Vocal school holds voice recital

Not quite two years ago, Pamela Pyles Linkhart and Lorene Noe were standing in the small kitchen used by chocolatier Norman Love. Nearly ready to move to his new location, Love was discussing the progress of the move when the idea to have Linkhart sing at the grand opening with a joking comment that Linkhart would "sing for chocolate."

While the plans never gelled, the name stuck in Linkhart's mind, and when she opened her new Vocal Arts Campus in Fort Myers, it seemed a perfect fit.

The Fort Myers She Sings For Chocolate Vocal Arts Campus is not Linkhart's first music school. Currently she operates schools in West Plains, Mo., Gainesville, and Ocala, as well as the year-and-a-half old Fort Myers studio.

This Sunday the school, which focuses on providing classic voice and music training, will hold their first voice recital, showcasing the talents and lessons of students ranging from 6 to 52 years old.

"People should come out and enjoy the opportunity to see classically trained singers of all ages," said Lorene Noe, studio manager. "Classically trained musicians are almost an endangered species now."

"You have the karaoke contest called 'American Idol' that has taken more away from our culture than anything," said Wayne Chaffin. "You can't take someone from Podunk, Idaho, and put them on the stage expect them to perform with no training."

Chaffin, involved heavily with the Southwest Florida Symphony until recently, said music in America has been dumbed down to its lowest level, and the music available in South Lee County is disgraceful.

"With the class of people we have we in this area," he said, "we should have a whole lot more culture than we do."

Linkhart and Noe hope the training at their school will provide the foundation for rebuilding music as pursuit of skill and excellence.

Special to the Banner

Pamela Pyles Linkhart is the owner and instructor at She Sings For Chocolate Vocal Arts Campus in Fort Myers. Dedicated to bringing classical training back to the music industry, Linkhart also instructs non-singers in the diction and voice skills to improve their business and personal relationships.

"You have to build the voice as an instrument," said Noe. "You can't just pick up your voice and play it any more than you could just pick up a violin and play it."

In addition to preparing students of all ages for careers in singing, She Sings for Chocolate also provides training in diction and voice coaching to non-musicians.

"On an ongoing basis, this kind of training can enhance your career, your professional relationships and your personal relationships," said Noe. "It's fun, it's not at all scary, and it makes you feel good about yourself."

If you talk in front of people, classical training can help in areas such as rhythm, diction and elocution, said Noe. Two of the school's teenaged students have won multiple thespian awards since attending Linkhart's classes and give much of the credit to the lessons taught by the school.

"Whether you're going on to be like Baby V and try 'American Idol,' or just singing at home, training your voice will make a difference," said Noe.

The difference, however, can be expensive. At $240 per month for the weekly classes, the bill adds up quickly. The benefits, however, are well worth the cost in the long run, according to Linkhart and Noe.

"None of us think twice about walking in for a facial or massage professional at $75 a pop," said Noe. "Why not use that money for something that takes six months and lasts forever?"

She Sings for Chocolate will also be holding a summer camp focused around singing, rhythm, basic music theory, ear training and diction for ages seven to 12. The camp will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, June 12-16. The cost is $200 and children must be registered by June 8 by calling 454-5158.

The school's first annual recital will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the Safe Harbor Community Church, 12960 Plantation Road in Fort Myers. The She Sings for Chocolate Vocal Arts Campus is located in the Key West Professional Center at 1342 Colonial Blvd., Suite E-39, across from the YMCA. For more information, visit the Web site at www.shesingsforchocolate.com.