Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxy Kerr.
Hi Roxy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a 3rd generation vocal coach and 3rd generation professional singer. My grandmother’s name was Amanda Ambrose. She was a child prodigy, was playing concert piano when she was 3 years old. And was signed to a record label by the time she was 18. She was a Jazz and Gospel singer and pianist. She sang for 60 years and never had a day job. All while being a single mother of 5 children. She toured the world, as well as performed at some locations along with my mother and her 4 siblings. My Grandmother was in Theatre, on Television,- Including the Today Show and Johnny Carson show, Jazz Festivals all over the world, Carnegie Hall and more.
After performing for a lifetime she created Voicercise and Released this statement:
“I have been a professional pianist, composer and singer for 46 years. I’ve performed in theaters, college concerts and night clubs. I’ve done T.V specials and been a guest on major talk shows. I’ve toured in concerts across the US, Canada, West Indies and Europe and continued to do so. The joy I found in singing compelled me to find some way to help others share this joy. Through long study and experience I have discovered hidden conditions that prevent a person from singing. I understand the fear people have of performing. I have developed a technology that will eliminate these conditions.
Voicercise™ is a breakthrough in singing which can revitalize any lost or hidden desires you might have to sing. If you have a problem with your voice or with singing in general you will notice rapid improvement.
Through my Singing Coaching using the Voicercise singing techniques, my students have told me of abilities regained that they felt were long lost and of the joy of rediscovering them. ” -Amanda Ambrose
My grandmother Amanda Ambrose was the founder of the Voicercise™ singing techniques. She taught thousands of students privately and in workshops worldwide. She began training Naomi T. Kaye to become a Voicercise™ Singing Coach and Talent Developer 1981. In 1999 Amanda Ambrose entrusted the culmination of her life’s work Voicercise to her Daughter Naomi T. Kaye to continue to maintain it’s workability and expand it into what it has become today.
My mother Naomi was born into a musical family. Her mother, my grandmother Amanda Ambrose, was a famed jazz performer. Her father John Strawn was a clothing and leather designer for entertainers. She grew up with wonderful parties thrown by her parents where many of the jazz greats and soon to be greats came by to jam.
She started performing at the age of 14 in concert playing guitar and singing songs she wrote. She has performed in clubs and concert halls throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Naomi’s strong drive as a voice coach comes from years of personal experience performing with famous singers like Chaka Khan, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Stanley Clark and Liza Minnelli, and many more.
Naomi has been on TV, radio performing in front of millions and done two musicals and commercials. She has recorded with other artists in the studio, produced other artists as well as concerts. In addition to her busy schedule as a Voice Coach, she is currently working on her new CD.
Naomi is trained in all aspects of music, as a voice coach, doing clothes design, performing, public speaking, business structure and was a business financial manger for artists in NYC. She has been a voice coach and performing coach for 25 years. She enjoys helping others to realize their artistic dreams.
When I was 19 years old I began working along side my mom. As the time she had been a stay at home mother for me and my 3 siblings for my whole lifetime. My brother who was the youngest was not in the house, as he himself had been signed to a record label at the age of 15 and was too, touring the world as a bassist. I had been working as a receptionist and had climbed to the CEOs personal assistant of a well to do company in quick time, as honestly it wasn’t enough for me. The company had announced it was downsizing and so I told them to let me go, as my heart was not in it. Immediately regretting my decision, realizing I had bills to pay I called my mom blubbering into the phone and my mom says, “why don’t you come work for me?” that was the begging of forever.
When I first started working for my mom, she and my dad – who were divorced – had really wanted me to go to college. I finally agreed around my fist day of working for her. I was going to take up Graphic Design and Marketing. And boy was the one of the best decisions I made. I ended up starting up a youtube channel right before it was popular and designing her a website on Dreamweaver before any other Vocal Coaches had them up. Our marketing endeavors took fire and within 3 months my moms Voice student count went from 2-3 a week to 30 a week. I learned how to use Quicken for Business to keep track of our expenses and voice lessons on account and all the sudden my life was ANYTHING but boring.
