Discover your voice with us
Proudly serving the community for two decades.
Connecting Through the Language of Music
Soojin Music Academy, founded by Maestra Soojin Lee in 2003 as a passion project, has since flourished into an esteemed and cherished establishment within the Federal Way community. Our mission is to ignite a passion for singing and empower students on their individual journeys toward vocal mastery. Moreover, SJM has an exceptional track record of spreading positivity in the community by participating in charity events and building meaningful connections. Our ultimate goal is to create a welcoming space where people gather in mutual appreciation of singing in order to foster a vibrant and harmonious atmosphere. By doing so, we advance our aim of enriching lives through musical expression one day at a time. Join us in celebrating the transformative power of music!
Hi, I'm Soojin!
Nice to meet you! I'm thrilled to have you here. I began my journey as a lyric soprano soloist and voice coach over 40 years ago when I left my home country to pursue my dreams. Originally drawn to the world of dance, a twist of fate led me to discover my true calling in opera. Since then, I've expanded my repertoire to include semi-classical and pop songs. I'm also a choir conductor, a guitar student, and a drum enthusiast. Music is truly my heart and soul.
When I'm not immersed in music, you can find me improving my short game in golf, swimming, or listening to lectures. As a lifelong learner with a lot of different hobbies, I like to stay productive and constantly grow as a person. Being trilingual has given me the advantage of connecting with many different kinds of people. I resonate with people who can carry deep conversations about life, psychology, and spirituality. One thing that these discussions have taught me is how to keep a healthy mindset. Even though we all face tough challenges, I believe it is key to love yourself and remain optimistic.
Telling Stories Through Harmony
SJ Lee
Student: 11 years
A decade ago, I couldn't fathom singing at my current level. Soojin's personalized instruction guided me in conquering my tone-deafness. With her patient coaching and meticulous focus on breath control, I overcame many barriers and found the confidence to emote through singing.
Jung-soon Bae
Student: 2 years
Meeting Soojin in my retirement was a stroke of luck. The feeling of basking in applause after my triumphant performance only a year into my journey was incredibly validating. Soojin's demeanor is commendable and her mentorship has become my confidence's greatest ally.
Yu-kyung Ji
Student: 6 months
As someone grappling with anxiety and depression, I can attest to the profound impact of Soojin's distinctive fusion of spirituality, psychology, and genuine connection. Her guidance has offered me transformative life counseling that played a pivotal role in my healing.
Ok-hee Lee
Student: 2 years
A little over a year ago, I took up singing lessons to address my throat hoarseness. Soojin takes such a genuine interest in the growth of her students. Her pure, passionate teaching style imbue me with great energy and vivaciousness for the rest of the week.
Hoon-suk Lee
Student: 2 years
My wife convinced me to take singing lessons from Soojin. I reluctantly accepted, but I was pretty sure I was doomed to sound like a wild beast forever. However, Soojin's unwavering encouragement led to a cathartic transformation which has made my retired life so much more rewarding and enjoyable.
Mai Le
Student: 2 months
I've had a lifelong yearning for voice lessons, and destiny led me to Soojin's doorstep. I jumped at the opportunity and joined her classes. Not only is she a decorated teacher, but I was particularly blown away by how supportive she is toward beginners like me.
Jung-ae Lee
Student: 2 years
Amidst menopausal health challenges, I embraced singing to be proactive about my breathing problems. During our vocal lessons, I had many epiphanies about bel canto technique including appoggio breathing and airflow. I always leave our sessions brimming with joy and with a rekindled sense of wellness.
SJ Lee
Student: 11 years
A decade ago, I couldn't fathom singing at my current level. Soojin's personalized instruction guided me in conquering my tone-deafness. With her patient coaching and meticulous focus on breath control, I overcame many barriers and found the confidence to emote through singing.
Jung-soon Bae
Student: 2 years
Meeting Soojin in my retirement was a stroke of luck. The feeling of basking in applause after my triumphant performance only a year into my journey was incredibly validating. Soojin's demeanor is commendable and her mentorship has become my confidence's greatest ally.
Yu-kyung Ji
Student: 6 months
As someone grappling with anxiety and depression, I can attest to the profound impact of Soojin's distinctive fusion of spirituality, psychology, and genuine connection. Her guidance has offered me transformative life counseling that played a pivotal role in my healing.
