Council Bluffs, IA Speaking Voice Lessons

et your slot NOW! I will take your musicianship and skill to the next level! But you have to be ready!

*** Lesson Details ***
Here are some details about the lessons:

1. Please come with a notebook and pen
2. Each lesson consists of vocal exercises, breathing exercises, goal setting, artist development etc
3. After 3 moths CONSISTENTLY with me, you will be transformed

*** Studio Equipment ***
Music studio in home with seating for parents.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Black and white notebook
25 Italian songs and arias
Alfred's Piano Book 1

*** Specialties ***
The foundation of all my teaching stems from my background in opera.

your family to achieve your music education goals!

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

. Jeff prides himself on customizing every student's lessons based on their particular preferences, goals and skill level. "It's a very personalized kind of instruction, as I never take a cookie-cutter
approach to teaching…".
Jeff's 3 promises to all students is to give them personalized lessons, be attentive to their needs and goals. and to make them feel like every lesson is worth their investment of time and money. As long as students practice regularly, they can expect to dramatically increase their clarity of playing, their chord "inventory", their musical ear and awareness and play the songs they've always wanted to learn.

After honing his craft as a songwriter and performer, Jeff created and taught songwriting and music business classes at colleges,universities, and music schools throughout the country for many years. Some of the places he taught include UCLA Extension, Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College and The Harrison School Of Music.
When asked to summarize his views on teaching and music: "Teaching and playing music always puts a smile on my face; especially when I see that the student is having fun, learning what they want to learn and feeling the passion about music that motivated me to pursue my own musical career".

As a working singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jeff is known for his memorable melodies, intelligently crafted lyrics and heartfelt vocals. His compositions have earned him over 35 awards from various national and international songwriting contests and he's a former staff songwriter for the long-standing New York City-based publisher, Bourne Music. He has also won best music video awards at 3 international film festivals.

Some of the artists that Jeff has been compared to as a guitarist and vocalist include Keb' Mo', James Taylor, Kenny Loggins, Ry Cooder, John Mayer, Bill Withers, Jim Croce, and Don Henley.

Jeff is a NJ native, but lived and performed in Los Angeles for many years, where he worked in the studio or shared the stage with well-known artists such as Dave Koz, Norman Brown, John Daversa, Hiroshima, Little Richard and N'Dea Davenport.

Jeff catalog of over 450 songs and compositions spans virtually every genre, but many of his tunes are amalgams of pop, blues, jazz, R&B, country and rock. Quite a number of Jeff's songs
have appeared in film and TV. One that Jeff is particularly proud of, is the dynamic pop ballad, "Journey Of The Heart" (co-written by Jeanne Smith), which was licensed by the N.C.A.A. (National
Collegiate Athletic Association), who deemed it "the official anthem" of their NCAA Hall Of Champions facility in Indianapolis.

Jeff has commercially released 4 CD's of his original material: The most recent of these is his 2013 release, "Blujanova" (a merging of blues, jazz and bossa nova), which was praised by platinum selling and Grammy-nominated jazz star, Dave Koz: "Jeff's voice is so clean and pure...the production is lovely...warm and inviting...I love the interesting and surprising takes on some classics too, especially 'I Feel Good'…that brought a smile to my face!".
The other CD's stretch into other genres. "Truthteller" (bluesy pop/rock and singer/songwriter material) "Me, Myself, and I" (acoustic) and "The Spin" (pop, rock, and country-tinged singer/songwriter material). All of Jeff's albums are on his label, Relevant Records. The late great John Braheny, author of the best-selling "The Craft And Business Of Songwriting (Writer's Digest Books), gave high praise to Jeff's CD, "The Spin", calling it "honest, crafty, melodic and the songs are all exceptional". Patch.com called Jeff "a consummate songwriter".

*** Lesson Details ***
At the first lesson, I will ask you to tell me what songs you want to play and artists you want to play like and I will set the table for that by providing the chords you'll need, chord and scales and exercises to enable you to play them and guidelines and tricks on how to make it happen as quickly as possible. I know a wide variety of songs in all styles and styles, including current hit songs as well as pop, rock, blues, jazz, country songs. if you have a song or artist that I don't know already, I will learn it (often on the spot) and if not right then, at the next lesson. I have taught my students to play songs by artists as varied as Taylor Swift, U2, Jason Mraz, Adele, Eric Clapton, Django Reinhardt, Doc Watson. And that's just naming a few.

