Testimonials:
"My name is Sophia Phillips and I have been taking vocal lessons from Carrie since
I was 13 years old. Carrie has helped me explore my vocal abilities and progress as
a singer, as well as help me explore myself as a person and find a deep passion for
the art of music. Without Carrie by my side, I would not be the exceptionally confident
and talented young woman I am today. Carrie's best quality, BY FAR, is her ability to
have a deeply loving, warm and approachable personality, while also thriving as one of
the best vocal coaches around. I cannot thank Carrie enough for all she has done for my
vocal career as well as coaching me throughout my teenage years. Carrie is one of the
strongest and most talented women I know. Words cannot describe what she has inspired inside
of me and executed in my vocal career." - Sophia Phillips, Singer/College Student,
Colorado Springs, CO
"When it comes to my recommedation of Carrie as a vocal teacher, it’s
not all about her unique and versatile vocal skill set. It’s not all
about her years of technical vocal training. It’s not even all about
the various leading roles she has had in numerous musical theater
productions. When it comes to Carrie, what it’s really about, what
really sets her apart, all comes down to the type of person she is; a
caring and compassionate spirit with a generous heart. Her enthusiasm
for teaching and her passion for singing, make her a valuable asset to
any person, young or old, who is serious about taking their vocal
training to the next level. She combines professional technicality with
inspiring creativity to bring out the best in every one of her students.
For me personally, I consider Carrie a mentor, but more importantly, I
consider her a friend." - Matthew Andrade, Audio Engineer and
Musician, Los Angeles, CA
"I am a hard rock vocalist. Carrie was able to teach me the
important technical aspects of classical singing, while also giving
me great instruction on how to inflect style into my performance.
For me, her teaching goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of technical
singing. She also taught me so much about performing." - Sam Zinn,
Singer and Professional DJ, Denver, CO
"It’s the special people who help you along the way and care
enough to give of themselves unconditionally. Thank you Carrie for
being one of those special people." - Jeremy Green, Musician
and Recording Artist, Los Angeles, CA
"I just wanted to thank you for taking my daughter on as a student. Your words of encouragement to her mean so much. But I also really liked how you gave her pointers on how to do better and also encouraging confidence in the facials! Awesome! We really want and value your professional advice. Your warmth and style are just so refreshing. I also appreciate your flexibility on fitting her time slot in your schedule." - Todd Hickerson, Colorado Springs, CO
"Carrie helped me develop my stage presence, she boosted my confidence,
and really helped develop my ability to transition from chest to head
voice. I started out a singer who had to turn her back to the crowd
and turned into a singer who felt confident enough in her own skin to
conquer the world! She also made a positive impact on my daughter, who
was also a student. Carrie helped to create memories my daughter and
I will share forever! Thank you, Carrie, for developing and fostering
the love of singing in Hunter and in myself! You are the best! :)" -
Julie Colangelo, Singer & Owner of Soccer Buddies Program,
Colorado Springs, CO
"I just want to say thank you so much for the time you have invested in
me over the past almost two years. You are a wealth of knowledge and I
have been blessed to be able to learn from you. You have changed my life in
a huge way. Beyond teaching vocal skills and technique - you have helped me
reclaim something that was traumatic and negative in my past. I’m so grateful
and I hope that I am able to inspire and guide my students the way you have for me!" -
Laura Bergen, Dance Teacher/Musical Theater Director, STARZ Theater Company,
Colorado Springs, CO
"I have been going to Carrie for about a year and a half now and she
is FABULOUS! She has pushed me in the realm of musical theatre and has
given me advice on everything from vocal technique to what I should do
to further my career. I love working with her so much and HIGHLY recommend." -
Carly Simpson, Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"I started taking voice lessons with Carrie my sophomore year of high school and
continued up until the end of my senior year. When I first started lessons, I had little to
no performance skills, low confidence while singing and little range. With Carrie's help, I
gained the confidence and singing skills I needed to perform at small school concerts, and my
range expanded. Carrie also forms great relationships with her students. Not only was she my
teacher, but also someone I trusted and looked up to. She is kind, and truly cares about her
students' well being. I highly encourage working with Carrie! She teaches great techniques that
are easy to understand and continue to practice on your own. She has helped me transform into a
confident performer as well as fueled my passion for music and singing!" -
Lola Kuehn, college student, Oroville, CA
"Thank you so much for these past few years. I have grown so much as a singer
and a person. I will really miss our lessons and talks when I'm in college. I
will continue to sing and use the skills you taught me for years to come. Thank you
for being a great teacher and mentor. Please visit me if you come to Cali!" -
Laura Valko, UC Irvine, CA
"I am a professional singer and went in search of a voice coach that was
experienced and sensitive. Carrie Hargraves is all and more. Her stage
and film experience is so helpful when dealing with performance issues.
