Bio - Deborah Jeanne

Deborah Jeanne Weitzman was born in New York City in 1954. She grew up in a “melting pot” of cultures and already as a child she became curious about the world. This led to a life of travel and exploration.

Before words, Deborah was taught how to read music. She learned how to play the recorder, piano, clarinet, flute and finally the guitar. At a very early age she began to make up songs. At first just for herself as a way to understand the strange and troubling world around her. As a teenager, after a trip to Mexico, she started writing her songs down and to sing them for others. It seemed that her songs not only helped soothe an ache inside of her but brought comfort and pleasure to others as well.

As a young person Deborah wanted to perform her original songs in public, yet because of severe stage fright she'd lose her breath and voice. This dilemma led to a journey of discovery which brought her to an understanding of how her fears interfered with good and natural breathing and sound production. This understanding, and the help of marvelous teachers, enabled her to have the professional career she aspired to. (see Alexander Technique). During this process, which is ongoing, she has learned to believe in her voice and gift of communication, to not care whether she is or is not the most talented person in the world, and to get out of the way enough to allow true expression to occur.

This journey - which included an education in singing, composing, music therapy, acting and teaching as well as certification as an Alexander Technique practitioner - has taught her how to breathe freely, to open her heart, to sing and to speak with warmth, expression and conviction in front of audiences all over the world. She now dares to show what is meaningful and important to her, even if this seems not to fit into popular culture. These experiences, coupled with her intensive training and education, have led to her choice to help others who suffer from paralyzing perfectionism and shame-based beliefs, and who, due to lack of confidence and self doubts, do not allow themselves to sing, to speak, to dance or to express freely what they wish to, if only they could.

The experience of touring and teaching, with all its dimensions, has provided a deep and continuous source of insight and inspiration that not only feeds her own growth as a person, performer and teacher, but as an artist in the creation of new songs. More recently, it has led her to write a soon to be published book (soon to be added link).