Lisa-Marie Parker Vocal Studio

Vocal teacher and performer Lisa-Marie Parker helps her students to tell the world’s stories through music and drama.

“I'm an actor and singer specialising in musical theatre, vocal technique and performance skills. I offer classes for anyone from music enthusiasts to professionals looking to hone their craft.

“I also mentor tertiary students and professional performers navigating their way through the industry and helping them refine their voices, storytelling and acting.”

Lisa-Marie was immersed in the arts from a young age with the encouragement of her parents, taking dance lessons, joining school choirs and bands and studying opera at Victorian College of the Arts. In her twenty-five year career she has performed on TV, radio and on stage.

After having children, she looked for a change that would provide the opportunity to focus on building a business of her own.

She decided to open her own vocal studio in 2019 in North Melbourne. After setting up the space, she realised that other performers could also take advantage of the extra rooms. Now she regularly rents out the three available rooms to other performers, small music ensembles and opera companies who need the rehearsal space.

Each room has a keyboard, while her baby grand piano takes pride of place in the main room.

“This piano is my first piano, and my parents purchased it for me over thirty years ago,” smiles Lisa-Marie. “Now, my ten-year-old daughter continues to play.”

Lisa-Marie’s daughter also inspired her to start a new program called Kids Division in April 2021. Kids Division is a performing arts program for kids aged five to twelve years old where they can sing, act, and move through drama, musical theatre, yoga, mindfulness and singing classes.

“We have a few children in the program working in film and musicals, but it’s not about teaching children to be professional performers,” Lisa-Marie explains.

“The program is really focused on building children’s confidence through performing arts - it’s about developing a growth mindset rather than outcome-based learning.

“We keep the class sizes small, so it's an inclusive and safe space for the kids to express themselves. The eight-week program is very much tailored to the needs of the kids. Over that time, the kids become really close, and it’s almost like they’re a cast.”

Kids Division students are taught by graduates from the major Australian performing arts institutions - Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, National Institute of Dramatic Art and Victorian College of the Arts - and have an incredible background in their fields.

“Sometime next year, we'll bring in teachers to focus on songwriting, and I'm sourcing a piano and violin teacher for private lessons. As our Kids Division children get older, I'd love to start a Teen Division.”

Lisa-Marie says the most rewarding thing about teaching children is seeing the bounce in their step as they leave the studio and hearing how happy they are.

“I love kids’ imagination, their freedom, and the fact that they are not judgmental of themselves and of each other. I hope that we can nurture a sense of that confidence and that creativity that they will never lose.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio