Holden, MA Classical Voice Lessons

s work in 2003 when I began teaching music.

I've successfully taught hundreds of different students since 2003, from 5-year-olds with special needs to middle-aged professional opera singers, from a professor in Saudi Arabia to a 65-year-old doctor of music, from kids of Radio Disney to students of the famed Actors Studio in New York, from busy stay-at-home parents to retirees with bucket lists, from CEOs to touring singer-songwriters.

I've created and led a workshop about singing called, "The Whole Body Singer". I've written dozens of articles about music and music education for the blog at TakeLessons.com.

My extensive knowledge of the voice has encouraged and empowered hundreds of singers and prepared many of them to win competitions, pageants and auditions, as well as roles in operas and musicals.

Having both taught myself piano and received formal training at a conservatory has prepared me to teach almost anyone how to play.
The intensive training and education that I received at Westminster Choir College in songwriting, music theory and sight reading has benefited my students at every level.

My current work as singer and keyboardist in the acoustic rock duo, Timberwood, has strengthened my knowledge of a broad range of styles and genres. I have a strong commitment to continuing my education. That's why I recently (2014) studied songwriting online with the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

In the lessons that I teach, I'm flexible, positive and encouraging. While I want my students to have fun and love music, not dread it, I expect hard work and persistence. I am caring, patient, nurturing, and compassionate. In piano lessons, I usually allow the student to choose a piece with which to warm up and then move on to technique and repertoire. In voice lessons, I usually warm up the singer and discuss technique and sight singing before focusing on song choices. Joan Frey Boytim wrote a book for voice that I like to use, and I like the Estelle Liebling exercises for the more advanced singer. Hanon exercises are a big part of my piano curriculum, and I enjoy the Bastien and Alfred books for young and old. I have used completely random songs pulled out of a piano bench and a karaoke CD for kids. I will use almost anything I can get my hands on if it means effectively teaching music.
Acting lessons consist of exercises and games that apply learned concepts, and monologue and audition coaching. Parents, siblings and spouses are always welcome to observe lessons quietly.

ryn Terfel with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool, England, Dorinda(Orlando) with Cantanti Project, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with Opera Manhattan Studio, Frasquita (Carmen) with One World Symphony, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Clorinda (La Cenerentola) with Capitol Heights Opera, Alice (Le comte Ory) with West Side Opera Society, Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Myrrhine (Lysistrata) with Opera Avanti, Gilda (Rigoletto) with Académie Internationale d'Eté de Nice, and The First Spirit (Die Zauberflöte) with the Opera Company of Brooklyn.

My international credits include performances under the direction of Conductor Laurent Pillot at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool, England;the Académie Internationale d'Eté de Nice, France; the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Chianti,Italy; the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel where I was selected to sing for the Japanese Ambassador.

I made appearances as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Town Hall, and MOMA museum in New York City and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
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As a versatile singer, I was presented as an aspiring opera singer on the website of Maybelline New York. Her voice was featured in short films for the Japanese technology company NEC. I appeared as a soprano soloist for the opera, Jazz and theater collaboration of "TAKE ABITE" by David Antonio Cruz. I also sings Broadway songs and continues her musical theater studies. She is an active recitalist and also performs Oratorio works.

I was also a finalist at the Opera Idol Competition at Lincoln Center in New York City, The Hariclea Darclée Voice Competition in Romania and the Mario Lanza and Elaine Malbin Vocal Competition in New York City. Ms. Uchida was selected as a vocal scholarship recipient at Savannah music festival.

My upcoming engagement includes singing the role of Gilda in Rigoletto and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera in 2018 in New York City.

Besides being an opera singer, I have been teaching piano and voice for 11 years. I would like to share my skills and experience with you. Since I perform often, I can coach you how to perform on stage in addition to building solid technique and languages. Also, I have taught various kinds of music, such as Rock, Broadway musicals, Pop music, so we can work on all kind of music.

I look forward to teaching you soon!

