As a researcher and teacher, I read every testimonial on Sam’s website in preparation for writing my own tribute to this giant of musical talent—and found that I could easily say “ditto” to every one of them.

Perhaps what I can offer prospective students instead is this: Who Sam is cannot be separated from how Sam teaches. He is a treasure of a human being and one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. He is a font of musical and pedagogical talent.

Sam is a born teacher who understands—and has refined—the art of teaching: the skillfulness, presence, patience, authentic compassion, creativity, discernment, and good boundaries it requires, as well as the ability to recognize the growing edge of each student’s voice. He is economical with time, wonderfully down-to-earth, passionate about teaching, and genuinely exultant in his students’ progress.

Sam has refined the art of teaching—and he teaches us to bring that same refinement to the art of using our voices.

I have carried two lifelong truths: I love to sing, and I am ashamed to be heard. Watching Sam’s videos, I instinctively knew that if I ever felt courageous enough to take voice lessons, I would trust him. Not only because his understanding of how the voice works so clearly exceeded my own, but because he is deeply kind—and because he understands the profound human need to express oneself authentically through singing.

Scared-me is still amazed that singer-me has joined the chorus. And that, dear Sam, is because of what you’ve taught me.