Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Sutherland.
Hi Christy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a professional vocal coach for nearly 31 years. After calling Nashville home for 27 of those years and working with some of the music industry’s finest, I’m excited to be back in my home state of Texas! My clients have included Gloria Gaynor, Kim Carnes, Ashley Cooke, Pam Tillis, Carly Pearce, Jeffrey Li (America’s Got Talent), Jenny Beth Willis (American Idol) and many others. I started coaching soon after graduating from Belmont University and continued to coach while working as a songwriter and recording artist through the years. I’ve found private voice coaching is one of those things that fits well with any music industry job!
I’ve literally been in a Motel 6 prior to doing a concert, Skyping with a voice client in China! I’ve been so blessed to make a living doing music for so many years. But coaching clients is more than just a job to me. I truly love helping other singers bring out their best, unique sound and am honored to be a small part of their musical journey. I currently have nearly 50 singers on the roster, ages 2 1/2 years old to mid-eighties. The majority of my clients study with me virtually either via Zoom or FaceTime, but I do see clients in person in the South Texas area as well.
As a single mama, private voice coaching allows me the flexibility in my work schedule to always carve out time for the most important person in my life, my eight year old son, John Andrew. Although I spent 12 years of my life technically in “ministry” doing Christian music, voice coaching has proven to be a ministry itself. Many times I find clients asking for prayer or just needing someone to listen and understand what they are going through. The music industry is not for the faint of heart! And here at Sutherland Voice Studios, there’s a peacefulness that you won’t find in a downtown studio in Nashville. With the cattle roaming around literally outside of my window, it truly is the best of both worlds!
Alright, 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?
No, it has not. But anything worthwhile usually isn’t easy! One of the hardest struggles in my career that really stands out to me is the week I literally lost my publishing deal AND my recording deal in three days. It was a Tuesday in January of 2005 when I found out Universal Music Publishing would not be renewing my contract as a staff songwriter since renewal was contingent upon the upcoming release of my album on Sony Records. The label had once again postponed the release. Two days later, I found out why they were postponing. On Thursday, my manager called and said RCA Records had purchased Sony Records and I was one of several artists being dropped. That Saturday night (two days after bomb #2 dropped), I starred on the Grand Ole Opry, at the Ryman Auditiorium. That evening was the only time I had chosen to sing a gospel song on the Opry. I still remember the peaceful Presence of God in that auditorium. My producer Matraca Berg looked at me backstage and said, “He’s here.” I knew in that moment no matter what the days ahead might bring, God was still in control and He still had a good plan for my life.
Years later, in 2018, I moved from Nashville to my home state of Texas in the midst of a divorce with a new baby. I found that God wastes nothing, and He truly makes beauty from ashes. I had no idea those two and half decades in Nashville were preparing me to one day run my own voice studio with clients literally all over the world! Never give up. You never know what a day may bring. As long as you are breathing, there is hope.
We’ve been impressed with Sutherland Voice Studios, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I say all the time, when you come to me, you get Nashville voice lessons right here in Texas! I absolutely love pouring my years of experience as a celebrity vocal coach, performer and songwriter into other artists. From giving tips and tricks on how to hit the high notes to teaching singers and speakers how to care for their voices, I love what I get to do.
I specialize in giving singers the tools they need to be confident, not only vocally, but as performers as well. I am the only coach in the United States fully trained in the late Renee’ Grant-Williams Method as well as other celebrity vocal techniques. I truly cater each session to each client and no work day is ever the same!
Working out of an unassuming farmhouse on my parents’ ranch in South Texas, clients literally walk past the cattle and horses just to get to the front door! It’s pretty cool to have a horse or cow eavesdropping in on a vocal session.
I’ve worked virtually with clients from all over the United States as well as clients overseas in England, Greece, China, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, and Uganda.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be one Christmas Eve when I was probably five years old. I remember going to a candlelight service at the Methodist church in our small town and then going home and hanging the star on the advent calendar my Granny made for us. We ate homemade Christmas sugar cookies with colored sugar and silver Christmas balls on them. Then my sister and I slept on a pallet on my parents’ bedroom floor. I was so excited waiting for Santa that I could hardly stand it. I lay there, wide awake and I swear to this day I actually heard jingle bells and reindeer hooves on the rooftop!
Pricing:
- Free 30 min Initial Virtual Consultation
- 30 min voice lesson $65
- 45 min voice lesson $95
- 60 min voice lesson $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.singitbetter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/singitbettervoicelessons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christygospel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@christysutherland4213
