Claymont, DE Singing Lessons

both), I tailor lessons to suit each student's needs. I would like to enable you to meet your musical goals, whatever they may be.

***Lesson Details and Recommendations***

Singing voice: I teach classical vocal technique with an emphasis on the body-mind connection. Through the course of my training, I have studied the Alexander Technique, which is a method that has been used by actors, musicians, and athletes to find optimal body-mind coordination to achieve better results. The voice is the only instrument that is literally your body, so we will be using these tools to improve posture, breathing, and resonance. By learning a healthy vocal technique, you can expect improved tone quality, an expanded vocal and dynamic range, greater resonance, increased agility, improved diction, and more. Healthy vocal technique can be applied to any genre, and I teach students who are studying a wide variety of music, but classical and musical theater repertoire is my area of expertise.

Speaking voice: I have had great success helping students who come to me for help with their speaking voices. As the speaking voice and singing voice use the same set of muscles, the same set of functional principles apply. I work with students to improve their posture, breathing, and breath support when speaking, as well as clear diction, better pacing, and conveying emotion and meaning. These tools also lead to increased confidence when speaking.

Piano: I am also an established piano teacher and have had much success teaching beginning and intermediate students from ages 4 to 91 in various styles of music. I believe it is important for students to learn how to read and interpret written music as well as understand the structure behind it, so in addition to learning musical basics, I incorporate music theory into lessons. I encourage my piano students to learn how to read lead sheets and create chord accompaniments as well, which opens the door for comfortably playing in all sorts of styles sooner than would be possible by classical approaches alone. I also work on improvisation and songwriting with my piano students, if desired.

***Lesson Recommendations***
I offer lessons in 30, 45, and 60 minute increments. These are the *minimum* lesson lengths recommended. Longer lessons are more beneficial, except in the case of children with smaller attention spans. A 60 minute lesson is the best choice for serious students (teenagers or adults).

Voice:
Ages <12 years: 30 minutes
Ages 12 and up: 45 minutes

Piano:
Ages <7 years: 30 minutes
Ages 7 and up: 45 minutes

Combination Lesson:
Ages <12 years: 45 minutes
Ages 12 and up: 60 minutes

*Please note: I do not reserve regular lesson times in my schedule for students who cannot commit to weekly lessons. With students who wish to take less frequent lessons, I recommend the flex plan, with lessons to be scheduled as we go at our mutual convenience.

***Educational Background***
Elizabeth holds an M.M. in vocal performance from West Virginia University, where she was featured in numerous WVU Opera Theatre productions and was the soprano soloist with WVU Choirs in Faure's Requiem and Handel's Lord Nelson Mass. While at WVU, Elizabeth resumed taking lessons at the piano, which she had previously studied for many years, and exceeded the piano proficiency level required by the university. She also holds a B.A. in music and international studies from Emory University. Elizabeth has studied and performed internationally, both at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, where she was the recipient of the Lemmonds Scholarship, and at the Bel Canto program in conjunction with L'Arena di Verona opera company in Verona, Italy.

As a graduate assistant at WVU, Elizabeth taught voice lessons to music education and performance majors as well as a course on vocal pedagogy. After graduating, she served as adjunct faculty, in which capacity she taught vocal repertoire and opera theater. She has maintained a private studio since 2005, in which she instructs students in voice and piano. She has also held past teaching positions with the Meridee Winters School of Music and Woodland Country Day School.

***Active, Professional Singer/ Actress***
Elizabeth was most recently seen as Joanie in The Full Monty at Candlelight Theatre in Delaware. Other recent performances include June in Musical of Musicals: The Musical and Peaches/ Baby Jane in Jerry Springer: The Opera with Bootless Stageworks in Wilmington, DE, solo performances with the New Voices Cabaret at the Society Hill Playhouse in Center City, and Woman 2 in My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra with Mainstage Center for the Arts in Blackwood, NJ. She has performed numerous leading roles with Philadelphia area Gilbert and Sullivan companies, most notably appearing as Angelina in Trial by Jury with The Savoy Company, winning Best American Production at the 2011 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Her G &S performance credits include the roles of Patience (Patience), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Rose Maybud (Ruddigore), Phyllis (Iolanthe), and Fiammetta (Gondoliers). Additionally, she has pioneered roles in new operas, including Gwendolyn in The Crowded House at the 2010 Philly Fringe Festival and Zelda in Black Horses with OperaDelaware at the 2009 Wilmington Fringe Festival.

