Testimonials

Kind regards,
Natalie Grebinka

"A Christmas miracle. Last night I was able to sing Christmas carols at church for the first time in years without a strangled voice. The non surgical voice repair exercises have really paid off.

Thank you Diana.
Merry Christmas."

"For anyone seriously interested in voice, Diana Yampolsky is THE quintessential teacher. I wish I had come to her first. Like many people building a career in the performing arts, I needed REAL results, delivered FAST, and The Royans School was and is the place. Diana's method can actually produce miracles using logic and practical application. (Seeking such a miracle, I actually drove direct from Nova Scotia to Toronto for the sole purpose of Diana and her training.) Thanks to her generous nature and dedication beyond compare, she allowed my voice to take flight. She will absolutely give all her clients the "edge" above others, (so much so that I probably should be keeping her a secret myself!) Just the same, if half the music teachers of the world had half the gifts of Diana Yampolsky, the whole world would be sounding a whole lot better."

"When the topic of vocal coaches comes up, Diana's name is always at the top of the list."

"Vocalists I have referred to Diana have always shown improvement."

"I started training with Diana a little over a year ago. She changed my life. She offered me great challenges but more importantly she helped build my confidence back up so that I could move forward in my life. When I first walked in to her studio I was a bit intimidated. Here was this very talkative, confident person and me being very shy and very quiet. Diana had this loud voice and eyes that seemed to look right through me. I felt as if I had to tell her nothing about myself because she already knew. My training originally started with speech in hopes of moving onto singing. I made it to the fifth session when I was confronted with the dreadful truth from Diana. She told me that she could not help me, and that she would refund my money. She suggested that I move on to something else. My heart was broken. I drove back home crying all the way. As the week passed my sadness turned to anger and I called Diana and told her I wanted to continue with the speech training. This was my turning point. At the time I did not understand why Diana said what she said, but I certainly do now. She was reaching inside to bring out who Joy was, and that was a fighter. I worked hard for the rest of the year and finally hit a point where I could sing and speak with confidence. Over that year I gained new confidence along with a new job. I continue on with these newly found traits. Diana has not only been a wonderful teacher to me, she has also been a great friend. I am lucky to have crossed paths with her. As Diana often expresses in her classes...Thank God For The Blessing!"

"To Diana, the world's greatest teacher! THANKS so much for all the help."

On the Vocal Science course:
"After taking Diana's course, I now feel more comfortable and confident as a singer. She taught me techniques that have helped my projection, pronounciation, and stamina. Before taking the course I couldn't make it through a 2 week tour without my voice feeling strained but I'm sure I could survive longer now that I have been properly coached. Diana was an absolute pleasure to work with and it is obvious that she truly cares for her students and wants to see them succeed to their maximum ability. I would recommend the vocal science course to anyone who wants to become a more capable and confident singer."

On the book Vocal Science - Flight to the Universe:
"When I first picked up the Vocal Science: Flight to the Universe book, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. I was absolutely amazed that this book was contradicting everything I had ever been taught in the past about vocal performance. I wasn't even sure I could believe everything it said until I completed the vocal science course and discovered that all the techniques in the book actually worked! Everything from the facial muscle techniques to holding your stomach in actually made my voice feel stronger and allowed me to project my words more clearly. This book definitely provides a great starting point to anyone who wants to learn how to sing to their full extent. It's also quite funny and entertaining throughout!"

"When I first met Diana, I had what most would consider a strange goal: to speak properly. I am not a professional speaker or singer, but I have suffered from vocal nodules for over 13 years. Since first diagnosed in 1989, I have endured weeks and months with a hoarse voice and sore throat. After 2 surgeries and repeated visits to speech therapists, I was losing hope. From May to November 2002, I hit bottom. My voice was rough and my throat was sore - so sore that it hurt to speak. To compensate for this, I chose silence. I just wouldn't speak unless I absolutely had to. I thought I was doing the right thing by "saving" my voice, especially after I heard that several professional singers wouldn't talk for days before a concert in order to keep their voice in the best condition possible. I am so thankful that I found Diana! She assured me that my self-imposed periods of silence would not be necessary once I learned how to speak properly. She knew exactly what I was doing wrong. It wasn't just how I was speaking - it was my breathing, my posture, and my health. Diana looked at every aspect of my situation and addressed each piece. Her vocal therapy techniques have healed my voice and improved my speaking dramatically. Most importantly, my nodules have disappeared after just 2 months! In 13 years no one else has been able to help me. Diana is the only one who explained what I was doing wrong and what I needed to change. My involvement with her has greatly improved my quality of life, and for that I will forever be grateful."

