Toniann Butler shares voice with Lynbrook Rec Cetner

As a lifelong student of voice, Toniann Butler is passing on her knowledge and love of singing to a younger generation.

The Hewlett resident teaches about 22 private voice students in addition to group classes at the Lynbrook Recreation Center and To The Stage, a theater in Oceanside. On Aug. 11 some of her students performed a recital in the gazebo at the Lynbrook Recreation Center, which also drew the attendance of Mayor Alan Beach, Deputy Mayor Michael Hawxhurst and Trustee Michael Habert.

Butler, 30, has a lot of patience and a positive, encouraging attitude. No matter the age of her students, typically 6 to 16, her teaching is the same, although her methods may change to be age appropriate. She works on proper breathing technique, an open mouth, and elongating vowels for a very smooth and connected sound.

“My big thing is building your breath to create a stronger sound which takes time so each of these ages are going to be doing that, just at a different pace,” she said.

Private student Isabella Bonfa, 12, of East Rockaway, sang “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid at the recital. “I’ve learned how to control my voice and to make a fuller sound,” she said.

Carmela, Isabella’s mother, is appreciative of Butler’s methods: “She’s great with kids, she has a lot of patience, and she’s really good at what she does.”

Renee Piazza of Oceanside, said of Butler, noted that daughter’s confidence blossom in the year and a half she’s been working with Butler.

“I love the way she interacts with the kids,” Piazza said. “She pinpoints what they need to do and work on.”

Violet Burson, 12, of Oceanside, has been working with Butler for two years as a private student. She has had two very successful New York State School Music Association scores since working with Butler, and has been invited to take part in the All County Chorus. Burson said she has always liked to sing and hopes to pursue a career in music.

In addition to East Rockaway and Oceanside, the students who performed are from Franklin Square, Hewlett, Lynbrook, Malverne and Valley Stream.

“The recital was really nice,” Butler said. “It was a great way for everyone to get out there and share their voices, get used to using it in front of a large group of people. I think it encouraged a lot of the kids to want to try again and get excited to share.”

She said that children are often looking to get the lead part in the play. But she feels that all parts are good parts. Even if a singer is in the ensemble, it’s their time to shine.

“I always tell the students if you’re in the ensemble, take it seriously, be the role, and get involved, and it will really help you,” Butler said. “But now’s the time, it’s your solo time. Everyone wants the main character part but they also have to practice for it so this is a way for them to get that practice and get those nerves out before sharing their voices in front of people and then exercising their skill in a theater production.”

Butler is proud of her students and the role she has played in helping them achieve their dreams.

“It’s so nice to be a part of their process and what they’re working through, whether it be their nerves getting up there or just making a song sound nice, or just learning how to sing properly,” she said. “To be a part of that and to see the growth is extremely rewarding and motivates me to keep going. I’m so thankful that everyone trusts me and I see so much potential in all these kids and I’m just happy to be there for however they want to use their voice.”

Butler said she has a passion for improving her own voice and has been working on it all her life. Getting the sound you want is a matter of consistency and dedication to the practice, she said. People in her life had questioned her desire to pursue music, but Butler never quit.

“I did it because I just wanted to create a life where I’m happy,” she said. “It was such a struggle, but it really was such a passion.”

Butler is excited as her first song, “Sounds Sweet,” dropped on all steaming platforms. The song is the result of her learning how to write and record, and her extensive work on her own voice. Donnie Klang, co-owner of The Loft Sound Studio in Syosset, produced the tune.