Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen DeBiasse.
Karen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an Honor Graduate of Berklee School of Music and Certified Teacher by World Renowned Singing Instructor and mentor Dante Pavone. Teaching since 1982 my specialties are voice, vocal therapy and any and all instruments. My vocal technique can not only teach the most tone deaf to sing, but I can cure all vocal nodes and polyps. Lessons are taught at my studio in Somerville, Massachusetts, or online worldwide via Skype, Google Talk, Face Time, etc. All ages, levels and styles. Beginners are welcome!
It all started in a small town called Chatham, NJ, where I spent the first thirteen years of my life. I remember loving music as early as I could walk and talk. I started taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old. Along with the guitar, came a love for singing and writing my own songs. When we moved to Pennsylvania the guitar came with me. Throughout my high school years, I spent hours playing with teachers, fellow students and at gatherings.
Every week, from age sixteen to nineteen, I would drive an hour into Philadelphia by myself to study with world famous Artie Singer. His students included such names as Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Al Martino, and Bobby Rydel. Artie co-wrote and produced two massive hit records “At the Hop” and “Rock ‘n Roll is Here to Stay,” both recorded by Danny and the Juniors. Artie was personal friends with Dick Clark and would bring him acts for his show.
While going to a Delaware Community College the music teacher there took notice of me, pulled me aside, and told me about a great music school for aspiring musicians. He then sent away for the application and helped me fill it out. The next thing I knew I was in Boston attending Berklee School of Music!
I have studied voice extensively with Dante Pavone for fifteen years, also piano, guitar, and drums extensively and teach all instruments. Other teachers were world renowned Charlie Banacos on guitar and John Horrigan on drums.
Since 1982 I have written hundreds of songs and have been performing and recording my own music in major New England and New York venues. Thirteen of my songs were chosen to be in one movie called Getting Personal and other songs in the movies Fillbilly and Dykeotomies. My band has won worldwide contests. I can also help produce and record your songs!
Interests: Acting, Apple Computers, Art, Audio Engineer, Business, CD Art, Dancing, Film Making, Film Editing, Landscape Artist, Musician, Multi-Instrumentalist, Photoshop, Photography, Poetry, Producing, Screen Plays, Song Writer, Videographer, Web Site Designer, and Writer.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had originally gone to Berklee intending to major in voice, but started having vocal problems, and ended up with nodules on my vocal cords. Having to stop singing I turned my attention to guitar and composition. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Jazz and Rock Composition, Arranging, and Guitar.
During those four years I tried every vocal teacher in town, wanting more than anything to be a singer/songwriter. What I found was that none of these teachers could help me. I later came to realize that they didn’t seem to know the finer details of how the voice truly operated. I continued having vocal difficulties and was losing hope. The combination of this roadblock and my persistence led me to the greatest thing that ever happened in my life. I met Dante Pavone!
I kept hearing about this singing teacher named Dante Pavone. Since I had already tried everyone else, I decided to give him a shot. On my first lesson with Dante I noticed a big difference. My throat didn’t hurt and a pure tone was coming out of me. My voice was cured on my first lesson!
As I studied with Dante throughout the years, I found out that he was a world renowned vocal teacher. Originally from Italy, he was the son of a famous opera singer and toured the world. He even sang with the most famous singer of all time, Carusso!
Dante’s studies were extensive and he had doctorates in voice, music history, psychology and many other subjects. He was the most intelligent; insightful person I had ever met in my life! Not only did he teach me about voice, but taught me many things about life. He one time told me that he had a more profound knowledge of all the fine singing muscles more than anyone else.
Dante was the first, a “pioneer”, in popular singing, breaking from the traditional operatic style. He taught, and was contacted by, such singers as John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Beatles), Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Steve Tyler (Aerosmith), Peter Wolf (JGiles Band), James and Livingston Taylor, Tom Jones, Donna Summers, Jonathan Richmond, Julianna Hatfield, Andy Pratt, at their prime and the list goes on and on. One day John Lennon and Paul McCartney showed up unannounced at his door handing him a blank check! Singers from New York City Opera Company used to sneak away from their teachers and come to Boston to study with Dante who would cure their wrecked voices from their famous opera teachers they had in NY.
I studied with Dante every day for the first couple of years, then two or three times a week after that for fifteen years until his demise in 1998. I never missed a lesson! He gave me over a four-octave range where I started with only a five-note one. Not only did he improve my pitch and tone, but I can now sing and scream all night without ever a single vocal problem. In fact the more I sing the better my voice feels! With this method the voice gets better, more mature and more resonant year after year.
One day at my lesson Dante told me I was his most serious student and asked if he could pass his method down to me. Yes! This has been the greatest honor of my life. Many teachers try to emulate his method, but I am the only one with an actual certificate that has seriously studied with the master for over fifteen years. Not only was Dante my mentor, but still to this day is one of the most incredible people I have ever encountered in my life and was my best friend. We were very close and he would spend hours talking to me at lessons not only about music, but about many fascinating subjects and opened my eyes to many incredible things.
Please tell us about Karen DeBiasse Voice & Instrument School and Axe Grinder Guitar Repair.
Anyone Can Learn With My Method.
I believe that it is completely untrue that some people are “born to sing or play an instrument” while others are not. Using my method, the most “tone deaf” can learn to sing perfectly in tune, the most nasal or unappealing sound can be transformed into the most beautiful resonant sound, and someone with “no talent” can become better than anyone with natural ability. With this superb method when you finish singing your voice will feel better than when you started! All it takes is desire, patience, perseverance, and practice. I have a unique teaching style that can make learning any instrument seem easy. You’re never too young or old. In studio or online lessons available. I teach voice and every instrument!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Playing guitar and singing in school, with friends and at parties. Riding my horse Appy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 45 Franklin Street
Somerville, MA 02145 - Website: www.karendebiasse.com
- Phone: 617-529-6243
- Email: karendebiasse@aol.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.debiasse
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/girlontop
- Other: www.axegrinderguitarrepair.com
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