"I came to Canada in 1988 and started immediately working in various clubs and restaurants as a bass guitarist and vocalist. Each night I could barely sing four or five songs at the most and the quality of my vocal performances always left something to be desired. However, in spite of this, I always felt that I had some vocal talent, but that I had no idea how to use my voice to its fullest capacity. In 1991, I left show business and I went to work in a totally unrelated field for nine years. Within that period of time I never sang or played. This year (2001) I understood that I really wanted to return to the stage and do what I really love to be doing, but I also realized that now it would be much more difficult than it was 10 years ago. First of all, there are not as many venues for live musicians as there were previously; 90% of the clubs are now using DJ's or offering karaoke. I was afraid that as a bass guitarist I would not be in high demand. I quickly learned that most opportunities went to musicians who could also sing as well as play. Therefore, I decided to try and build a singing repertoire for myself. With the help of my musician friends I collected a lot of material and started singing it without really knowing what I was doing. As a result, I damaged my vocal chords and my throat and not only could I not sing, but I could hardly speak. I was referred to an ENT doctor who helped me recover my speaking voice but who also informed me that I would probably never sing again. Very luckily for me, somebody referred me to Diana Yampolsky. The references were very positive with regards to her as both a Voice Repair Specialist/Vocal Coach as well as a person. Upon our first meeting I learned that she is a very strong teacher and a very strong vocalist and that what Diana was going to teach me was very innovative and revolutionary. After the interview with me and after listening to my voice and examining my eyes (Diana does irridology as well), she said with absolute certainty that not only would I able to sing again but I would be able to sing very well! Not hesitating a minute, I decided to take the Vocal Science course that Diana was offering me. "The very first and foremost thing you need," said Diana, "is to undergo the speech development course and along with it you will need to take some natural herbs and remedies." And indeed this allowed me to speak and sing without any pain. It's not possible to describe in words what Diana does because she works individually with everyone and for everyone she has an individual approach. On the last lesson, number eight, I was able to sing a song that I had always wanted to sing, but could not because I had never previously had the necessary knowledge or skill. Diana made a video clip of my performance. After I listened to it, I was very pleased and very surprised at how good it sounded. In other words, you could really call what Diana taught me a MIRACLE! As a conclusion, I would like to thank Diana with all my heart for her school, her revolutionary system of teaching, and for her very existence. I am grateful beyond words!"

"I came to the Royans School for one objective; to learn how to speak. I've spent my whole life talking under my breath to the point where sometimes other people couldn't make out what I was saying. Subconsciously I may have been trying to hide my voice from others due to the fact that I felt I had an unusually high voice for a man. Being a 6' tall male I felt embarrassed when I was sometimes mistaken as a female voice over the phone. Vocal Science taught me proper projection and placement of my voice. I have actually learned how to instill more bass in my voice thus lowering the high sound that is produced and bringing a more normal sound to my voice. I recommend it to anyone who feels uncomfortable with the way their speaking voice currently sounds"

"Diana's book, "Vocal Science - A Flight to the Universe", inspired me and got me excited over the possibility of a new "universe" of vocal expression. So I decided to fly from Tokyo all the way to Toronto to receive instruction from her, and it has been worth every penny! I have taken 10 hours of instruction from her and I have learned much more than I have during my many years of singing in other institutions. My voice has completely changed and my vocal chords are no longer strained...and I am looking forward to 10 more hours with her over the next few weeks! Thank you for everything!!" This is an excerpt from Takeshi's letter addressed to us several weeks after his 30 hours of Vocal Instruction: "I just wanted to say thank you for all that you've done for me during my stay in Toronto. I will always carry a part of you with me wherever I go. I trust all is well with you and the school. I hope we can stay in close touch and that we will meet again soon!"