A few years later, I was pregnant with my first bundle of joy Jadyn. Jadyn was my whole life and gave my life the meaning I was lacking. I was young (22 yrs), in college and unmarried. But having Jadyn was my beginning, I never knew so much love could exist! I took her everywhere. And soon everyone knew Jadyn.
Within a year, I had left her father and he moved to another state. I was on my own and soon began working a second job as an accountant with my sister Crystal to cover Jadyn’s daycare expenses etc. My days were very long. I would go to work as an accountant at 9am, work until 1pm, go to work for Voicercise at 2pm and stay until 10pm-11pm, of course I left around 5pm to pick my daughter up from daycare just to return back to work. This went on for many years.
When Jadyn was 3 years old, I met Jonathan. We married and had another child, Elijah with peace, charm and an insane amount of handsome, and my life was the most happiest it had ever been. I stopped working a second job and poured my heart into my family and business.
But the happy didn’t last for long. As the time went on parenting Jadyn became harder and harder. She would have tantrums and yell and scream and kick out of nowhere even into her childhood. She would complain things were too loud and cover her ears or close her eyes because of the bright lights. She was kicked out of every sports team, dance team, and school she went to, and her grandes were in the low 60s and 50s on a good week, no matter what we did. Jadyn would later be diagnosed with autism, and this took a huge toll on my then husband. Jadyn and Jonathan never quite got along already and Jonathan knew Jadyn was capable of so much more, and he was right. It broke his heart. Raising Jadyn was NOT all hard times. She is one of the most beautiful souls I know. She makes beauty out of everything she touches and is gifted in Dance, Acting, Singing, Clothing Design, Painting, Modeling and more. However the hard times did add to the every day struggle.
At the same time I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child, Olivia. Olivia has always been a force to be record with. She was a born leader in every way with miles or poise and beauty. Just with my other two, I fell in head over heals love immediately.
However the same moth Olivia was born, got the debilitating news that my mom, business partner and best friend had stage 4 cancer. At the time I was literally the shyest person anyone had every met, but with MUCH persuasion I agreed to teach my moms voice students to keep the company going, as before that I had never taught an entire one on one voice lesson on my own in my life. But I started teaching and no one left tier lessons. They kept coming back week after week.
The next 6 months were the worst I had ever experienced. My step father and I became the fulfill care givers to my mother. I during the day, my step dad by night. During the day, while coaching voice students from my moms house, all I could think of was when could I check on my mom in the adjacent room and give her, her medicine in er hospital bed. all of my siblings visited daily,
I found myself, taking full time day care of my mom. With a new born baby I was nursing, a two year old, an autistic 7 year old and in the middle of all that, my then husband got the offer of a lifetime to tour as a singer and he took it. I HONESTLY NEVER KNEW I COULD HANDLE SO MUCH OR BE SO STRONG.
And then mom brother took my mom to another country to get life changing cancer treatment they didn’t offer in America. My step dad had to cash in his 401K to get her there. She did great! But when the money ran out, she had to come home and we couldn’t keep up the treatments the same, no matter how hard we tried.
My mom ended up on hospice, and passing 3 months shy of my 30th birthday.
My whole world shattered. I didn’t know how to live anymore or who I even was.
We had a Celebration of life for my mom Naomi. We booked a humble church and hired our favorite reverend, Me and my siblings and her students performed some songs. And there were SO many people who showed up that mom, knew, whose lives she has changed, voices she had changed, it was 3x the people who could fit in the church. People streamed from every door learning to outside it. It was beautiful.
And somehow little by little, my life went on.
It grew and grew. with so much support and love from people she knew, family, friends. even one of my moms best friends Leighann showed up became my kids “Step in Grandma” never leaving our side, even 10 years later.
In 2019, we lost my eldest sister to a heart attack at the age of 49. Another devastation. And that changed me.
I wasn’t willing to put up with any more crap from anyone. I knew what I was able to accomplish.
I separated from my husband, later leading to a divorce years later.