Carrie is technically trained and has greatly helped me expand my range and
build my confidence as a singer! Plus she is a really nice person:)" -
Lissa Hanner, Professional Country Singer, Guffey, CO
"Carrie has been so much more than the best voice coach we could have possibly
asked for! My daughter started taking lessons from her at the age of 13 and
not only has her confidence and talent soared, but Carrie has been like a big
sister and ray of light during the difficulties of being a teenager. There were
countless times I would drop off Sophia at her lesson in a rotten mood, and when
I picked her up, she was smiling, excited, and talking about how much she loved
Carrie. My daughter has now graduated high school
and will be heading off to college, but she looked forward to singing with Carrie and
chatting about life every single time she had a lesson. We cannot thank her enough
for being such a bright spot in our daughter’s world and teaching her everything she
will ever need to know about singing. As a voice coach, mentor, and friend, Carrie has been one of the most
influential adults in my daughter's life." - Kelly Phillips, Colorado Springs, CO
"I have been with Carrie for over 4 years and she has helped me with countless auditions!
She is not only amazing with helping with pitch, but also with the performance. She has
inspired me to continue doing theater, even though I only thought it was going to be a high
school hobby. And she always pushes me to be a better performer and to always be on top of
practicing. I have grown immensely with Carrie and have improved my range as well as my performance!" -
Lilly Horn, Theater Major, UCCS
"We were next door neighbors to Carrie when we found out she taught voice lessons,
so we signed our daughter up. What a great decision, it was a fantastic experience for
our daughter. Her self-esteem went sky high. Our daughter has Down Syndrome and Carrie
was very helpful to her and quite patient. We moved out of state, our daughter misses
her lessons and her friendship with Carrie. We have not found a teacher with the same
level of caliber as Carrie. CARRIE WE MISS YOU!!!" - Julie and Rolando Fierro, Utah
"I have been a singer all my life. Unfortunately, I began having panic attacks as a
senior in high school. And my singing world came crashing down. At the age of 32, I
was determined to 'get back on the horse.' And thus discovered Carrie! I was a nervous
wreck the first time I met her for a lesson. However, Carrie made all my worries melt
away. Never once did I feel undue pressure from her. In fact, all I ever felt from her
was pure kindness, acceptance, and genuine friendship! She wanted to get to know my
abilities as a singer AND as a human being. Carrie is a wonderful teacher and mentor.
And all she exudes is honesty, cheer and class. I highly recommend her as a teacher
to young and old alike!" - Hilary Lynch-Mitchell, Tomah, WI
"One of my all time favorite movies is Audrey Hepburn's "Breakfast at Tiffany's." There is
a line in that movie that goes, "Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot."
I cannot think of anyone it applies to better than you. Thank you for giving me a place to
just have fun, sing and decompress and thank you for your help with my auditions and encouraging
my love for musical theater. You are patient, caring and encouraging - everything that makes an
incredible teacher!" - Lauren Asselin, College Student, Denver University
"You have been such a positive, encouraging and influential teacher for Allie. She has learned
so much from you and has grown tremendously this past year. You have given her the confidence
and knowledge that she will definitely apply in all her future opportunities! You have had such
a great influence on her, sharing your wisdom, talent and experiences. We truly have been blessed
knowing you. Thank you again for everything. We are so thankful for you!" - Amy & Allie Seibel,
Pine Creek High School, Colorado Springs, CO
"Carrie has been a wonderful vocal teacher to my daughter for the last two
years. Not only does she work on her form and the technical aspects of voice
training, but Carrie also gives my daughter the opportunity to explore and sing
different types of vocal music that she wouldn't have found on her own. Left to
her own devices, my daughter would only concentrate on pop hits from Frozen and
Taylor Swift. Carrie encourages her when she chooses those songs to work on, but
she also introduces her to many different types of vocal music which is invaluable
and has led to some spectacular talent show performances. Carrie is pretty much
awesome and Colorado Springs is lucky to have her!" - Rachel Hull, Colorado
Springs, CO
"Carrie is a true professional. She is very committed to helping you become the
best that you can be. She helped me become a more confident singer and taught me
exercises to improve and protect my voice. Every lesson was a positive learning
experience that helped me grow to become a more confident music teacher. Carrie
is an amazing teacher! I truly enjoyed each lesson spent with her." - Julie
McGranahan, Music Teacher, Denver, CO
"Carrie has not only helped me improve with my voice, but also my confidence.
I used to be so quiet and now I am not afraid to sing out. This new confidence
has carried over into my life as well. Carrie is to thank for that. Without her
I would not be where I am at now with my voice. Carrie cares so much about her
students and helping them do their best and she has helped me improve so much.
