Vocal Rhapsody

TUES + THURS 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Weekly singing & vocal workshops for anyone who wants to improve their singing in community.

Weekly workshops focused on singing, voice, and somatics. There’s something for all levels.

You can sing with us.

Discover, expand, and refine your vocal abilities in these weekly workshops that are focused on singing and anchored in somatics (your internal physical perception and experience), culture, and heritage.

These Tuesday and Thursday sessions are designed to be complimentary, and dedicated singers are heartily encouraged to attend both as often as possible. Drop-ins are welcome!

To get a taste of the repertoire that is likely be included in either Tuesday and / or Thursday sessions, check out this playlist.

TuEsdays: Vocal Rhapsody I

Discover Your Voice

with Erica Merritt

Explore the fundamentals of singing technique, while developing confidence in your voice! Learn to sing your favorite songs with ease. We’ll experiment with breathing, resonance and timbre, intonation, range, flexibility, and phrasing in a lively, supportive, and sound-positive environment. You will learn to sing from your diaphragm in each of your vocal registers. You’ll come away with a new understanding of your vocal instrument, how to use it, and how to care for it. Beginning singers, those with vocal fears, and those who think they can’t sing — all most welcome. This class will help develop the best version of your voice and overall sound quality.

Thursdays: Vocal Rhapsody II

Exploring Your Voice: Techniques, Storytelling, and Self-Care

with Lady A

In this class, blues artist Lady A teaches artists to lead with authenticity—starting with how they tell their stories. Focusing on writing, producing, and performing, she shows how genuine storytelling shapes every part of the craft. Beyond the music, Lady A emphasizes the responsibilities that come with being an artist: collaboration, community involvement, and, most importantly, caring for your instrument—your voice.

The class also dives into the business side of the industry, offering essential knowledge on BMI, ASCAP, licensing, credits, and protecting your work. Whether you’re new to the scene or an established artist, you’ll leave with tools to strengthen your artistry, navigate the business, and sustain your journey.

Vocal Rhapsody

Program Details


Ages:	All Ages, focused on Youth 10 – 25 years
Enrollment:	Enroll for the season or just drop in!
Winter Session Dates	Tuesdays & Thursdays, January 14 – March 20, 2025
Spring Session Dates	Tuesdays & Thursdays, April 8 – June 12, 2025
Times	4:00 – 6:00 pm
Location:	King Street Station
Cost	Youth (age 10-25) : $1-$10 per session. Adults (26+) : $25+ per session.
Facilitators:	Professional Singers from the Rhapsody Community: Lady A, Erica Merritt, Briar

Drop in to a session or two, or enroll for the season for the maximum impact.

No supplies needed!

You already have a built-in instrument.

Youth 10 – 25 enroll on a pay-what-you-can basis. Grown folks 26+ are welcome at various pricing tiers.

Singers who show commitment and demonstrate the ability to regularly work on the skills above outside of the Vocal Rhapsody sessions may be invited to take part in performances with The Rhapsody staff or Songsters.

Register for Vocal Rhapsody

Vocal Rhapsody Culture Bearers

Lady A, Vocal Rhapsody Faculty

Lady A, affectionately known as “The Hardest Workin’ Woman in Blues, Soul, Funk & Gospel,” is a celebrated artist and cultural ambassador with decades of experience captivating audiences through music and storytelling. A Seattle native, Lady A uses her powerful voice not only to entertain but to educate and uplift.

As a Teaching Artist, she shares the rich cultural history of music with students, focusing on the essential influence of Black culture on American music from its origins. Lady A emphasizes the art of storytelling through lyrics, encouraging students to become culturally informed so they can authentically tell their own stories. Her approach inspires a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of history, music, and identity. With extensive experience as a Race and Social Justice facilitator, Lady A leads transformative workshops on equity, diversity, and cultural awareness. She empowers participants to use music and lyrics as tools for advocacy and self-expression, demonstrating how storytelling through song can challenge narratives, heal communities, and inspire action.

An acclaimed lyricist, Lady A teaches the craft of writing words that resonate deeply, helping individuals connect their personal and collective experiences to their audience. Through her workshops, performances, and teachings, she highlights the transformative power of music—not just as art, but as a unifying force that fosters understanding, builds community, and leads with love.

Erica Merritt, Vocal Rhapsody Faculty

Erica Merritt is a singer songwriter, vocal coach, and master teaching artist. She is also a social and human services specialist with more than 25 years of experience as an artist as well as a youth and young adult development worker in the greater King County region. She began teaching choir in 1998, and has continued to teach voice, songwriting and choir with organizations such as Langston Hughes, Arts Corps, MoPOP, The Residency with Macklemore, and The Creative Advantage.

Erica’s work focuses on the belief that art changes the lives of those who experience its transformative and healing powers. Her teaching style includes laughter, critical thinking, self-reflection, full transparency and fosters a growth mind-set. Her student-centered pedagogy creates a learning space where the student becomes the teacher. She has enjoyed the amazing opportunity to combine her passions of social well-being and music through the art of teaching. Erica takes great pleasure is supporting her students in becoming the best version of themselves.

Briar, Vocal Rhapsody Faculty

Raised in Chimacum, Washington, her forebears hail from Ireland and Germanic Europe. She is the descendant of African slaves brought to America, out of Nigeria and from the Southern Banto People.

Gifted with the ability to connect with her ancestors and convey their messages through song, Briar grounds herself in the knowledge that everything is not always as it seems. Through her gift of song she is reminded that in order to help others heal, we must first love ourselves. This is what she holds onto when singing with her family, community or performing onstage.