And my company Voicercise took off. Within 2019 – 2021 my company had grown 3x in size and weekly Gross income. And I was able to help so many more people by training many of my advanced voice students to be voice instructors under the Voicercise Program. We moved into bigger and bigger building and I immediately started learning a whole lot about managing and running 11 employees.
Fast forward 5 years and I have been features on an episode of 90 Day Fiance, and have had students start on The Voice, American Idol, NCIS, X-Men, have gone on Tour in Show Theater, The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Radio Stations, become Touring Musicians, and many have been signed to record labels.
I had successfully trained more than 11 Voicercise Instructors, my eldest daughter truly found what she is truly capable of and is flourishing and life is infinity beautiful. Every day another more amazing thing happens. What’s new on the horizon for me? Adding in, following my dream of becoming a professional singer. I have formed a band, performed in more solo gigs and event impromptu evens over the last 8 months then ever before, and I’m just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My mom was diagnosed with cancer while I was running her company as a 3rd generation owner, with a baby, a 2 year old and an autistic 7 year old whom did not get another my husband – her step dad. My husband took up an offer to go on tour as a singer in a production and I was left to handle the 3 kids alone for months at a time, while taking care of my mom and running the business.
That’s just part of my story.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a 3rd generation vocal coach and professional singer who has been teaching for 20 years. in 2019 my company grew 3x it’s size within a year and so far I have trained 11 voice instructors under the Voicercise Program.
Voicercise Specializes in teaching Pop, RnB, Gospel, Rock, Blues Jazz Country and more. Handling common popular music genre struggles such as:
Expand Singing Range
Sing On Key and Pitch
Reach High Notes without Cracking
Increase Volume/Create Power
Create Better Tone Quality
Boost Low Confidence
Resolve Stage Fright
Gain Stamina
Find Your Unique Sound
How to Have Enough Breath
And More
I have had students appear on The Voice, American Idol, NCIS, X-Men, Annie the Musical on Broadway, On Tour in Show Theater, Radio Stations, As Touring Musicians, many have signed to record labels and more!
I myself have been featured on 90 Day Fiance’ as a vocal coach, performed dinner boats, cover bands, been on other T.V. shows, radio, large dinner banquets, live sporting events, professional recordings and music videos, weddings and more.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mom Naomi for showing my the way through business and reminding me what I was capable of even after she passed away.
My Grandma, Amanda for being an incredible example musically and setting the way for the incredible musicians in my family.
My brother Austin whom stood right beside me when my mom passed helping to grown the company with a sparkle in his eye for marketing, new age opportunities in social media, professional videos, creating smother more cost effective ways for printing study materials and promos.
My kids father Jonathan, my ex-husband for picking me up when I lost my direction, coming up with innovative ideas and streamlines to do things smarter not harder and for just loving me.
My Mentors Leighann and Darrel, for being my eyes and ears in business. Always having a solution and source to lead to whenever I had a problem. And for always being there to pick up the pieces, no matter how many pieces there were
My Step father, Fred who’s bonded with me for life and has always been there for me, from signing as cosigned for vehicles, and being a hand to hold when times got tough.
My Dad David for always showing my was a true business man is. Asking me about my stats, what I planned to accomplish next and always keeping my eyes up and forward.
My Sisters Andrea and Crystal who are the best sisters I could ever ask for. From helping my move from one business location to the next, for giving me a second job when I needed one. For being wise without being boastful, and showing me the right direction with the most love possible.
My staff and vocal coaches who back me up no matter what, and call me out when I need it. And who equally love the Story and Propose of my business, and get behind it.
Pricing:
- $30/ 45 minute Intro Voice Lesson
- $254 – $304 for 4/45 minute voice lessons
- $190 – $247 for 4/30 minute voice lessons
- $304 – $399 for 4/60 minute voice lessons
- $50 Voicercise Practice App and 40 page Ebook, to ensure voice lesson progress, and building muscle memory of singing techniques
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.voicercise.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicercise_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voicercise
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/voicercise
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/voicercise-clearwater-2?osq=voicercise
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@voicercise_
