Luminary (noun): a body that gives light; a person who is an inspiration to others.
The Luminary Lab at Seadragon Songhouse is an ongoing space for radiant, magical vocal explorers to embrace their authentic power… Part hybrid coaching masterclass, part support group – all light and magic!
Limited to 6 members!
Join us around the world via Zoom
Thursdays at 1:30pm ET starting July 16th (every other week) – FULL!
Please join the waitlist for future labs and updates!
To ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported, we personally curate each group based on experience, interests and vibe. Adult beginners to professionals and all genres welcome – please apply for more information!
Led by Courtney Cutchins, MM, founder of Seadragon Songhouse. As an award-winning vocal coach, songwriter, and recording artist with a master’s degree in contemporary voice from the Manhattan School of Music, Courtney blends elite contemporary pedagogy with deep artistic intuition. She’s fully certified in Somatic Voicework™ and maintains a 5-star rated studio dedicated to helping vocal explorers achieve true technical mastery and heart-centered, creative freedom.
For more details and reviews about Courtney and Seadragon Songhouse, click here!
“[Courtney is] incredibly insightful, flexible, patient, and has the ability to nurture musical inspiration in a way I’ve never seen in my 14 years as a musician.” – M
Here’s how it works!
- The Lab is a monthly membership that meets every other week via Zoom – two 90 minute sessions per month designed to ensure every voice receives individual focus and coaching!
- We’re developing an empowering community, setting goals and navigating voice-related adventures together. Come hang with your new voicefriends – learn, grow and create!
- We’ll cover contemporary singing and speaking technique, performance skills, artistry, songwriting, voice habilitation, creativity and creative healing and much more. All genres are welcome! From singers and songwriters to speakers, podcasters, coaches and other curious glimmers, if it involves your voice, it has a home in the Lab.
Luminary Spotlight: Each session, each member will take turns sharing their song, project or question and receiving feedback and technical/artistic support from Coach Courtney. This means everyone will have a ~12 minute “Luminary Spotlight” of focused coaching live in front of our small group every session! This is a coaching hybrid that’s personalized to you as an individual, while also providing a safe space to be heard by a group that deeply cares and applauds your breakthroughs.
- Ideas for your “Luminary Spotlight” (and a sample of the many awesome things you’ll learn vicariously):
- Sing a song for feedback
- Develop a technical skill (belting, head voice, mix, breath)
- Develop performance skills and confidence
- Sing in a new style or genre
- Demo a new song you’re writing (or get ideas on old ones!)
- Ask for personalized exercises (and record them for practice!)
- Experiment with ‘vocal troubleshooting’
- Work on vocal improvisation (phrasing, riffs, jazz)
- Ask about ways to enhance your creative process
- Ask/vent/brainstorm about the music industry and being a creative/artist
- Share a sample of your speaking voice (and learn ways to boost your sound and/or presence!)
- Develop your ability to sing and play an instrument
- Develop and share a personal project (EP, album, course, class, podcast, audition, setlist, social media, etc)
- Ask a question about music theory or songwriting/lyric-writing
- Analyze the qualities and techniques of your musical heroes
- Share anything voice-related that you’d like support with!
Every session begins and ends with time for Q&A, discussion and additional opportunities for connection and inspiration!
Observational Learning: When you aren’t in the “spotlight,” you’ll not only participate in group activities, but you’ll discover even more about the voice and creative process through active modeling and witnessing each others’ unique experiences. In the Lab, you are developing a diagnostic ear. You’ll learn how to identify vocal shifts in others, which is an incredible way to master your own voice. Plus, we’re here to be a steady, predictable rhythm for your work in a challenging world… We get it!
A Curated, Safe Space: To ensure the Lab remains a high-vibe and creatively-aligned environment, membership is by application only. This isn’t an “audition”- it just allows us to personally curate a small group of “Seadragons” who will truly champion and protect one another’s growth. We offer tracks to meet you where you are:
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- The Restorative Path: For the singer who is returning to their voice, healing their relationship with their sound and technique or seeking “low-stakes” exploration and fun.
- The Pro Path: For professionals focusing on accountability, creative expansion, stamina and artistic depth.
What else is included?
- Direct access to Courtney via email and text with any questions that arise from week to week… (yes, really!)
- A private WhatsApp thread with the group for sharing and support each week…
- A recording of each Lab will be made available only to the small group (password protected for privacy)…
- Practice resources and recommendations as needed…
- Priority access for future Labs and private sessions in case you need an extra boost…
Anything else to know?
- For beginners, it’s recommended that you feel comfortable matching pitch and singing to an instrumental/karaoke track or self-accompaniment.
