Janice Maxie Reid
Credentials:
As our Artist in Residence, Janice's talents help the experienced singer take that next step toward becoming an accomplished performer. She is a master at helping singers develop unique covers for songs. Born with perfect pitch, she can play any song, in any key!
She uses her positive energy, musical ability and intuition in a way that makes her students feel creatively fulfilled as they work on their music. Her teaching method focuses on assisting the student in building a strong foundation with emphasis on basic music/iano theory, ear and breath training, full-body tone production, note reading, diction, vocal health and maintenance, state presence, mic technique, key and repertoire customizing. Indeed... a session with Janice is like attending a finishing school for the advancing student. As a career educator, Janice taught K-8 for 24 years, was chorus director for numerous high school musical productions, the Oakland Youth Chorus and the Young Musicians’ Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Some of her students have included Victoria Theodore (Stevie Wonder Band) and R & B singer and 7 time Grammy Award nominee, Ledisi. She is a classically trained singer and pianist and an alumnus of Skyline and Castlemont High Schools in Oakland, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Young Musicians’ Program at UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California. She studied classical piano with the late Barbara Shearer, jazz piano with Bill Bell, gospel piano with Helen J. H. Stephens, classical voice with Jane Sharp and Conrad Immel and choral conducting with the late Phil Reeder. Janice has performed internationally and throughout the U.S. and has worked with Maestro Michael Morgan of the Oakland East Bay Symphony as well as Grammy Award winning artists including Sting, producer Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston), singer Tony Lindsay (Santana), violinist Mads Tolling. Her command of her wide vocal range, vast musical repertoire and her ability to sing and play across a wide range of genres including jazz, blues, pop, patriotic, classical, opera and gospel keep her in constant demand. In addition to teaching, Janice has participated in benefit concerts and performs annually for the Oakland Police Department’s Memorial Service. She is often called to perform at weddings, corporate, civic and social events and has sung the national anthem for the Oakland A’s and Golden Gate Fields. Janice often serves as a master class presenter and is a judge for West Coast Songwriters. She has released two recordings: 2010 CD Love At Christmas and a new 2012 single Afternoon Delight. What do Janice's Students Say? |
What One Student Says About Janice:Watch Janice Perform
Here she performs with Medicine Ball Band
"Misty" & "Poetry Man"
"What A Wonderful World"
Performing with Lloyd Gregory @ Yoshi's
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Julie H.
8/14/2015 http://www.yelp.com/biz/better-world-school-of-music-hayward
While I've been singing for many years, in school and then church choirs, my dream was to one day take private vocal lessons. That dream came true last year when I signed-up for lessons at the Better World School of Music (BWSoM) in Hayward, California. The experience at BWSoM has met all of my expectations which mainly centered on improving my vocal techniques and ability to preserve my voice over my lifetime.
I've been truly blessed by my phenomenal vocal coach Janice Maxie Reid, an extraordinary musician in her own right and one of the most encouraging and gifted teachers I've ever had. The staff is friendly and professional, the rates are reasonable, and Kathy Saffas, the school's director, is extremely gregarious and engaging. Kathy has created a welcoming, supportive, and nurturing establishment that I feel very fortunate to have become a part of over this past year.
Moreover, I believe I'm becoming a more proficient and educated vocalist as a result of my time at BWSoM. This school is a true jewel in the crown of music institutions in the Bay Area and my time there has been nothing but educational, rewarding and enjoyable.
8/14/2015 http://www.yelp.com/biz/better-world-school-of-music-hayward
While I've been singing for many years, in school and then church choirs, my dream was to one day take private vocal lessons. That dream came true last year when I signed-up for lessons at the Better World School of Music (BWSoM) in Hayward, California. The experience at BWSoM has met all of my expectations which mainly centered on improving my vocal techniques and ability to preserve my voice over my lifetime.
I've been truly blessed by my phenomenal vocal coach Janice Maxie Reid, an extraordinary musician in her own right and one of the most encouraging and gifted teachers I've ever had. The staff is friendly and professional, the rates are reasonable, and Kathy Saffas, the school's director, is extremely gregarious and engaging. Kathy has created a welcoming, supportive, and nurturing establishment that I feel very fortunate to have become a part of over this past year.
Moreover, I believe I'm becoming a more proficient and educated vocalist as a result of my time at BWSoM. This school is a true jewel in the crown of music institutions in the Bay Area and my time there has been nothing but educational, rewarding and enjoyable.