I always make it clear to my students at the first lesson: "There is no such thing as a stupid question". I want you to feel comfortable to stop me at any time to clarify what I am teaching you, ESPECIALLY if it is too difficult or vague. I pride myself on always being organized for your lesson and making sure that you grasp whatever it is I am teaching you. The goal is to get you to be able to play what you want as quickly as possible. This will take practice and dedication on your part, but I will do everything in my power to help you get there.

I never force anything on any of my students. but I feel it would be beneficial for you to learn to read music OR read tablature and chord diagrams. You tell me which one and we'll go in that direction. If you'd like to read music, then we can decide on a book for you. I have used Hal Leonard instructional books (with CD's! this way you can play with a backing track and get a sense of rhythm, which is very important), but I'm open to other method books you might have or like.

After 3 to 6 months, you will feel you are significantly more skilled on the guitar than you were before we started lessons. You will know more chords (and move from chord to chord), be able to do at least some basic fingerpicking and be able to read some music or tablature.

*** Specialties ***
Acoustic fingerstyle guitar (a la James Taylor, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Keb' Mo', Jason Mraz, John Martyn, Jim Croce, etc.

Blues guitar a la Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder, etc.

Bossa nova guitar

Songwriting (any aspect and any level; musically, lyrically, structurally, etc.)

the songs of Taylor Swift---quite a few of my younger students want to play her material, so I have about 15 songs ready to teach you and always learning more (by popular demand)

Adapting songs that are keyboard-based and creating arrangements of them for acoustic guitar. Examples include songs by Adele, songs by Elton John, Irina Menzel's huge hit song from "Frozen", John Legend's "All Of Me", Coldplay's "Viva La Vida", etc.

Recording on Garageband.
I became so skilled with Garageband that I was asked to give seminars at Apple Store locations, showcasing my recordings and how to use the program.

Voice-overs; performance, recording, etc.

to EVERY endeavor whether it's music or math or soccer. I require practice on the student's part. You will be able to play recognizable songs within your first month. You tell me what you or your child wants out of music lessons, and I will tell you exactly how to get it.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lesson will happen in a space next to the family room which is upstairs. Teacher has a collection of instruments, music stands, couches for seating. Park on the street or driveway.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Instrument

*** Specialties ***
I'm flexible. I have taught everything from country western guitar to classical guitar, from Jazz trumpet to orchestral audition music, from barbershop singing to Broadway musical singing. I have even taught ballet. I cater my methods to the student's best learning style.

rograms, Samsung laptop and two Dell PCs,

*** Specialties ***
Jazz improvisation, funk, pop/rock, recording techniques, rhythm section,

, but can assist you in making the right choices to navigate your own way in the business. I offer private coaching to actors in theater and film, and singers in the US and abroad. I would love to share my knowledge and experience with you.

*** Lesson Details ***
I offer private coaching to children, teens, adults who have an interest in acting or singing performance, and for those who simply have an interest in performing or speaking in front of others. In addition to coaching those who wish to better their skills in acting, voice and speech, and singing, I also offer coaching for non-actors; i.e., attorneys, business professionals, teachers, politicians, pageant participants, and other creatives, who want to improve their public speaking and communication skills.

*** Studio Equipment ***
High definition, quality camera for video and stills
High quality lighting equipment and MAC monitor
Ideal for video auditions and on-camera classes

*** Travel Equipment ***
High definition, quality camera for video and stills
High quality lighting equipment and MAC monitor
Ideal for video auditions and on-camera classes

*** Specialties ***
Acting for film, TV, theater, and commercials
Audition Etiquette and Technique
Light Career Coaching
Agent Ready Coaching
Voice and Speech
Public Speaking
Neutral American Speech
Singing; including Musical Theater

se in the acting pursuit and life.

I have extensive experience and teaching exp. in: Shakespeare, Monologues, EPA's, Self-taping, Improvisation, Auditioning, Winning the room, Meisner, College auditions, Stanislavsky, and more.

Notable Students

Gus Halper: Truth and Lies: Menedez Brothers, The Goat, Ricki and the Flash
Sarah Viccellio: Master of None, The Carrie Diaries, Law & Order: SVU
Michael Labbadia: The Attic Theater Co.
Alex Gagne: Keen Company, Bridge Production Group, MugBug Prod.
Reagan Elizabeth: Stephanie Klapper Casting
Joshua Morgan
Michael Calciano
Owen Laheen
Ellie Barone
Gabe Arant

I hope to meet you soon!

*Online sessions are also available*