Upperco Performing Arts Classes

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My teaching style is based off of my many years of being a student to some of the finest performers in the world. I am direct and focused, but like to keep my students relaxed. My key to teaching success is adapting to each student's specific needs.

*** Studio Equipment ***
At my home studio in Jersey City, NJ and at my studio in midtown Manhattan I have a: Keyboard (piano at studio in Manhattan); Guitar; Pitch Pipe; Laptop with speakers; Mirror

*** Travel Equipment ***
If travelling to your home, I would require you have a keyboard. I can bring my guitar and pitch pipe.

*** Specialties ***
Classical Music (art songs, opera)
Traditional Broadway (Rodgers and Hammerstein...)
Contemporary Broadway (Stephen Schwartz...)
Disney Music
Pop Music
Country Music
Beginner Piano
Beginner Guitar
Music Theory
Public Speaking
Audition Technique

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.

re completed at the American University, where I majored in Communications (B.A.), and minored in Music, voice being my instrument. During my undergraduate studies, I was recruited and performed as the lead female vocalist for a Rock band that a few fellow music students had formed. While in college, I was trained in classical voice, piano, music theory, musical theater performance, and vocal pedagogy (vocal training). My vocal pedagogy studies credentialed me to become a professional vocal instructor. I began teaching voice after I earned my degree, and have been teaching private voice lessons for over ten years.

Most of my present expertise in teaching voice grew from my vocal pedagogy studies, my teaching experience which has developed over time, my own personal vocal dedication, and my training and understanding of various genres of vocal performance. My present singing career is as an inspirational singer; my vocal students encompass various genres in which I have experience, including: Inspirational, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, as well as various degrees of popular music.

*** Audition Preparation ***
I have coached many of my students to prepare for auditions: auditions to be accepted into performing arts schools, parts in musicals and plays, joining a band or vocal ensemble, as well as auditions for televised singing shows, such as "The Voice," "Sunday's Best," "American Idol" and "The X Factor."

*** Lesson Details ***
I teach students by using the tried and true techniques I have found to be successful, and allow the student to be my guide as to which direction to take with his or her vocal training. Whether the student is a novice, a professional, or somewhere in between, each student, after obtaining the basic singing knowledge and techniques, will have a vocal training schedule geared to his or her individual needs and development. Lessons are for the most part very casual in nature, and the student’s dedication (practice, practice, practice) will dictate whether or not the lessons become stricter. A few months into the vocal instruction, students will be given the opportunity to learn more about reading music and sight singing, if he or she so chooses, as well as vocal performance techniques for singing in front of an audience. Within one year, dedicated students may also have the opportunity to show off what they have learned, and perform in front of an audience at a recital with other vocal students. Please note that my preference is to work with teens age 13 through adults of any age. I believe that younger voices need more time to develop and stand to be damaged if too much stress is put on them too soon. However, exceptions for children under 13 may be made for gifted young singers.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Home studio- entry room of home, baby grand piano, seating area, dry erase board, mirrors
Music Studio- one recording studio, seating area, classroom

*** Travel Equipment ***
If needed, I provide a portable piano keyboard, microphone with amplifier, paper handouts of lessons, etc. The student needs to have paper to take notes and a writing instrument.

*** Specialties ***
Most of my voice lesson experience has been with adults, and contemporary popular and inspirational music.

e an indoor season during the winter months as well.

"Mr. M has been my director, coach and
mentor in productions and the classroom. His patience,
insight and his passion excites students, and makes
them feel safe and supported enough to take risks."

*Joseph H.
Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey
Pearl Theater Company
York Theater Company
Hudson Warehouse

*** Teaching Methods ***
I foster a safe, relaxed and engaging environment to explore truthful human behavior on stage.

The objective is 'the truth' to which end there is no one technique. Actors are encouraged to find their own tools and to draw from elements of different practices to discover a technique that works best for them as individuals.

I studied the methods of Constantin Stanislavski for acting with Sergei Pomerov of the Moscow Circus Theater. I am classically trained as well.

I work primarily as a guide to help navigate the way and to interpret ‘the signs.' I teach the lesson in the moment and address the challenges of both the beginner and the experienced actor.

***Classical Work***
My basic approach to classical work focuses primarily on the connection of the breath with the feeling on the word.

This is the foundation on which you can then build. From the ‘words’ to the ‘thoughts’ to entire ‘passages’ of text, as you work and explore, the richness of the playwright’s words comes to life. Your own unique emotional life is allowed to come through the text and you are able to fully embody the role.

*** Teaching Levels and Focuses ***
*Beginning Actors
-Work With Classical Text.
-Vocal Work.
-"Moment to Moment" Work.
-"Sense Memory" Work.

*Experienced Actors
-In depth Classical Text Analysis.
-Connecting to the Text.
-Audition Technique
-Monologue Coaching

She was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where she received a dual Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy and Vocal Performance (Class of 2003). It was through her service as a music therapist, Millieu (residential) counselor and music teacher in the Boston City Public Schools/Greater Boston Metropolitan Area, that she began to feel the call toward a greater understanding of the gravity and role of the socio-emotional needs of students (and their families/villages) in urban settings. This call brought her to Baltimore, MD where she enrolled in the Pastoral Counseling Masters of Science program at Loyola University. In addition to her studies, she currently teaches Elementary and Middle School choir/ Musicianship teacher in the Baltimore City Public Schools through the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids Program. She also serves as Minister Of Music and Arts at two local churches.

aker I know has lost their voice at some point, but not from talking too much. It's because they don't know how to use their voice properly. Learn that, and you need never lose your voice to over-use. That's easy to teach.

Writing – I have been a professional writer and editor for over eight years, with many books, articles, posts, newsletters, etc. to my name. I use – and teach – practical grammar, not just correct grammar. I can also help you make your words more powerful.

tion will be on tour until May 21st all across North America. Broadway.com's review of the opening night in Nashville praised the musicianship of the show, "Musical director Erik Flaten's musicians are impressive in their dexterity: At one moment, they are providing rich interpretations of the memorable John Kander score, while perhaps at the next they are playing denizens of the Kit Kat Klub or neighborhood thugs, wastrels and other folks of questionable repute. Flaten and his band are given their own richly deserved moments in the spotlight at the top of Act Two and the music director himself is given the well-earned final bow at the end of the curtain call.

Newly relocating to the East Coast, Erik is highly sought after for his collaborative work with both instrumentalists and vocalists. He is comfortable in all musical styles and genres, and has an extensive knowledge of music history and theory.

Students of Erik have the opportunities to perform in studio recitals and workshops.

you!

member of the Seattle dance companies "Breed Seattle", "Westsiders", and "Black Floor Collective" parallel to competing at a national level with her partner.

She now dedicates her time to mentoring and directing multiple diverse Performance Groups from ages 7-55 out of Kirkland and Seattle. Her classes range from serious Ballroom and Latin training for competing children and adults to Social Dancing, Dance Fitness, Contemporary, Heels intensives, and Event-Based Choreography such as Wedding Dances and FlashMobs!

She believes that the intricate techniques of Latin partner dance should be accessible to all, and that her vast area of experience in different dance forms has taught her to better-understand how to teach the tools to dancers from diverse movement backgrounds, including children with special needs, while maintaining their personal movement style and artistry.