Music

Singing

Pierce Peter B.

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Teaches online

Teaches Beginner, Intermediate

Age: 9-100

Speaks English

Teaching since 1996

Song Performance

About Pierce Peter B.

5.0

(3)

Hello! Thanks for checking out my profile. I offer two types of sessions: VOICE LESSONS and PERFORMANCE COACHING. My lessons are fun but also informative and I take great pride in helping my students make progress and succeed! Please see below for more information... •••• VOICE LESSONS •••• (age 9–adult, beginner–intermediate levels) I offer voice lessons for students interested in singing musical theater, standards, pop, and light rock. My lessons focus on enhancing the beauty and individuality of your true, natural voice and on training you to use your voice with versatility, freedom, ease, and endurance, without discomfort in the throat. We will work on proper breathing technique, using your whole body as your instrument, and working through any vocal problems and/or replacing any bad habits you may have. We'll also work on developing the all-important "mix voice" when appropriate. As needed, voice lessons also include Performance Coaching (to prepare you for auditions and performances). •••• PERFORMANCE COACHING •••• (all ages and experience levels) Being a great singer requires much more than just a great voice! This work focuses on the art of song acting, auditioning, and performance for singers and actors in musical theater and other genres of music performance. Whether you're preparing for a specific audition or performance, or just doing the important work of training, cultivating, and improving your song acting and performance skills, this work is essential for singers. I work with singer-actors and actor-singers of all levels of skill and experience (adults, teens, and kids). In Performance Coaching sessions, you'll learn: + how to eloquently interpret song lyrics with depth and understanding. + how to make the song your own while still being truthful to the lyric. + how to color your journey through the song with the dynamics. + how to best use body language, blocking, and movement. + what to do with your hands and eyes. + when to sustain a note and when not to. + when to "sing pretty" and when not to. + how to relate to your audience whether in a performance or audition. + other important principles and techniques for great song performance. I've been teaching kids and adults since 1996, in private sessions and in master classes and workshops at institutions around the country. I'm currently on the faculty of American Conservatory Theater's (ACT) Young Conservatory in San Francisco, and received ACT's Distinguished Artist Mentor Award in 2015. I've been a professional singer since 1987, singing in Broadway productions (such as Cameron Mackintosh's original production of LES MISERABLES), major regional theatrical productions, concert halls, clubs, cabarets, recordings, and even cruise ships and amusement parks. I studied voice with Stanford University Professors Gregory Wait and Evelyn Draper, with Halbert Blair at the University of Southern California (USC), and with acclaimed international voice teacher, Edward Sayegh in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. In New York City, I studied with Bruce Kolb, and with coaches Brad Garside, Sara Louise Lazarus, and Phil Hall. I studied music and drama at USC and hold a BA from San Jose State University.

Instructor details

Subject

Location:

Teacher's Studio

SEE MAP

7th Avenue

Teaching Hours

Tuesday

11 AM-3 PM

Thursday

11 AM-3 PM

Friday

11 AM-12 PM

1 PM-3 PM

Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Pricing

30 minutes

$60

45 minutes

$85

60 minutes

$100

ReviewsWrite a review

100%

5.0

3 Reviews

Lori Harmon

Teacher's studio

Pierce, Has been a great help to my son in identifying the right songs for his upcoming audition. Pierce goes above and beyond to help his students.

Posted Feb 21, 2015

Myra Gishi

Teacher's studio

My 16 year old daughter had the wonderful opportunity to take lessons from Pierce and he was outstanding as an Instructor. His energy and passion for music and teaching really comes through in his lessons and was an excellent vocal coach. Besides the singing aspect, my daughter loved his insights and tips on stage performance and auditioning. Pierce is a wealth of knowledge, an excellent teacher and most of all, a great person, who you would find friendly and full of integrity. I wholeheartedly recommend Pierce for lessons.

Posted Aug 13, 2014

Kuhoo Edson

Teacher's studio

My 12 year old daughter had the ability to sing but lacked everything else - technique, acting, strength, and stamina - That's where Pierce came in. He taught her how to emote when singing, how to control her expressions and how to sing with confidence. His care and commitment meant the world to my daughter - she had someone in her court that had a vested interest in her success. As a mother, that meant the world to me. Pierce is wonderful - he is upbeat, hugely talented, and a joy to work with. I would recommend him any and everyday.

Posted Aug 12, 2014

Experience

Founder/Master Instructor

Sep, 2012 - Present

Performance Singing

Instructor of private voice lessons and master classes. Also a producer of master classes taught by visiting theater and music professionals.

Vocal Coach

Mar, 2016 - Sep, 2016

Palo Alto Senior High School, Palo Alto, California

Vocal Coach for students of the Theatre Department. Vocal Director for student performances. Adjudicator of student assessments.

Principal Vocalist

May, 2015 - Jul, 2015

Studio cast recording of The Fourth Messenger

Principal cast member (role of "Andy") on studio cast recording of the new musical, The Fourth Messenger (book and lyrics by Tanya Shaffer, music and additional lyrics by Vienna Teng). See http://thefourthmessenger.com for more information.

Instructor

Jun, 2014 - Jun, 2015

Summer Arts at Menlo, Menlo School, Atherton

Instructor of 5-day Workshop in Musical Theater Song Performance.

Instructor

Mar, 2014 - Mar, 2014

Hillview Middle School, Menlo Park

Master Class Workshop Instructor in Singing, Song Acting, and Musical Theater Performance.

Instructor

Oct, 2013 - Nov, 2013

TheatreWorks, Palo Alto/Redwood City

Instructor of Workshop in Musical Theater Song Performance.

