knew who I was.
Like many young musicians, I gained the fundamentals of music through instrumental study (violin, piano, music theory) - but I first fell in love with singing by listening to Broadway recordings, famous opera singers, and jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald. A wonderful way to embrace vocal performance as my own distinct passion… but not necessarily the best way to discover my own voice.
After years of embracing the stage as a singer, dancer, and actor, I began my Master’s degree in the Opera Department at the Eastman School of Music, where I studied with Metropolitan Opera legend Rita Shane. Rather than assigning me operatic repertoire in our first lesson together, Rita made me sit in a chair and sing basic vocal exercises, and that was what we did for several months before she allowed me to touch a single aria. I had not yet discovered how to sing with my own instrument, and had built years of tension and bad habits in order to try to sound “like one of the greats.” She was determined to strip all of that away so that we could discover what my actual voice sounded like, and what it was capable of.
The lesson was clear: the greatest artists are not imitations of one another. They learn to understand and use the instrument they already possess. After my first year at Eastman, re-learning the fundamentals of singing with Rita, the real work began - and I soon enjoyed singing repertoire and roles I could perform with ease and expression for years to come. This training set the foundation for my own practice as a singer and teacher.
As a professional singer, I have performed throughout both the United States and Europe. In the United States, I sang leading roles in opera productions and appeared as a soloist in recitals and concerts. After moving to the Netherlands, I continued my performing career through projects with the Orfeo Foundation, the Dutch National Touring Opera (Nederlandse Reisopera), and numerous recital and concert performances in the Netherlands and Belgium. I continue to perform regularly in Europe.
Alongside my performing career, I have enjoyed teaching voice to students of all ages and levels, directing theatrical productions, and presenting masterclasses at schools and educational institutions, using the vocal pedagogy and techniques passed down to me from my education.
In my lessons, we develop the technical foundations of healthy singing - including breath support, posture, resonance, intonation, and efficient vocal production - while exploring repertoire that suits each singer's individual voice and goals. The objective is not simply to sing well today, but to build a technique that supports artistic freedom and long-term vocal health.
For singers preparing auditions or performances, I also offer coaching in stage presence, character development, interpretation, and general performance preparation.
Although my own background is in classical voice and opera, I welcome singers from a wide range of musical backgrounds and of all ages. Every student begins with an introductory”trial” lesson so that we can become acquainted and determine the approach that best supports their development.
Whether your goal is to prepare for the stage, strengthen your technique, or simply enjoy singing more fully, my aim is the same: to help you develop a healthy, expressive, and confident voice that is uniquely your own.
FAQs
At what age should students begin voice lessons, and what ages do you typically teach?
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Students may begin working with me as of age 6. I happily work with children and will teach them the basics of how to learn and sing music. However, lessons for most children will be a shorter duration (30 minutes).
I take students of all ages and skill levels, with the majority of my students older than 13. I adapt my teaching style to the age and background of each student.
Adults over 18, or more advanced singers over 13, usually benefit from longer lessons. I recommend 45 minutes - 1 hour for these students, on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Students who want 30 minute lessons are welcome, but I might recommend these lessons happen weekly in order to make sure we have time to train on vocal technique as well as repertoire.
What does a voice lesson entail?
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A typical voice lesson will begin with warm-up and vocal exercises, technical training on breath support, resonance, and addressing potential vocal issues (for example, tension, poor posture). Then we will work on song choices, repertoire, and artistry. For students learning songs in foreign languages, we can work on diction and text.
For children or beginner singers, we’ll focus mainly on basic vocal technique, ear training, and the fundamentals of learning music as a singer.
What other services do you offer?
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Alongside teaching private voice lessons, I offer performance & audition coaching. With this option, I’ll help you select the repertoire you may wish to perform, have you perform for me as you would in front of an audience, and will work with you on the presentation itself. This involves some movement, character or song text interpretation, and work on how to sing past the very normal and expected nerves you might experience on the day.
Performance / audition coaching is 1 hour - 90 minutes depending on what you are preparing for. For this, I also request that singers arrange a pianist (or let me know if you need one) to accompany your songs so that I can observe and coach you.
Do you only teach classical voice?
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Classical music is my area of expertise, and includes early music, art song, and operatic or oratorio works. However, I also have a background in Musical Theatre and jazz, and teach students with an interest in these genres.
In short: I will teach any singer how to sing with a healthy technique, regardless of genre. But I am not the best fit for rap or heavy metal. =)
Get in touch:
Fill in the contact form below and I’ll reach out to plan a first meeting.

