Heather Lyle Vocal Yoga Method®

Lyle is the founder of the patented Heather Lyle Vocal Yoga Method®, a voice work utilizing techniques from Yoga, Pranayama, Voice Science, Alexander Technique, the Bel Canto School of Singing, Qi Gong, kirtan chanting, primal voice work, fascia release work and somatic body work to free the voice. Vocal Yoga uses specialized yoga postures, yoga straps, tubes, tuning forks and somatic body work and sound healing exercises designed to unblock the breath and voice from parts of the body where it has been braced or blocked due to the emotional and physical stresses of life. When the body is free to breathe and released from encumbrances, the singer or actor will discover a new depth and expansion to his or her voice. The success of her Vocal Yoga book has given her the opportunity to teach people via Skype from China to India and she is now certifying teachers in her specialized work. See her Vocal Yoga Teacher Certification page for more information.

Heather Lyle is the author of Vocal Yoga, the Joy of Breathing, Singing and Sounding (New Leaf 2012) and a contributor to The Voice Teacher’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teacher’s of Singing (Hal Leonard 2019). Lyle’s book was mentioned in the National Association of Teachers of Singing’s academic journal in an article in the May/June 2017 issue, Volume 73, No. 5, pp. 511–518: Vocal Yoga: Applying Yoga Principles in Voice Therapy by Adam Lloyd, Bari Hoffman-Ruddy, Erin Silverman, and Jeffrey L. Lehman. “Heather Lyle incorporates voice pedagogy, yoga postures and principles, directed breathing exercises, and voice science in her work, Vocal Yoga: The Joy of Breathing, Singing, and Sounding. Lyle’s work focuses on respiratory exercises for speech and singing, and also provides examples of speech and singing exercises to achieve a balanced voice production. She incorporates aspects of other popular body alignment techniques and programs in her work including Feldenkrais, Alexander technique, and Tai Chi, among others.”

The combination of Heather Lyle’s training in voice work for actors and extensive training in singing has given Lyle a unique approach to teaching that students find fresh and innovative. Lyle has taught singing and vocal technique for Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts, Mount St. Marys College, Santa Monica College, LA Mission College, the Los Angeles High School for the Arts, Studio 5 in New York, Seydways Acting Studio in Hollywood and the private sector. She has also taught speaking skills for the doctoral economics and finance students at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She assisted all of her students in attaining their dream teaching jobs at Yale, University of Chicago and other prestigious institutions! Internationally Lyle has taught for  The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Loreto College in Kolkata, “Indian Idol Academy” and Prober Guha’s acclaimed “Alternative Living Theatre”. Many of Lyle’s students have gone on to starring roles in television, film and theater. Lyle strongly believes in PRESERVING THE PRIVACY OF CLIENTS lives and WILL NOT USE CELEBRITY CLIENTS names to further her own business. Lyle also delights in helping the beginner find their voice and in forming a career direction.

Musical History

Heather Lyle was born into the world of music and musical theatre. Her families involvement in the music business dates back to the day of Vaudeville. All of her Great Aunts were Ziegfeld Follies girls and she grew up listening to the hit songs of her great uncle, Buddy DeSylva, co-founder of Capitol Records and president of Paramount Pictures. Buddy was famous for his hits of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, written with Al Jolsen, Johnny Mercer, Henderson and Brown, and Gershwin. Many of his songs have become jazz standards such as: “April Showers,” “Somebody Loves Me” and “Do it Again.” DeSylva also produced many of the musical theatre hits during the golden age of Broadway and went on to produce movie musicals during the Bing Crosby/Gene Kelly era. The Shirley Temple movies were a big success of Buddy DeSylvas.

Lyle was also influenced by her mother, the first female Hollywood press agent, the first female NBC executive and the first employee of Capitol Records. Lyle’s mother was also a musician’s agent and writer for Downbeat Jazz Magazine who constantly played jazz standards written by the prominent musicians she managed. One of her most notorious clients was the blues legend W.C. Handy.

Lyle’s passion for song writing and music production was nurtured from an early age leading her to receive acclaim as a composer, musical director and voice and speech coach. She has worked for the San Fernando Repertory Theater and the Theatre Tribe Theater Company as a musical director. Dramalogue singled out her musical direction for special praise in the critically acclaimed production of Anne of a Thousand Days at CBS Studios in Los Angeles. Lyle has also served as a singing and voice coach for record and TV productions, and has contributed music to television shows including NBC’s Emmy Award winning, “The Mystery of the Sphinx.” One of Lyle’s favorite jobs is helping the singer or actor attain their best sound in the studio during the recording process. Many Los Angeles producers have delighted in the time they have saved by hiring Lyle as an in-studio vocal coach. Prominent LA producer, Barry Fasman, uses Lyle’s vocal exercises CD to warm up his clients.

Heather Lyle is also a successful professional singer for film, T.V. and stage. She has sung every style of music from opera and musical theater to jazz and pop and has performed on every type of stage from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the smoky caves of Paris to the Playboy Mansion. Lyle has even sung traditional Middle Eastern music for movie sound-tracks. She has performed in over fifty productions and recorded four original CDs. Her love of adventure has sent her to Brazil performing concerts traveling down the Amazon River and to Egypt to record inside the Great Pyramid for a movie soundtrack. Lyle presently sings with her eight-piece band “The Bluecat Express.” Their last CD release “The Spirit of New Orleans,” on Rhombus Records, played on jazz stations across the U.S. and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and itunes. The Bluecat Express has appeared at The Jacksonville Jazz Festival with Kenny G., Herbie Hancock, Dee Bridgewater and Ramsey Lewis and performed as part of the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles.

An international singing career has made Lyle a fascinating, eclectic teacher who can sing in seven languages. Lyle’s vast musical experience has made her an amazingly versatile teacher and enabled her to teach a variety of musical styles. Lyle’s ongoing professional career and music business background also aids her in giving invaluable professional advice to students embarking into the world of professional singing.

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