The Wilton Voice Studio is the newly established vocal practice of industry veteran Shana Pennington-Baird. Having recently relocated from Seattle, Washington, the studio serves the Wilton community as a dedicated space for vocal development. The studio combines the rigors of professional technique with a supportive environment, designed to help students of all levels find their unique sound and perform with confidence. This singing space is great for beginners, kids and teens, and professionals who want to work on their craft.
Visit www.wiltonvoicestudio.com
Visit www.wiltonvoicestudio.com
About the Founder: Shana Pennington-Baird
Shana Pennington-Baird brings over thirty years of experience in the Pacific Northwest performing arts scene to her teaching. Before establishing her practice in Wilton, she founded the Seattle Voice Academy in 2015. At SVA, she teaches audiobook narration and voiceover to students all over the world. And when she is not singing at her new studio in down town Wilton, she works out of home studio recording audiobook titles for Dreamscape Media and Tantor Books. As a voice artist, Shana has been in the animated series, Magic Mixies, the voice of JP Morgan Wealth Management and is featured in video games on Playstation VR and other platforms. Her stage credits include productions with the Bathhouse Theatre, 5th Avenue Musical Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Oregon Cabaret, and a decade with Cabaret Productions. Her solo musical show, Broken Wide Open, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and has performed in Ireland, the UK and Seattle.
Studio Philosophy & Training
At Wilton Voice Studio, training is built on the belief that a great singing voice relies on a balance of physical health, technical precision, and mental preparation. The curriculum is designed to help singers through several core areas:
1. The Foundation: Breath and Support A strong voice begins with the breath. The studio teaches diaphragmatic breathing, ensuring the "driving force" of the voice is efficient and sustainable. Students learn to expand the abdominal muscles upon inhalation while keeping the chest and shoulders relaxed,. This technique reduces tension in the throat and larynx, preventing strain during performance.
2. Navigating Vocal Registers Whether singing pop, jazz, or musical theater, vocalists must navigate different registers. Training focuses on strengthening the chest voice (for lower, robust notes) and the head voice (for the upper range),. A key goal is developing a mixed voice, which blends these registers to allow for a smooth transition across the singer's range without breaks or cracks.
3. Vocal Health and Hygiene Longevity is just as important as ability. The studio emphasizes vocal hygiene—a daily regimen of habits to maintain vocal fold health. This includes proper hydration, warming up before making big demands on the voice, and eliminating injurious habits like frequent throat clearing.
4. Performance Mindset Singing is as mental as it is physical. The studio helps students manage stage fright, understanding that performance anxiety is often a natural "fight-or-flight" response. Through preparation and mindset techniques, students learn to interpret nervous energy as excitement, allowing them to remain present and expressive on stage rather than retreating from the audience.
Shana Pennington-Baird brings over thirty years of experience in the Pacific Northwest performing arts scene to her teaching. Before establishing her practice in Wilton, she founded the Seattle Voice Academy in 2015. At SVA, she teaches audiobook narration and voiceover to students all over the world. And when she is not singing at her new studio in down town Wilton, she works out of home studio recording audiobook titles for Dreamscape Media and Tantor Books. As a voice artist, Shana has been in the animated series, Magic Mixies, the voice of JP Morgan Wealth Management and is featured in video games on Playstation VR and other platforms. Her stage credits include productions with the Bathhouse Theatre, 5th Avenue Musical Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Oregon Cabaret, and a decade with Cabaret Productions. Her solo musical show, Broken Wide Open, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and has performed in Ireland, the UK and Seattle.
Studio Philosophy & Training
At Wilton Voice Studio, training is built on the belief that a great singing voice relies on a balance of physical health, technical precision, and mental preparation. The curriculum is designed to help singers through several core areas:
1. The Foundation: Breath and Support A strong voice begins with the breath. The studio teaches diaphragmatic breathing, ensuring the "driving force" of the voice is efficient and sustainable. Students learn to expand the abdominal muscles upon inhalation while keeping the chest and shoulders relaxed,. This technique reduces tension in the throat and larynx, preventing strain during performance.
2. Navigating Vocal Registers Whether singing pop, jazz, or musical theater, vocalists must navigate different registers. Training focuses on strengthening the chest voice (for lower, robust notes) and the head voice (for the upper range),. A key goal is developing a mixed voice, which blends these registers to allow for a smooth transition across the singer's range without breaks or cracks.
3. Vocal Health and Hygiene Longevity is just as important as ability. The studio emphasizes vocal hygiene—a daily regimen of habits to maintain vocal fold health. This includes proper hydration, warming up before making big demands on the voice, and eliminating injurious habits like frequent throat clearing.
4. Performance Mindset Singing is as mental as it is physical. The studio helps students manage stage fright, understanding that performance anxiety is often a natural "fight-or-flight" response. Through preparation and mindset techniques, students learn to interpret nervous energy as excitement, allowing them to remain present and expressive on stage rather than retreating from the audience.