"Royans Universe Records and the Royans School has brought my dream closer to me than everything I have experienced in my life so far. Diana's techniques are the best thing that ever happened to my voice. At the audition my vocal chords were a complete mess, even after all the lessons I have been taking for as long as I can remember, I had never been taught how to control or to project my voice properly - until I met Diana. She worked with me very patiently, kept reminding me over and over again that I had great potential, that she was there to help me tune up my rusty instrument, and that I had everything I needed to make it. Just to hear those words, and to actually have a teacher who cared enough, believed, and was willing to do everything it took to get me there. Making my lessons worthwhile and fun with a defined purpose, she helped me realize even more that a singer is who I was and what I am meant to be. I was given a great sheet of paper that lists all different types of voice exercises from Do Re Mi Fa So to full phrases, which warm up my facial muscles, my vocal chords and my entire vocal anatomy. Diana has also provided me a tape of various types of singing exercises, which help me reinforce the technique that I was taught throughout my learning process. In the end I had to choose a song that was not yet published, make it my own, and then record it with Diana in the studio. We recorded at Metal Works Recording Studios and it was such a great experience. The people there were very understanding, and supportive. I owe my success to Diana, If it weren't for her and The Royans School, I wouldn't be the singer I am today, I now have my first recorded single under my belt!"

"I cannot express my gratitude in words. I am so thankful that you have helped me because now I know that I would seriously have hurt my voice had it not been for you. This letter is a Thank You letter as well as a wish for the new millenium. I wish that you could spread your technique across the world and help millions of other aspiring teenagers like myself who have a dream. Because of you and your amazing program I am a little bit closer to my dream and that is the most incredible gift I could have ever received. Thank you."

"Diana Yampolsky displays a wonderful, continental style of vocal coaching; producing tonal clarity and purity of sound with improved projection in her student's vocal stylings. Her dynamic personality encourages the artist to reach improved levels of confidence and ability at an amazingly rapid rate! Diana's teaching encompasses the use of physics and mental conditioning producing a vocal style unlike most North American techniques."
 

"I couldn't even sing my song before without cracking on the high notes. And now I can do it and the tone is much better - more rock 'n roll. I was straining a lot more before and everything was in the back of my throat. Now I'm letting it all out and the sound is much more out there. Now I know how to approach it. I'm very happy."

"I had heard for a long time (over 10 years) of Diana's unique and exceptional teaching abilities... So - I was very excited to come across her book: 'Vocal Science - Flight To The Universe'. After reading it, I noticed an immediate improvement in my singing. I also discovered that I had developed, unknowingly, many bad habits over the years. Diana addresses these common bad habits in her very first chapter: 'How Not to Become a Singer (And Work Harder at Doing It)'! I would describe Diana as being the "Bruce Lee" of vocals: she has a non-traditional, yet suberb and perfect vocal technique that should be the standard throughout the world. Diana has helped me realize a long sought-after dream of being able to sing at a level that I once thought not possible! The book and vocal instruction is certainly worth every penny!"

"Thank you Diana so much for helping me find not only my voice but also my soul. You helped me find my real voice, which I thought was buried in the back of my throat forever. I am forever in your debt. Hope to see u on this side of the Pacific soon."

"After booking Diana's advertising for eye Weekly for over six months, curiosity recently got the best of me. I would read her ads and try to figure out exactly what Vocal Science was. As luck would have it, I managed to get my hands on a copy of Diana's book. After a thoroughly enjoyable read, I decided to take what I had learned in her book and apply it to my own singing. The results were immediately noticeable and Diana's techniques made singing not only easier, but far more enjoyable as well. I strongly recommend that all singers learn Diana's techniques immediately. Your voice will thank you for it."

"Diana Yampolsky's vocal technique is very original and personally suited to each individual student. Having taken my lessons nearly a year ago, I find that her lessons are integrated into my mind now more than ever before. She taught me pitch control, volume control, and how to save and protect my voice, all of which I have found to be extremely useful. I am very happy with my overall experience and recommend Diana as a vocal coach to anyone who wishes to pursue professional vocal training."

"Diana Yampolsky is such a genuine, innocent human being who loves her work so much, that it is impossible for her not to succeed at what she does. She doesn't look at her clients as vocal boxes, but as spirits. That's where she connects with you. That's why her results are almost instantaneous. My experience with her was a very fulfilling one. After only a few sessions, my voice sounds a lot brighter and more consistent. When I am on stage I don't have to worry about not reaching the high register with ease. That gives me a freedom that I can't put a price on. Not only does she help you develop a technique that will actually prolong your singing life, but she brings out the best in you emotionally wise, so you can achieve the level of giving goose bumps to your audience. Her method might be unconventional, even shocking at first, but it looks to me that anything that's out of the ordinary and is done with heart and soul is meant to succeed. Diana Yampolsky has definitely achieved that."

