teacher/trainer
Julie Martin Dean is passionate about helping people sing the music that they love. Julie operates her own voice studio where she currently offers private instruction and group voice classes for singers of all ages in Charlotte, N.C. In addition to technical training on the functions and mechanics of the voice, Julie educates singers on stylistic aesthetics, body awareness, creating and presenting artistry through emotion and performance. Healing voices is heart work. Julie has found great reward in working with professional and amateur singers on their journey to recovery after injury. She works with a local laryngologist and voice therapy team at C.E.E.N.T.A Southpark. In addition to working with singers, Julie also trains teachers and other professional speakers on voice strengthening and combatting fatigue.
artist
Julie grew up singing in school choirs, and southern gospel at church. She spent 7 seasons in the Opera Carolina Chorus after graduate school, before returning to her passion and roots of contemporary music, and finding song-writing. Julie performs around town as a guest artist, featured song-writer, and gigs with her duo, “Beauty & the Blues” at local venues, parties and weddings. A lover of old jazz/blues standards, folk & pop/rock, and old country/bluegrass songs, these styles influence her writing, and provide a wide palate of cover tunes to sing. She has been a member of the Tosco Music Party house band/choir since 2015.
Her first EP - SPARK - came out fall of 2023, a small collection of original songs. A second EP of songs will be out by February 2024. You can hear some early acoustic renditions of first songs at the Tiny Stage series here. You can follow Julie on Facebook and Instagram for current gigs, happenings and musings.
Diana, BK and Julie
Our love of old country, folk, bluegrass, southern gospel, country folk/rock brought us together. Sweetgrass Serenade’s big focus is on harmony; every song! BK is a rockin’ mandolin and guitar player, Diana picks beautifully and I add a little guitar and ukulele. They’ve let me sneak in a few old jazz songs in too. A mandolin solo on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” is pretty sweet! We gig out regularly at Festivals, Farmers Markets, Retirement Homes, and Breweries and wine bars. Having a party? Give us a shout!
After a stellar winter stuffed with performances, looks like the universe had in mind a hiatus. We did finish our 1st CD of originals, which will be out this FALL! We will be back out at the Summit Coffee Gazebo in Davidson, NC Friday, September 4th 7-9pm.
Beauty and the blues
Keith Serpa and I teamed up a couple of years ago sharing favorite songs. An exceptional blues and country rock guitar player, Keith’s grooves are energetically infectious. Pairing his raspy voice with Julie’s sweet clear voice, bringing their own spin on jazz, blues, country, pop/rock cover tunes, and love to sing their original songs as well. Here’s a taste of some of our tunes. From Clapton, Beatles, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Raitt and Ingrid Michelson, a little something for everyone’s musical tastes! Until booking live shows is up and running again, you can catch us on FaceBook from time to time singing on Keith’s porch!
education
DEGREES
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Queens University of Charlotte, 1996
Magna cum laude
Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Winthrop University, 2007
CERTIFICATES
Somatic Voicework (TM) The LoVetri Method, 2009
Voiceworks® Method (Popeil), 2009
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University (CCM Institute)
Brazilian Styles, 2015
Bodywork for Singers, 2014
Evaluation and Treatment of the Injured Singing Voice, 2013
VoiceNoise with Theo Bleckmann, 2013
Audio Technology for Voice Teachers, 2012
Country and Bluegrass Styles, 2012
Speaking and Singing with the Same Voice, 2012
Pop & Rock Styles, 2011
Gospel Styles, 2010
Julie is also a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing)
teaching
ACADEMIA
CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, Shenandoah University, 2017-present
Augusta Music Center, Davis & Elkins College (Vocal Week), 2019
GUEST LECTURER/PRESENTER
NSAI - Charlotte Chapter - Fall 2015, 2016
Carolina Voices - 2016, 2018
NATS PA - Running a Voice Studio Business, November 2018
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Fine Arts Music Teacher Training, August 2020
“I began working with Julie to finally face one of my greatest fears: singing. I was really nervous about singing in front of others. Julie’s approach is fantastic - she’s patient, plays to my strengths, and helps me understand the mechanics of singing - all while making it safe for me to try new things. I have stretched out of my comfort zone and grown as a singer (I’ve even hit the stage on an open mic night!). Julie helped me find my voice - even my co-workers have noticed an increased confidence. I highly recommend voice lessons with Julie!”