Presence Method
 
 

Tina Kopa and Rachael Kane came together in 2003 after discovering they had very similar ideas about the voice, performance, and what makes an engaging confident singer. Since then, they have been combining their experience to develop methods to help singers become more empowered.

 
 

I have been a singer songwriter for fifteen years. I cut my teeth playing gigs and festivals locally and overseas in many different bands to support my original music. In 2002 I was signed to Roadshow Music and had a radio hit with my first single ‘Happy Messy Love’. In 2003 I released my debut album ‘Appetite’ and toured extensively around Australia and performed in Asia and New York. I am currently writing and recording for my new project ‘The Perfect Flaws’.

When I began my career as a singer I had very little knowledge of my voice as an instrument, I would emulate sounds completely by ear without any real information about what I was doing. Sometimes I would come undone by pushing my voice too hard, being distracted by thoughts and suffering anxiety about performing. Every now and again however I had the wonderful experience of being completely immersed in what I was doing without any hindrances. I began to enjoy myself, and the more I enjoyed myself, the freer my physical body became, the less I pushed my voice and the health of my voice and sound improved. It became apparent to me that mind and body are connected and need to co-operate with each other for a compelling performance to be possible. These experiences have lead me to study the aspects of the mind and body that relate to singing and free artistic expression, and ultimately to team up with Tina to develop an holistic method of teaching and singing.
 
 

I have been singing professionally for the past twenty years and teaching voice for ten years. My singing background has involved writing and recording, including a solo EP ‘Anything She Wants’ album ‘Beautiful’ and my current  EP ‘Red Belly Black’. I have worked as a session vocalist for television, radio and artists’ albums. I have also toured nationally and internationally as a lead vocalist and backing vocalist. Some of the artists I have worked for include, Jim Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Jo Camilleri and the Black Sorrows, Wendy Matthews, Tina Arena, Deborah Conway and Darren Hayes. My vocal coaching has had a diverse clientele from Courtney Love of Hole through to the Melbourne Theatre Company’s cast of ‘The Sapphires’.

This diverse experience of  live and studio work has taught me that a healthy vocal technique is vital, to not just survive as a singer, but to enjoy a heavy work schedule.  Unlike any other instrument the voice is carried around with us all the time and reflects our physical, mental and emotional life.  Struggling with how to find the realistic balance of healthy vocal technique and my own sound lead me to the development of The Presence Method.