Ok-hee Lee
Student: 2 years
A little over a year ago, I took up singing lessons to address my throat hoarseness. Soojin takes such a genuine interest in the growth of her students. Her pure, passionate teaching style imbue me with great energy and vivaciousness for the rest of the week.
Hoon-suk Lee
Student: 2 years
My wife convinced me to take singing lessons from Soojin. I reluctantly accepted, but I was pretty sure I was doomed to sound like a wild beast forever. However, Soojin's unwavering encouragement led to a cathartic transformation which has made my retired life so much more rewarding and enjoyable.
Mai Le
Student: 2 months
I've had a lifelong yearning for voice lessons, and destiny led me to Soojin's doorstep. I jumped at the opportunity and joined her classes. Not only is she a decorated teacher, but I was particularly blown away by how supportive she is toward beginners like me.
Jung-ae Lee
Student: 2 years
Amidst menopausal health challenges, I embraced singing to be proactive about my breathing problems. During our vocal lessons, I had many epiphanies about bel canto technique including appoggio breathing and airflow. I always leave our sessions brimming with joy and with a rekindled sense of wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
I began my journey of mastering vocal technique about 40 years ago when I moved from South Korea to Italy to pursue a career in opera. Since then, I've had a lot of highs and lows—some good teachers and a lot of bad ones. I started my own voice coaching program at Milan Conservatory to address this issue and continued teaching there for over 8 years. Even today, I am still learning new things. Because the road was so difficult for me, and every step in my journey came with obstacles, I have a lot of perspective to impart on my students.
My lessons are not limited to any specific genre. I teach how to sing. As a classically trained musician, I believe there is tremendous value in learning proper vocal technique for any genre. Once you've developed this technique, you can employ it in the genre of your choice.
Yes! Many of my students were tone deaf or full of bad habits before starting lessons with me. Everybody has what it takes to be a good singer. The only requirement is that you enjoy the process. Take it at your own pace.
This is one of my more controversial takes, but you shouldn't practice singing at all for the first month. If you're a beginner, practicing too much without supervision can lead to the formation of bad habits. That's not to say that you can't sing at home in the shower, or on your walks in nature, but separate this from practice. Instead, focus your attention on training your ear and performing our breathing exercises. Once you have a solid foundation, you may practice as much as you want as long as you're not straining your vocal cords.
I typically guarantee that my students will already start to notice improvements within the first month or two. By the end of the first year, you'll look back and be amazed at how far you came. However, the path to mastery is a long one—for many, it's a lifelong journey. It's important not to rush yourself. Instead, if you adopt a mindset of positivity and become invested in your personal growth, good things will happen.
My standard rates are $70 per hour, or $60 per hour if you choose to do two lessons per week. In certain cases, this price point may be open to negotiation, as I understand that individual circumstances and budgets may vary. If you want to learn but cannot afford the standard rates, I encourage you to reach out to me anyway, and we'll have a discussion.
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this, there are some things that definitely help. The first of these is confidence in technique. If you feel insecure about your abilities, it's only natural to worry that you'll stumble. Another one is repetition. It may sound cliché, but the more you do something, the more comfortable you'll get at it. We have a small student recital every 3-4 months, and a larger one annually. Students will have multiple opportunities to perform in front of a supportive community of music enjoyers.
When it comes to drilling technique, I am very detail-oriented, and I give plenty of demonstrations for you to hear. Becoming a great singer is just as much about training the ear as it is about training the voice. I will give you guidance by explaining the mechanics of the body parts involved and how to control them in order to achieve resonance.
In addition to running my music academy, I am also a conductor and founding member for the Federal Way Bel Canto Choir. We are a Non-profit Organization and an integral part of the Korean community in our city. For the time being, we are meeting once a week on Tuesdays. We'd love to have you over there. There will be delicious food!
While my main focus is on teaching vocal technique, I do also offer piano lessons. If you are interested in learning to play the piano, or know someone who is, please reach out!
Embark on Your Journey Today
We now offer free 30-minute consultations! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned vocalist, we're here to help you take your musical journey to new heights. Feel free to message us with any questions or to schedule your session today.