Thanks Carrie!" - Whitney Mortenson, Singer, Colorado Springs, CO
"Thank you so much for everything you have taught me this year! I can't even express
how much I miss your vocal expertise and guidance! Whenever I start to have vocal
problems, I try my best to remember what you taught me and it helps every time." - Bree
Lefler, Professional Country Singer, Nashville, TN
"Finding the perfect voice teacher is close to an impossible task, but after my first
lesson with Carrie, I realized I found her. My vocal power and range has improved
dramatically with Carrie's help. She has not only taught me proper technique and
performance, she inspired confidence in me. Thank you for always listening, understanding,
and giving advice. I greatly value every minute!" - Yulia Shtanko,
Singer/Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"When I started taking lessons from Carrie I was embarrassed to sing in front
of others and I didn't believe I could ever have a beautiful singing voice, but
Carrie helped me to find my voice and now singing for others is one of the
greatest joys in my life. Carrie is warm, approachable, and encouraging, and she
offers helpful instruction in a way that builds up her students and gives us the
confidence we need to take our singing to the next level. I'm so grateful for
Carrie and the amazing gift she has given me in teaching me to sing!" - Laura
Powell, Professional Choral Singer, Atlanta, GA
"Your support and advice over the last 3 years has been overwhelming and you have
been such a positive light in my life. Thank you!" - Joseph Davis, student,
Colorado Springs, CO
"A friend of mine referred me to Carrie for vocal lessons for my daughter Braeden
about the time she was in middle school. Being a musician myself, I had experience
with parents referring teachers they thought were good, only to realize that all
are not created equal! From the very first time we met I knew that Carrie was the
real deal! My daughter saw Carrie for lessons about every other week for almost 5
years. I saw the musical growth in my daughter and have enjoyed many a performance
since. Carrie recognized what Braeden needed and helped her excel in all her roles,
not just in singing but in theater. My daughter absolutely loves her. Carrie and her
family have been a joy to have in our lives and I consider them my family. I write
this letter in hopes that if you too are in need of a great vocal teacher, you will
need to look no further than Carrie. As long as you are ready to commit and dedicate
yourself to music and all its wonder, because that's what she will expect, then I
guarantee you will thank yourself." - Gregory Danyow, Colorado Springs, CO
"Confidence. I always loved to sing, but never really had the gut too. Carrie
Hargraves gave me the confidence and technical ability to sing the music that
I enjoyed and loved! I couldn't thank her enough for what she has done for me.
Thank you Carrie!" - Malcolm Caldwell, Singer, Colorado Springs, CO
"When I took voice lessons from Carrie, what I loved about her the most was that
she supported my desire to use my voice to the best of my ability. I don't
believe I have natural talent, but to her, she helped me believe in myself and
taught me self-confidence, a gift that I could never repay her for. She's one of
the most talented vocalists I have ever met, she sings like an angel, and she is
modest, which makes me like her more." - Brenda Grulke, Psycotherapist,
Milwaukee, WI
"Thank you so much for your profound impact professionally and personally." -
Dan Howell (aka Dragontown Dan), Singer, Alice Cooper Impersonator,
Professional Videographer, Colorado Springs, CO
"Ms. Carrie, I can’t explain how lucky I am to be learning from someone as great
as you. And I’m not only learning how to sing, you’ve also taught me to stand up
for myself and to always look on the bright side of life. I just wanted to say
thank you." - Jackie Ochoa, Singer and Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"I could write a whole essay about Carrie. There’s so much I want to say! She has
helped me improved my pitch and transitioning/using my head voice. I’ve learned a
technique from her that has helped me to sing a healthy way and not damage my voice.
Carrie has also helped me grow out of my shell and feel comfortable performing in
front of audiences. I also know know how to warm up my voice on my own. I love you
Carrie! You're the best!" - Andrea Wills, Singer and Student, Colorado Springs,
CO
"Thank you for investing your time and talents into our daughter. You are very appreciated
and we are excited to see what the new year brings for all of us!" - Rhea Manning, Canon City,
CO
"Thank you for all of your help and support of Olivia's singing. We really appreciate you!" -
Mike and Lorrie Jacobson, Colorado Springs, CO
"Thank you so much for all you have taught me and your help with my voice throughout
my high school years. I have learned so much and I love taking voice lessons from
you! I wouldn’t be where I am now without you." - Abby Wilkinson, Singer and
Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"This experience has been amazing. I am so glad that I decided to take
voice lessons. My voice has improved so much because of you and I am very
grateful because of it. I am also happy that I got to know you as a
person. You always put a smile on my face no matter how bad of a day I
had. Thank you!" - Justin Netterville, Actor and Model, Los Angeles, CA
"I have a younger sister who lives in Washington, but she
visits with me often. She is an avid singer and very passionate
about pursuing singing as one of her future goals. I scoured the
internet for a professional vocal coach and found Carrie. She
promptly returned my phone call and we immediately set up lessons
for my little sister. Carrie has helped my sister see her full
potential and my sister loves seeing her every time she is here in
Colorado . You know you have an amazing teacher when you're visiting
sister begs to see her every time she's in town! Carrie is
professional and is a great asset to my sister's future. My sister
leaves each lesson with more confidence and she values the advice
and guidance that Carrie gives her. We are looking forward to future
lessons with Carrie." - Aline Bagdon, Colorado Springs, CO
"I just need you to know what a bright light you've been to my
daughter. Your encouragement and kindness has made such a difference.