- It’s recommended that you feel comfortable using technology, and on various devices (Zoom, YouTube, music streaming, iPhone, laptop, etc) – that said, please reach out with any questions, we’d love to walk you through the process to help put you at ease.
- If you plan to use your Luminary Spotlight to share your singing or other performance, consider preparing a recording in advance. Not only is the recording process a valuable learning experience, but this helps to streamline our sessions! Create a simple Voice Memo or video on your phone, or use an app or other software as desired (BandLab, Audacity, GarageBand, etc). That said, if sharing your voice live in front of the group is an important part of your goals, you are most welcome to do so!
- Remember that this time is your playground – and that this is a low-pressure environment that benefits everyone. We take great care to establish a warm, welcoming and safe atmosphere (and P.S. we are introvert-friendly!)
- As sharing our voices can be a challenging and vulnerable process, an enthusiasm for lifting and celebrating your fellow Seadragons is required!
A Note from Courtney…
“The Luminary Lab is inspired by one of the best parts of my conservatory years. While instrumentalists had ensembles and classical singers had choirs, we jazz vocalists had a special class to empower us as soloists and bandleaders. It was a space to experiment, arrange, and share our individual projects. I learned as much from watching my peers as I did from my own time at the mic – and I met some of my best friends! I created the Lab to make this same high-level, supportive and transformative group energy more accessible, flexible and joyful – at any level and for any genre – because everyone deserves a space where they can be truly heard.” – Coach Courtney
“I’ve been told that I can’t sing… I stumbled upon Seadragon Songhouse… [And] I left a confident tenor with a three octave range. Courtney is a ray of light and the best sort of teacher.”-G
Join us if you are…
A Courageous Light ✨
developing trust in your voice, vocal function and creativity, challenging yourself to sing in a new way, or working through inhibition and in need of experience sharing your voice in front of others…
An Intellectual Light ✨
finding greater freedom in your vocal technique, healing from a vocal injury or other trauma, discovering a world of music theory, or expanding your own work as a singing teacher, coach or entrepreneur…
An Artistic Light ✨
searching for depth or meaning in your singing practice, workshopping original songs or other voice-related project, seeking a community of like-minds who love the voice, or in need of encouragement, inspiration and/or accountability as a professional…
A Bioluminescent Light ✨
you’re not really sure what you are, but you do know that you’re a glowing and mystical, singing sea creature just floating by and looking for your people – well, here we are!
“Courtney’s education, experience and teaching ability is second to none… The knowledge I have acquired and the improvement in my voice is something I never thought possible. Her teaching style is like nothing I have ever experienced… She is the best!” – T
Membership
Sessions are held every other week at the same time each week.
Two sessions per month with renewal month-to-month.
Prepayment is due at sign-up to reserve your spot.
Please Contact Us with any questions!
The Luminary Membership:
$195/mo
*Sign up with a friend to each save $25 off your first month!
The Luminary Lab gives you consistent, professional coaching for a third of the monthly cost of a standard session package. By gathering in a small group, you receive the same expertise with the benefits of a hybrid learning environment, all within a supportive and curated community. Let’s unlock our beautiful voices together!
“Courtney is a kind, caring, intelligent, experienced soul in this world who will be your partner in strengthening or discovering your voice in your life.” – A
Payment & Schedule
- The Luminary Lab is every other week at the same time each week for two 90 minute sessions per month.
- For months in which there would be an additional (3rd) week, there will be no session, however, communication will still continue via email and WhatsApp.
- Your first month’s membership fee is due at the time of sign-up in order to reserve your spot in the Lab. Payment is made through automatic online billing via Square. A payment method on file with Seadragon Songhouse is required.
- Billing takes place on the 27th of each month to prepay for the upcoming month, unless a payment plan is agreed upon in writing.
- A receipt listing the upcoming schedule will be emailed with your payment confirmation.
Attendance
- Due to demand, the full payment for the term is required regardless of the number of sessions you plan to attend. Refunds are not offered for missed sessions.
- Please contact us and let us know in advance of any absences so we can plan accordingly (you will be missed!)
- Please make every effort to arrive on time – and to attend each session in order to support your fellow members.
- Your spot in the Lab is automatically renewed and reserved for you each month. Please inform us in writing by the 15th of the month should you wish to suspend sessions for the upcoming month.
- The Luminary Lab is year-round with natural breaks for holidays, etc. If you take a break and do not wish to pay to reserve your spot, your spot will be given to another client. Availability is limited, but every effort will be made to fit you back into the schedule upon your return.
- In the rare circumstance that Courtney has to cancel a session, the session will be rescheduled, a pro-rated credit will be added to a future invoice, or a substitute “special guest” coach will be made available.