"Diana is a revolutionary, true Trail Blazer! Watch out - she's coming for you! It was definitely worth it to come to Toronto for 5 days and I am very fortunate to have met her."

"Diana - words cannot express how much you mean to me. You have truly worked wonders with my voice, and for that I am truly thankful. I know I have grown so much as an artist and I owe this to you. You have saved my voice from destruction and without you I would not have been able to land these shows."

"Thank you so much for fixing my voice & making it possible for me to sing again. Words cannot describe how thankful I am for what you have done and what I have learned from you. I thank you for the knowledge and making something possible that I may not have dared to dream about only 1 month ago. There is no reason for anybody to be skeptical. I'm a different person - this has really changed my whole singing experience. It's amazing! I'm a new person going back to New York. It was so worth it to come from New York and you can't measure this in money."

"When I first arrived at Royan's, I was unsure what to think, as believe it or not, I'm quite shy when meeting new people. I had been struggling with my vocals for a few weeks and my confidence in myself was at an all time low. After a short 1 hour instruction with Diana though, I could already feel and hear the difference in my voice. Right then and there I knew I had to continue with Diana if I wanted to have any chance of a prolonged career in music. At the rate I was straining my vocal chords, who knows how long I would have lasted on tour, and I think any singer would agree, losing your voice on tour is one of your biggest fears. Lesson by lesson, my technique changed, my tone changed, and most of all, confidence in myself changed. No longer do I go into shows wondering if I'll make it through, I now sing with confidence and can enjoy myself. So thank you Diana for all your help, I'll never forget it. Oh, and I won't forget to "smile and bite!"

"My singing sounds better. It doesn't hurt at all. Before I would be lucky to sing the song (I worked on with Diana) and it always hurt a lot. It was my hardest song to perform and now it is easy. Now I can sing it over and over and it doesn't hurt my throat. It has changed everything so much. Before after a show my voice was so tired and in rehearsal I could only sing the set one time. Now I can run through the set several times with no problem and it doesn't hurt. I haven't changed the tone - it still sounds like me, but it is just better."

"It is incredible! I came here with a sore throat just from speaking and now even when I'm singing it doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you Diana."

"Diana Yampolsky brings great energy to her work and dedication to her students."

After engineering for several hours a future hit song produced by Dave Stewart and sung by Cindy Gomez, Ned Douglas commented:

"Diana really knows how to draw the power out of a singer."

"You definitely could teach us how to sing, so you could obviously teach anybody."

Nice to hear everything is going well with the studio! I hope everything is great with your family!! I cant deny that you put me on my way; to be able to sing for hours until I just become too tired! Something I never thought possible however believed if others can do it so can I. It took still a couple more years after seeing you to figure it out to for me I feel as you once said becoming invincible! Well, I feel like that now with my voice...cant believe it. I told you before I was getting fewer sore throat infections with viruses like colds and Flu...to now in the past couple of years a sore throat is something of the past, which I believe should be also marketed as a benefit...I truly believe people who get sore throats are stuck in their throat constantly putting them under stress and the first exposure of a virus susceptible to infection. I am currently battling a cold but have ZERO throat symptoms to pre-Vocal Science I was the sore throat KING which you so eloquently said I was stuck in my throat! Amazing! Thank you!!!!

I don't know if I would say it took 10 hours...LOL..maybe for some I guess....it is truly like learning how to walk all over again....I guess I feel like, now that I understand more the entire connection.....Amazing how the connection works...of all the moving parts, face, positioning and most important is the diaphragm control...wow that was a very difficult thing to bring in.

Interesting, now that I speak sing just behind my teeth maintaining a constant diaphragmatic pressure..which is now the honing of the technique to master the pressure...like any wind instrument. Anyway...I do want to acknowledge that if it were not for you I would have been going down the wrong path and I will always give credit where credit is due. Thank you.

Thanks again Diana...you were the spark! No matter how crazy you are..LOL.

xo

Thank you for your support and kindness over the last few days. I'm so excited by the improvement in my voice, even if I now have a Canadian accent!!! I'm practicing and look forward to speaking in a couple of weeks. Go well.