d rave reviews for her “musically impressive” and “soaring” performance from The News Journal. Alexis will be staring

In theater, Alexis has played both comic and serious roles, including a striking female interpretation of E. K. Hornbeck in Inherit the Wind. Alexis has also worked in film, recently completing the production of Dead on Delmarva, a zombie-comedy-thriller produced by Arkham Productions.

In addition to her acclaim as a performer, Alexis gained recognition for her work as a choral conductor, working at the New Ark United Church of Christ and the Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, as well as vocal coaching with The Tatnall School. was the music director for the production of Les Miserables at Mt. Pleasant High School. Alexis currently works at the St. Anthony's Cathedral in Wilmington.

When speaking of her career, she comments, “Performing music and drama is not just a passion for me; it’s my sense of purpose. Whether I am working on a role, singing in an opera, developing a character, teaching a student, whatever the artistic avenue. It completely fulfills me. ”

*** Lesson Details ***
Alexis teaches proper singing technique and support through the Bel Canto philosophy of vocal production, and specializes in Classical, Opera, Musical Theater, and Jazz singing styles. Sight singing skill work is also offered and will cover basic music theory in addition to solfege music reading techniques. Alexis offers audition preparation services such as audio recording and transposition for her current voice studio students, for an additional fee.

In addition to vocal lessons, Alexis is pleased to offer beginner piano and music theory lessons. The piano lessons are geared towards singers who would like to learn to accompany themselves, or would simply like to be better at piano for rehearsal purposes. Music Theory lessons will be presented at the individual students level and will cover everything a student desires to learn, from basic rhythm and pitch reading through compositional theory.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room: couch, computer desk, piano, studio bookshelf, room for parents to sit in on lesson

*** Specialties ***
Opera voice, musical theater acting and voice, jazz voice, classical voice, safe stage combat acting, diction and speaking, Alexander Technique, sight singing and music reading, basic music theory, audition preparation

e aesthetic in the space where music and drama intersect.

I utilize training techniques from these two interrelated worlds as well as the world of speech communication with all of my students resulting in a more dynamic and solid performance.

I provide a safe, professional environment in which to learn. My current students range in age from 10 to 96 years old. I tailor my instruction to your individual needs and learning style.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano, Video Camera, Monitor, Sound System, Audio Recording Capability, Microphones, Music Stands, Mirror.

On street parking available in historic block of the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Students provide Piano or Keyboard, CD player and a mirror. I will provide music, staff paper for notes and practice exercises as well as recording equipment for feedback purposes.

*** Specialties ***
Pop, Music Theatre, German Lied, American and Italian Art Song, French Melodie.

Acting-Stanislavski Method, Bertolt Brecht's Epic Theatre, Audition and Monologue Coaching, TV/Film Acting.

Accent Reduction

Musical "Mamaleh". Sandra has performed in over fifty productions of Musicals, Operetta, and Opera. Some of her favorite roles include: Aldonza (Man of La Mancha), Desiree (A Little Night Music), Marguerite (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Antonia (The Tales of Hoffmann), and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi).

Most recently, she has performed the role of Lynn Fontanne in Ten Chimneys at Old Academy Players, and played one of the principal roles in Jacque Brel Is Alive And Well and Living In Paris at The Steel River Playhouse.

As a director, Sandra has staged operas for Center City Opera Theater, the Delaware Valley Opera Company, Boheme Opera New Jersey, and the New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble. She is currently singing concerts with the vocal group "Touch of Classics", and can be seen in commercials for Time Warner, Cuisinart, The Skooter Store, and Aspercreme.

