We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Coltyn VonDeylen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Coltyn, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have been! I’ve worked part time since 2017 as a voice teacher and musician. I will say that initially I made very little and had to work in a school or other part time jobs as well. I began with a lot of volunteer singing and self promotion. I sang in choirs, bands, theater, churches, anything that would take me at any price. Eventually, people heard me and would either ask me to teach them/their kids or would ask me to perform for them with an offer to pay. It took me 6 years before I was no longer accepting any position that wouldn’t pay me and raised my prices for lessons above average in my city. When they say its not what you know its who you know, that’s definitely true, but for those not born into the “who” you meet the “who” by being good at the “what.” Knowing what I know now, I think I would have gone to a larger college simply for the connections it would give me.

Coltyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Coltyn VonDeylen, the owner of Milwaukee Singing Lessons LLC. I offer quite a few services, but the big one is my one on one singing lessons. I also perform solo gigs, transcribe sheet music, make arrangements for local choirs, and record vocals for audiobooks or whomever else might need them.

As a singing teacher, I needed something that would make me stand out from the rest of the teachers in my area or even internationally since I teach online. To accomplish this, I have been writing a vocal technique blog, been creating short videos on how to sing, and learning to sing every genre I can think of. The biggest thing that sets me apart is my teaching approach. I focus heavily on anatomy and how to identify and use individual muscles and muscle groups. I teach students what actually happens when they sing and how to intentionally change it so they can create the sound they want on purpose, completely negating the necessity for talent that many voice teachers would normally require. I’ve taken voice students from being unable to match pitch to working full time as musicians. I’ve even had a student make it on Broadway and just this year two students got full ride scholarships.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is getting to do something I’m passionate about every day. I’m not only working for myself where all of my money goes to me and not some corporation, but I also look forward to the actual content of my work every day. Its fun and my students tell me they can see how I enjoy what I do.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Simple, consistency. I post two videos a day, every day, no matter what. Content is obviously important too, but not as much as consistency. Additionally, you can’t answer every question in the videos or posts. Leave a little bit unanswered so students have a reason to pay you for the answer. Get them 90% of the way there and make them pay you for that last 10%.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.milwaukeesinginglessons.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coltynvondeylen/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milwaukeesinginglessons/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coltyn-vondeylen-9751439b/
• Twitter: https://x.com/CVonDeylen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coltynvondeylen
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/milwaukee-singing-lessons-milwaukee
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cvondeylen