You are a blessing to all you teach! Emma has been so blessed to have
you as a vocal coach. Can you believe she started with you when she
was 11? She has learned so much from you technically-speaking, but
Carrie, you have also given her such confidence and have encouraged
her to pursue her dreams. As a Mom, I couldn't ask for a kinder, more
talented person than you in my daughter's life. Thank you so much!" -
Natasha Sansoni, Colorado Springs, CO
"Carrie is an awesome vocal coach! She is a warm person, easy to talk
to and she listened to my needs to cater her teaching to help me with
my skills. As a result, I became more confident at auditions and I
couldn't have done it without her." - Jamie Patterson, United
States Air Force, San Diego, CA
"Thank you so much for all you have done for me. I have learned so
much from you and love coming to lessons!" - Emma Sansoni, Singer
and High School Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"Thank you so much for being such a wonderful vocal teacher to my girls.
Every week you go above and beyond your call of duty to train, encourage
and bring out the best in them. You are a blessing." - Brenda
Bradford, Musician, Colorado Springs, CO
"Thank you for everything you do! I am blessed to have you in my life." -
McKenna Abercrombie, Singer and Medical Student, Colorado Springs, CO
"The greatest thing about the voice lessons with Carrie is that she doesn't
just help you improve your singing and performing skills, it's always a
lot of fun, too! I miss singing with you, Carrie! Thank you for all the good
times we had and thank you for becoming my first friend in a strange and
confusing country." - Christine Blum, Regensburg, Germany
"Thank you for all that you give. You are truly an amazing woman and a
great voice teacher. Thank you for your bright eyes and smile, you really
make a difference in this world." - Rai and Heather Henniger & family,
Colorado Springs, CO
"Thank you so much for all the work with her. My daughter has improved so
much since being with you! We adore you. You are amazing and such a blessing
to us. Thanks for all you do." - Tiffany Carnesi Carroll, Colorado Springs, CO
"Carrie is a wonderful voice coach! She is very good at what she does. She works
with her students to help them develop their talent and leads them along at the
best pace for their age and ability. My daughter started at a very young age with
her and she was very careful to preserve her vocal cords. This proves she does
what she does for the love of singing and that she really cares about her students!" -
Sandy Johnston, Colorado Springs, CO
"Carrie has given my daughter the confidence to know she has the ability to sing,
and for that I am grateful! In the year that Erin has been in lessons with Carrie,
her voice has matured and strengthened. A few years ago, her voice was beautiful.
After this time with Carrie, her singing brings tears to my eyes (in a good way).
I wish I could put all that I am thankful for with you into words, but it is not
possible. I am forever thankful for all that Carrie has done for my daughter." -
Jeanne Davis, Colorado Springs, CO
"Singing was always something I've loved but was never very good at (and that's an
understatement!). That's why I'm so glad I found Carrie. Not only does she know how
to sing beautifully, she also knows how to teach. I very much looked forward to each
lesson. They were fun and informative, and I became a better singer than I ever hoped
possible. I would recommend her to anyone looking for voice lessons." - Jessica
Manseau Pedersen, Author, Singer, Colorado Springs, CO
"I’m not sure that I can explain to you how much my voice lessons have meant to me.
You are so talented and such a good teacher. I think that it’s one thing to have such
a talent, but another thing entirely to teach it." - Pat B., Colorado Springs,
CO
"Carrie is an absolute doll and the best voice teacher we have ever had. My daughter
has learned so much, but even more importantly, she is gaining confidence in her own
abilities because of Carrie's support and encouragement. As a teacher, Carrie cares
about each student - she understands their weaknesses and helps them take their music
to a higher level. As a professional, Carrie is a talented singer who has had a very
successful career. She truly knows the business and can share those experiences with
her students. Her passion for singing and for teaching are a huge inspiration. We are
so lucky to have found her!" - Linda Asselin, Colorado Springs, CO