Talents Like Penny Framstad Don’t Come a Dime a Dozen

The soothing voice of Penny Framstad carries throughout her Sherman Oaks home. While her fingers glide over the keyboard, her music captures the senses and the heart.

Framstad, a singer-songwriter, sounds like a combination of Sarah McLachlan and Jewel.

“Everybody would always say I had a really beautiful voice,” she said after singing one of her many compositions. “It lightens up my soul when I’m singing.”

“When I was 8 years old, my father bought me a guitar from a garage sale for $10. I took that guitar with me everywhere, even to school,” recalled the self-taught singer, who plays piano and guitar. “I asked anyone who knew anything about music to teach me new things.”

That started Framstad on the path of a long professional career. Over the years, she has performed with the Doobie Brothers and Sixpence None the Richer, and wrote a song with Jonathan Cain from the band Journey.

Framstad’s songs have been featured in the films White Chicks  and 10 Things I Hate About You, along with television shows including The Office and Scrubs.

With that, the Penny Framstad Pop Academy was born. From her home, she teaches music, performance lessons, stage etiquette, music-business etiquette for parents and sets realistic goals for her young aspiring artists. Business comes to her by word of mouth.

“I wish I had someone like me when I was younger,” said Framstad who was raised in Santa Cruz. “I didn’t have the support, but I feel really happy for my students when they succeed. If the parents are behind them, they’ll learn how to do it.”

Framstad spoke of her 34-year-old son, Eric, whom she raised alone. How could she possibly have a son in his 30s when she is clearly around that age herself?

“I’m 50,” she said with a youthful smile, then speculated about why she doesn't look her age. “I think it’s because I work with so many young people,” she said.

Framstad said her students can learn to play a song in two lessons.

“Kids are amazing,” she said. “They learn so quickly. They just soak it up.”

 “It’s amazing to see the final performance when they started from scratch," she said. “They’re eventually running the show. Their parents are blown away.”

She offered these words of advice: “Some people will find some form of success if they don’t give up.”

Penny Framstad can be reached at PFramstad@aol.com. Check out her music on www.myspace.com/pennyframstad.