*** Lesson Details ***
My students can expect to improve their skills and start to enjoy music more as we work together.
I believe that learning music is fun and enjoyable. However you also need to be serious and focused.
I can demonstrate various and specific techniques, phrasing, and interpretation and will always coach on how to develop your skills. However, I feel it is important for students to think critically on their own and take the first try at solving a problem themselves. I cannot emphasize enough that primarily it is you who find the ways to improve. Leaning music is a collaboration between teachers and students. I hope that through my lessons, students will become more self-sufficient and confident as musicians.
Let me help you become a better musician.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano (Clavinova), music stand, and desk.

*** Travel Equipment ***
By Subway, the closest station is 23rd street. You can take C, E train(within one block). 1 train(one block), M, F train (2 blocks).

ttoo (Flora). Among my many regional credits are Oliver at the Chiswick Park Theater in Sudbury, MA (Nancy), Camelot with Noel Harrison at the North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA (Nimue/Guinevere understudy), and Is There Life After High School with Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Sharon Lawrence at the Burt Reynolds Theater in Jupiter, FL. I currently hold the post of Soloist at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Needham, and am a Guest Soloist for The Mother Church in Boston. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and have received additional training with many renowned pedagogues, including American actress and theatre director, Suzanne Shepherd, New York City, lyric soprano, Sari Gruber, mezzo-soprano Sondra Kelly, and coaches Arlene Shrut from the Juilliard School, Michelle Alexander with Boston Lyric Opera, and Roger Malouf with the Metropolitan Opera.

Europa dell’Opera in Lucca, Italy, Angel Vocal Art in Los Angeles, CA and Russian Opera Workshop in Philadelphia, PA.  Melissa covered Musetta with Opera San Jose and appeared as Mimi in La Boheme, Mary in Highway 1, USA, Euridice in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice,  Soprano in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, and as Lucy in the Three-Penny Opera. Melissa is an Advocate of the Arts scholar, and a Redlands Bowl Young Artist. Melissa earned her Bachelor's of Music from University of the Pacific with vocal instructor Dr. Lynelle Wiens, and piano with Dr. John Cozza.

Melissa specializes in the Alfred Series for piano and My First Piano Adventure for young students. This approach focuses on ear training and reading music. Custom exercises and choice of material is based on the student's level and field of study. Lessons are scheduled at the student's convenience as per availability. Frequency and length of lessons is based on the students needs.

Young voice students are taught general concepts, music theory, and ear training. After the voice is more mature, advanced and serious vocal study can be pursued. Melissa's students receive a well-rounded training in the style of their choice: Classical, Popular, Musical Theatre, and Jazz.
Melissa emphasizes on solid technique, posture, breathing, and control, in addition to music fundamentals.

to the art, discipline and joy of music making.
I went to Indiana University's Jacob School of Music and earned a Masters in Piano Performance, and Composition in the '90's. I sang all types of vocal music as well as prepared singers with vocal coaching and voice development techniques 20+ years.
I'm fun loving, patient, and optimistic-- these traits carry through in my teaching style,
One Size does NOT fit all--I approach the lesson plans for each student tailored to your learning style.
Over the past 23 years, my life experiences have encompassed other disciplines and compelled me to learn and acquire many other skills: my liberal arts as well as fine arts education lent itself to helping me work administrative jobs and even expanded into sales and public speaking. I have coached after school and SAT preparation to High School and College age students, helped with the preparation of legal and analytical documents, creative writing and editing assignments; and even tutored computer, social media and Microsoft Office & iWork Suite of applications to older adults.

I look forward to helping you reach your goals

ts. I welcome all ages including adult beginners. Bilingual lessons offered

your big belt, I will get you there in a healthy and safe way! (Don't worry Gentlemen, I can get you to sing high too!).

I work with students of all ages, backgrounds and levels. Many of my students are actors with no vocal background, and some of my students are classical or operatic singers who want to work on acting and expressing themselves musically for a better overall performance. Whatever your goals are, we will accomplish them!