Full Text:

A Range Of Talent In The Vocalist Jackie Gaudet

(with photo)

BY SHANNON HICKS

Jackie Gaudet has grown up interested in music. A professional singer for a

few years, Ms Gaudet has earned a degree in music education, performed

professionally, taught public and private lessons, and continues to perform

occasionally with the Connecticut Choral Society. Today she offers lessons out

of a studio in Sandy Hook, and is teaching nearly 40 students on a full-time

basis.

Part of the reason Jackie began teaching in Newtown certainly had to do with

the fact she grew up here and her family continues to reside in town. Another

reason, as they say in real estate: location, location, location.

"There's such a strong music department in Newtown. The high school and the

middle school both do a wonderful job encouraging children to study music,"

Jackie recently said. "The interest is really there."

She was equally enthusiastic about the non-school community. "I'm lucky that

Newtown has such a strong music development," she said.

Jackie began teaching out of her Church Hill Road studio five days a week last

September. She began renting the studio in March 1998, but taught only on a

part-time basis until last fall. Before that, her time was divided between

teaching in a smaller studio in her Newtown apartment and working out of

Danbury.

"It took a few years, but now I have 40 students," she said. When Jackie moved

her work from Danbury to the Church Hill Road studio, "quite a few" of her

Danbury students followed her, she said. A few others came from Brewster and

Brookfield, with the remainder coming from Newtown.

A 1980 graduate of Newtown High School, Jackie Gaudet studied vocal

performance for two years at the University of Bridgeport before taking time

off from her studies. She sang professionally, full-time, for the next three

years, going on the road with "Top 40 bands," as she calls them.

A few short-term jobs later and after returning to Connecticut after a

one-year move to Utah, Jackie decided to get her degree.

It took three years, but Jackie completed her degree in music education in

1992. She continued with her own classes, worked a few different jobs in New

York City, and then began teaching privately.

Her next job was at the Connecticut Conservatory, and Jackie even decided to

teach full-time. But she eventually began to see that teaching in a public

school system was not for her. So she went out on her own and began building a

student base for herself.

Today, Jackie's students range from fourth graders to adult.

Students have different reasons for studying voice. For younger students,

vocal studies and their accompanying recital may help students accomplish a

goal, and overcome a fear. For adults, it may be a way to unwind, or to enrich

a talent they may have been keeping to themselves. It could also be an outlet,

says Jackie, similar to taking yoga or a continuing education course.

"It's fun to see them find something they can put their teeth on, or put their

hands on and hold onto that as apart from their `adult livelihood,'" she said.

"For one student, singing has become a very big part of her life. Another guy

listens to his practice tapes in his car driving to and home from work. He

unwinds while he enjoys these lessons over and over."

A few years ago, Jackie was very involved with the CT Chamber Singers. The

group is part of the much larger Connecticut Choral Society. Jackie's own

outlet is CCS, with whom she recently participated in the annual holiday shows

in Newtown. The choral society is a professional adult chorus that performs

year-round, although Jackie does not have the time currently to remain with

the chorus full-time.

"I saw the choral society perform about four years ago for the first time, and

my jaw literally dropped," the singer said. "I thought `I have to find out how

to audition for this group!'" She auditioned for and made the cut into CCS,

but has not been able to maintain full-time status with the group.

Jackie remained involved with a number of choral groups during her school

days, and she would like to eventually like to return to performing with the

CT Chamber Singers, but, she says, "I just have to concentrate on my business

right now."

The bulk of the repertoire studied by Jackie's students is musical theater,

classical and pop music. Lessons begin with simple body stretches and vocal

warm-ups. Placement -- "getting the voice out of your throat," explains the

teacher -- and breathing techniques are covered before any vocal practice

begins.

The songs for recitals are chosen by Jackie and her students. The studio

presents three recitals each year, usually in the Alexandria Room at Edmond

Town Hall in Newtown.

Preparation is a large part of any pre-recital presentation. This includes

meeting the accompanist, May Steinberg, who plays at the recitals with

Jackie's students. Dress rehearsal is run before fellow students, so students

are performing in front of an audience of their peers before having to face a

house of parents and unfamiliar faces.

Specific steps are walked through, and even bowing after a performance is

practiced.

During the shows, students can look to the back of the house to find their

teacher. She is always there, ready with a needed cue or just a look of

encouragement.

"It's always scary, I know," Jackie said, "but I've never had anything too

serious happen, and for some of the kids, it's really not that big of a deal.

It becomes easier and easier as time goes on."

For herself, Jackie Gaudet has finally found her own niche in the vocal world.

After a solid choice in what she would study and a few trials and errors in

sharing her talent, Jackie now feels more comfortable than ever with her

choice of occupation.

"I really enjoy doing this. This is the only thing I have found so far that

really feels like me."