Top Singing & Voice Lessons in Finksburg, MD

ofessionally now for over twenty years. Some students want to take a few lessons to see if it is something they will enjoy, others have worked with me for over a decade. I have mentored several students who have gone on to professional careers. I have experienced a lot of success teaching young children and those with special needs. I have been blessed with a tremendous amount of patience and truly enjoy teaching anyone who wants to learn.

Whatever your goals or abilities, I look forward to working with you!

*** Lesson Details ***
Experience fun based lessons as my teaching approach is relaxed and inspirational. I enjoy working with all ages, adjusting my teaching methods to accommodate your learning style and abilities. Learn to play the music you love! You learn best when you enjoy what you are playing, I can help you play along with your favorites or even write your own songs. I always ask my students at the beginning of a lesson "What would you like to do today?" Then structure the lesson accordingly into a routine that the student can practice on their own. Generally the time is divided into warm ups, learning new material, then picking a fun song the student choses. Whether your interest is Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop music, etc... I'm here help you reach your goals so let's make your dreams come true with music together!

*** Travel Equipment ***
Books, Guitar, music stand, metronome, picks, tuner, page clips, capo, media player, laptop, Keyboard (on request), and recording equipment (on request)

*** Specialties ***
With Voice I specialize in helping people prepare for auditions such as American Idol. I have students who simply want to be karaoke stars. I have several professional singers that hire me as a voice coach and producer for recording sessions. I have taught children as young as 2 and those that retired with a lifelong dream to sing. Though my training is classical, I can teach Jazz, Pop, Rock, Rap, R&B, etc...whatever is fun for the student. I highly recommend learning to read music but I do not push it unless parents want their child to.

With Piano I can teach traditionally from Alfred and Bastien Piano Courses depending if they are auditory or visual learners. For Kinesthetic learners I use Hanon scale exercises and Rothman Rhythm Exercises. For those that want to learn notation I introduce classical and Jazz composers unless there is a popular artist/band/movie theme etc...that they would like to learn. However I do not push students to read music unless their parents would prefer it. I tend to keep more students that want to learn to play by ear especially adults by using rhythm training and music theory exercises and then applying them to songs they love. For piano I haven't had much success with children younger than 3. I also have a lot experience working with special needs children.

For Guitar I teach Classical, Acoustic, and Electric all styles and genres. I encourage sight reading but don't mind using tabs. I use more exercises with these students, since the first month students have a hard time making a sound. I try to make the lessons fun by having students strum chords along with songs they chose. I teach lead and rhythm even songwriting and composition. Job satisfaction for me is seeing my students leave a lesson with a smile on their face so I make sure to be a fun based teacher that doesn't give the student a hard time about not practicing.

For Recording and Performance I use the knowledge I gained doing Pro Audio Sales for Guitar Center from 2000-2002 to help clients build their own home studio. I have lots of producers and engineers I work with on a regular basis to produce broadcast quality audio and video recordings and help my students use their lessons and pre-production for those opportunities. I can teach Garage Band or Pro Tools classes on navigating the software and utilizing all the commands. I can also teach room acoustics and using the right microphone and how to position them with the right equipment and the right acoustics to get the best possible tone that they are looking for. I can also teach editing, mixing, looping, sampling, midi, and mastering so that the student can eventually work on their own writing, performing, and recording their music.

e encouraged to take risks, try new things, make mistakes, and most importantly be themselves.

I value the time I have with my students and expect each student to come prepared to each lesson with an open mind and willingness to work. With music, the best results come to those who put in 100% both during lessons and during individual practice time. This is key in any musical pursuit. Overall, I want lessons to be enjoyable while still maintaining a sense of progress for the student.

Here's a little more about me:
In 2005 I made my operatic debut in Italy with Operafestival di Roma in their main stage production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. While in Rome, I was also featured in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Over the years I've been featured as a soloist in other concert and oratorio works such as Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Rutter's Requiem, and Mozart's Requiem.

Along with my classical training, I've taken on several roles in musicals such as, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, and The Boyfriend. I am an honored NATS (National Association for the Teachers of Singing) competitor, Peabody Scholarship recipient, and Bland Music Scholarship recipient. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra on their spring and summer concert series and was asked to perform the National Anthem and God Bless America at Game 2 of the ALDS during one of the MLB's 2014 postseason games (Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers). When I'm not singing, you may find me enjoying a run through the neighborhood, or enjoying some time with my cat CJ.

I earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees form the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Family Room: seating for parents
Studio space with piano, recording equipment, and parent seating available.
**PLEASE NOTE I have a cat in the home**
*** Specialties ***
Voice and Piano Lessons
Classical, Musical Theater, Pop, Jazz, Soul, and Country.

ven though I'm a professional singer myself, I believe that the point should always be to enjoy singing, and whether your goal is to make money as a singer or to feel more confident doing karaoke (both real things that have brought students to me!), I want you to have fun doing it. I also want to show you that singing is a skill, and anyone can learn to do it.

*Note about my apartment: I teach lessons in my home, and I have a pet kitten. She's extremely friendly and would love nothing more than to bask in your attention, but if you'd prefer not to be around her or you are allergic, it's no problem at all. I'm happy to make sure she's kept in a different room during your lesson. All you have to do is let me know before your lesson that you'd prefer not to be around her, and you won't see her at all.

you!

u will also need to purchase a few music books (about $5 each). Voice students will need to purchase song books ($15-20) after we meet and I get a feel for the student’s range and what type of repertoire we should work on.

Note: for VOICE LESSONS ONLY I only teach female students.

performed with the Tony award winning Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, American Family Theatre, Washington Savoyards, Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Shawnee Playhouse, Prather Entertainment Group, Venus Theatre, Pallas Theatre Collective, Riverside Dinner Theatre and Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Melynda is the Director of Education at Adventure Theater MTC, the DC area’s longest running theatre for young audiences and only training academy offering comprehensive technique based training in all disciplines of Musical Theatre.

"Melynda Burdette gives a performance for the ages…With her strong acting abilities and superb vocals, Burdette drives this show from beginning to end."
- Elliott Lanes, Broadway World

"With a tender, refreshing, clear voice (without amplification), Burdette brings care and woe to sweet ballads …with more up-tempo numbers Burdette is no less skillful. Her voice is strong and solid."
-David Siegel, DC Metro Theatre Arts

award of "Best Percussionist" with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets and leading my groups to successful competitions during the fall marching season and the winter indoor percussion season. I'm currently a freelancing vocal professional in Baltimore.

If you're looking for voice instruction, flute instruction, or you'd simply like to learn and hone music skills (like sight reading, rhythms, ear-training) from a high-level musician with a broad range of experience, please contact me!
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Reading and Writing Tutoring:
I have successfully tutored undergraduate and graduate students in reading and writing for over eight years. At Santa Clara University, where I received a B.A. in English, I was vice-president of the English Honor Society and tutored undergraduate students for first-year composition courses. At San Francisco State University I earned my M.A. degree in English Composition, a degree which focuses on the teaching of college-level reading and writing. There I served as a tutor for the English Tutoring Center and the Student Success Program.

If you're a beginning student looking for reading and writing tutoring where I teach you writing skills (like brainstorming, drafting, and editing) or an intermediate student who simply needs an extra pair of eyes to bring your writing to the next level, please contact me!

I look forward to hearing how I can help you reach your goals.