I came to Mary Laymon in 2006 needing to learn a song for a Senior Pageant I had entered. I did not have any previous vocal training and was doubtful that at my age (62) I would be able to develop a voice.

Mary took hold of my training with skill, patience, knowledge, support, and an unwavering persistence that helped bring me not only “a voice” but several State and International Senior titles.

Mary helped me develop a passion for music and theater that I had no idea existed.  She has been instrumental in opening the door for me to live an exciting, fulfilling, and very fun senior life. I am surrounded with music, theater, and friends. I feel very fortunate to be continuing my studies with Mary as my Voice and Music teacher.

Whether you are 6 or 60, a newbie or stage ready, I would recommend Mary’s pearls of wisdom and wonderful expertise for your music and vocal training.

–Constance Gabriel
2006 – Saint Paul Winter Carnival Senior Queen
2007 – Minneapolis Aquatennial Senior Ambassador
2008 – Ms. Minnesota Senior-America
2010 – Ms Senior Sweetheart of America-International
2012 – “Pretty Old” – Best Documentary Film, Santa Barbara Film Festival
2012 – Commercial for Chevrolet-Superbowl Contest

I LOVE Mary! Mary has helped bring my passion for singing back to life. When growing up, I was heavily involved in choir and theatre. A teacher at the time told us we “sucked” at singing and acting, in hopes that it would motivate us to want to improve. Instead of being a motivator, it caused our passion to die.

When I met Mary, I was a girl who loved to sing, but my high notes sounded like a squeaky toy. For years I stayed in my comfort zone singing low Karen Carpenter type songs. Mary’s techniques have showed me that I CAN sing those high notes, even with confidence!

Working with Mary has been a gift! I am amazed at how much technique goes into singing. She has taught me how to breathe properly, open the back of my throat, use my air, relax my jaw, etc. All of these elements combined together have made me a better singer. I can now sing those high notes without sounding like a squeaky toy!

In addition to being a fabulous teacher of technique, Mary also instills confidence in my talents and growth as a singer. She encourages me to explore places where I can practice; whether it be singing karaoke at home, at the piano bar at Nye’s, for my family over the Holidays, or in the church choir.

I could go on and on about how much I love Mary. I would highly recommend her to anyone that is looking to grow and nurture their talents as a singer. Her lessons have had a huge impact on my life!

–Peggy

I started taking voice lessons with Mary in my freshman year of high school. Now going into my senior year Mary has had a massive impact on my vocal abilities. With her help my range has increased dramatically, I have tried many different types of music (and liked mostly all of them), and my breath support has improved greatly in comparison to what it was when I first started. She pushes me to try my hardest when I am singing, and pushes me out of my comfort zone, which has helped me with my singing and my confidence. Words cannot really describe how much I have learned from her, and her tips and tricks stick with me when I am singing outside of her studio.  She has made waking up early on a Saturday fun for me and is a truly wonderful teacher all the while putting up with my busy schedule! I would recommend Mary to any aspiring vocalist no matter what genre or occasion is bringing you to her.

–Emily J.

I was referred to Mary by a friend who sings professionally in theatre and is also one of Mary’s students. I always enjoyed singing, but found my range very limited and I could never get the rich tone and vibrato that I wanted.

Mary provided the exact direction and environment I needed to really learn to sing. Learning how to breathe, maintain pressure, relax my throat, and so much more has made a significant difference not only to my range, but also my tone, stamina, and confidence, to name a few.

Mary’s insightful observations and suggestions really help me access the sometimes intangible areas inside me required to sing better. She is also very supportive and non-judgemental. I hadn’t realized how difficult it would be for me to really let go of my self-consciousness and my vocal cords with it. Knowing I could trust Mary allowed me to let go of my fears and follow her direction, leading to immediate improvements.

Another thing I hadn’t anticipated was how much fun lessons would be. Being able to reach notes I couldn’t before or singing a passage better than I ever had is truly exhilarating. Mary’s shared excitement, as well as her unwavering support and encouragement have made my lessons one of the highlights of my week.

I really can’t recommend Mary highly enough.

–John E.

When my daughter started taking voice lessons from Mary, I had no idea that I, too, would soon become her student. But, after a few months of listening to Mary explain the fundamentals and mechanics of singing to my daughter, I was hooked. And now, three years later, my lessons are a high point of my week. Mary is incredibly positive and supportive; she has helped me find my voice, accept it and embrace it. Mary helped me discover power, range and tone in my voice that I never imagined I might have. I have learned so much from her. Mary is an incredible, gifted teacher!

–Barbara L.

Mary Laymon’s voice studio is a wonderful, creative learning space. Her style is gracious and affirming. She has a knowledge of ALL types of repertoire, which is on-hand for use and reference. Her connections to the vocal community are helpful in making personal voice decisions.

–Linda E.

Thanks to Mary, I’ve found a voice I never knew I had! She makes learning fun!

–Paul