*** Lesson Details ***
Our lessons will be relaxed and informal. My goal is to make you the best you can be. We will work on giving you a solid vocal technique so that you can approach any style of music with a good foundation. We will also work on learning to read music, and most importantly work on songs that will bring out the actor in you.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Small studio, keyboard, seating provided (couch), street parking

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in musical theater, classical, and opera. I can also teach German and Italian diction. My acting experience is mainly in musical theater.

and New Jersey and has taught at the secondary level in both states. In addition to both instrumental and choral ensembles at Penn State, Thomas was a student leader in the Penn State Blue Band and a member of the brass section of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994. He served as an Associate Director of the Warren Junior Military Band of Youngstown, Ohio from 1995 to 2005. He also served as a visual staff member for the renowned North Penn Marching Knights of Lansdale, PA for one season in 2004.

He is a current adjudicator with Drum Corps International and Cavalcade of Bands. He is a member of MENC, PMEA, NJMEA, ASCAP, CASA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Band Association. He appeared in the Marquis Who's Who Among American Educators in 2004 and 2005, an honor rarely bestowed upon teachers, as students who appear in the Who's Who Among American High School Students must nominate them. He currently is a music teacher at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts of the PA Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA and resides in Downingtown, PA with his wife and two sons.

Thomas will happily work with students on the autism spectrum or students with ADD.

*** Lesson Details ***
My lessons are tailored to the needs and interests of each student. If a student is involved in school music ensembles, we will work with their lesson books from school in addition to material outside of the books, including SmartMusic, Noteflight, and teacher-created materials. We will focus on building proper tone production and individual technique - something that often is difficult to learn in a large ensemble setting.

I am capable of starting a beginner student on any band instrument including percussion, any classical string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass), and piano. I can begin a student on drum set and work with them through their first method book, but I would then recommend they find a specialized drum set teacher after a period of six to twelve months.

For advanced students, I work from selected conservatory etude books on developing advanced skills and can work with students on audition pieces for honors bands/orchestras or college auditions.

My lessons are a half-hour once a week, with the option of working for 45 minutes or 60 minutes.

*** Specialties ***
music, band, orchestra, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano, Percussion
classical, jazz improvisation

tant to solidify the foundations of music, so that the student can grow into a knowledgeable, expressive musician. My lessons are taught with a personal and energetic approach leaving the student excited and eager to further explore music. I always make sure that the student is having fun!

Learning an instrument is all about personal growth as a musician. I will help my students become better musicians week by week as long as they are willing to practice and come prepared for the lesson.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I will provide a metronome, tuner, music stand and some music books/repertoire. Student may need to provide their own lesson books.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in classical techniques, improvisation, composition and songwriting.

Cancellation Policy:
Out of common courtesy, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel and/or reschedule a lesson, and you will not be charged. NOTE: You will be charged for the lesson if you cancel less than 24 hours before the scheduled lesson. No notification of cancellation will result in being charged for the lesson as well.

er Center. Last summer, she understudied Sybil Vane in Loehmann’s The Picture of Dorian Grey. In 2013, she performed the role of Suor Osmina in their production of Suor Angelica, and covered the roles of Fortuna and Venere in their production of L’coronazione di Poppea. She also portrayed Pamina, La Contessa, Ilia, Anne Truelove and Laurie Moss in their various scenes programs.

Rachel completed her Bachelor’s of Music at Mannes College in 2012. There, she performed in their Opera Scenes Workshop and their Rise of Modernism Festival, singing Canciones populares Españolas by Manuel de Falla.

aching privately and in ensemble settings to children and adults, including beginners and more advanced students. I particularly love working with passionate children, teenagers, and young adults who want to take their musical pursuits to another level, such as to audition for performing arts schools, or become more comfortable and adept in using their constantly growing voices!

While I'm a stickler for perfection, I work in music primarily because I think it's a lot of fun. I strive to foster a learning environment that is enjoyable for my students and prefer teaching methods that are constructive vs. destructive (I don't believe in "building you back up" after tearing you down)! I prioritize HEALTHY use of the voice whether my student is fifteen or fifty: every stage of life poses challenges (and benefits) to the vocal instrument and my specialized study and performing experience aids in me recognizing the good and bad in every singer to help them grow.