Vocal Director

Oct, 2013 - Jun, 2014

A Theatre Near U

Vocal Director for world premiere production of indie-rock teen musical, BODY OF WATER at San Francisco's Southside Theater in Fort Mason. "Under the direction of Pierce Peter B. the vocal work done by the cast in interpreting Walker's songs was outstanding. These kids can sing." – from a review by Harry Duke

Instructor

Jul, 2012 - Jul, 2014

El Dorado Musical Theater, Sacramento

Singing and Song Acting Instructor in EDMT's summer intensive at Folsom College.

Instructor

Jul, 2012 - Jul, 2012

Actors' Academy, Los Gatos

Singing, Song Acting, and Musical Theater Instructor and Vocal Director in summer conservatory program.

Instructor

Jun, 2011 - Jun, 2011

Broadway by the Bay, Redwood City/Burlingame

Singing and Song Acting Instructor in summer program.

Faculty

Sep, 2010 - Present

American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco

Faculty member of ACT's Young Conservatory, teaching musical theater classes focused on singing, acting, and movement. Also, director and vocal director of the Junior Cabaret Ensemble, an audition-only group for singers that performs in ACT's unique Garrett Cabaret space inside the beautiful Geary Theater. Recipient of ACT's Distinguished Artist Mentor award (2015).

Instructor

Jun, 2010 - Jul, 2010

Palo Alto Children's Theater Summer Conservatory

Singing, Song Acting, and Musical Theater Instructor and Vocal Director in summer conservatory programs.

Associate Director

Jun, 2007 - Aug, 2007

Woodminster Amphitheater

Associate Director (and performed the title role) for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Summer 2007.

Instructor

Sep, 2005 - Sep, 2005

Orpheum Theater Summer Institute, Memphis, TN

Instructor of master class workshop in musical theater.

Instructor

Apr, 2005 - Apr, 2005

State University of New York

Instructor of Master Class in Song Acting and Performance for Musical Theater.

Instructor

Feb, 2004 - Feb, 2004

Rochester School of the Arts, New York

Master Class Instructor in Song Performance for Musical Theater.

Instructor

Feb, 2002 - Mar, 2002

Theatre Bay Area, San Francisco

Master Class Instructor in Song Performance for Musical Theater.

Instructor

Apr, 2001 - Jun, 2002

American Musical Theatre of San Jose

Instructor of workshops and master classes in song performance for musical theater.

Instructor

Jun, 1998 - Jun, 1998

Palo Alto Children's Theater Summer Conservatory

Singing, Song Acting, and Musical Theater Instructor and Vocal Director in summer conservatory programs.

Artistic Staff

Aug, 1996 - Sep, 1998

Stanford University Department of Drama

Professional Actor/Singer

Jan, 1987 - Present

Various

From regional theater to Broadway productions, chorus boy to leading man, cabarets to concert halls, Pierce has been there. He has been honored to be a recipient of two DramaLogue (Backstage West) Awards and a San Francisco Critics Award, as well as numerous accolades from critics and audiences alike for his performances in leading roles across the US and Canada in the Sir Cameron Mackintosh's original Broadway productions of LES MISERABLES and MARTIN GUERRE (original New York cast), as well as in the national touring company of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (starring Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson from the motion picture) as well as in numerous major musical productions at some of the country's finest professional regional theaters including Washington DC's Arena Stage, Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater, Maryland's Olney Theater, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, San Jose's American Musical Theater, Walnut Creek's Festival Opera, Palo Alto/Mtn. View's TheatreWorks, Oakland's Woodminster Theater, San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon, New York's City Center, and others. Pierce is also a regular concert soloist with metropolitan orchestras (such as Symphony Silicon Valley and the California Pops Orchestra), and he is currently putting together his own solo cabaret-concerts. In his career, he has been privileged to work with many of the musical theater industry's most outstanding professionals, from producers and directors to composers, casting directors, actors, and musicians. Having started out as a child actor, and always an advocate of ongoing training, education, and practice, he has also studied with some of the industry's best and has been performing for over 35 years.

Education

Voice

Jan, 1982 - Jun, 1983

Stanford University - Vocal training with Professor Gregory Wait (singing) and with Professor Evelyn Draper (speech).

Song Performance

Aug, 2000 - Aug, 2000

TVI New York City - Master classes in song performance for musical theater with top Broadway casting directors Tara Rubin and Ron LaRosa.

Song Performance

Apr, 1999 - Jun, 1999

Sara Louise Lazarus Studio, New York City - Private training/coaching in song acting and performance for musical theater.

Voice

May, 1998 - Sep, 2004

Edward Sayegh Vocal Studio - Voice training (singing) with internationally acclaimed voice teacher in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles

Acting

Nov, 1994 - Oct, 1996

Manhattan Edge Actors' Studio

BA, Art and Design, with distinction

Aug, 1989 - Jun, 1992

San Jose State University

Drama and Music

Jan, 1984 - Jan, 1986

University of Southern California (USC) - Studies in drama (acting in theater and film/TV) and music (voice).

Awards

Outstanding Performance Award

Dec, 1996

Backstage West/DramaLogue

Distinguished Artist Mentor Award

Jun, 2015

American Conservatory Theater's Young Conservatory, San Francisco

Honor

Nov, 1999

Listed in Who's Who in American Theatre 1999-2000 (volume 56).

Outstanding Performance Award

Dec, 1998

Dean Goodman Critics Award

Outstanding Performance Award

Sep, 1997

Backstage West/DramaLogue

Affiliations

Actors' Equity Association

Jun, 1996

Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, is the labor union that represents more than 49,000 Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society.

National Association of Teachers of Singing

Sep, 2012

Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members worldwide.