Great Neck, NY Broadway Singing Lessons

we find to explore! As of February 2013, I am also available through TakeLessons' online instruction program! Please find more information below and I hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks!

Zachary B.

A native of Charlotte, NC, Zachary began his musical career as a tuba player and jazz bass guitarist. While attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Zachary began singing in various vocal groups on campus and developed his love for the singing voice. With encouragement from the music faculty, Zachary began training as an operatic baritone while at UNC. While attending UNC, Zachary was awarded both the Fischer Scholarship in Voice and the Tony McDowell Voice Scholarship. His singing brought him to Boston in the summer of 2010 to begin study at The Boston Conservatory. While performing various opera roles and attending summer programs, Zachary also opened his private studio and taught at a local music academy.

Baritone Zachary B. is quickly establishing himself as an active operatic performer. Equally at home on the recital stage, his versatile lyric baritone voice fits a wide range of repertoire and styles. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, Zachary has performed roles like the titular role in Don Giovanni, Ramiro in L'Heure Espagnole, L'horloge comtoise in L'Enfant et les sortileges, Pooh-Bah in The Mikado, and Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief.

Starting in February 2013, Zachary will also be available through TakeLessons for online instruction. Lessons will still focus on energy, breath, and solid technique, so please contact him if you think this venue of instruction will be a good fit!

*** Lesson Details ***
Regardless of your background, I believe in making lessons fun, encouraging, and accessible. This means that my work with you will, by nature, be incredibly personal and always formulated for your specific musical goals. I will constantly strive to make sure you are comfortable in our work together as we explore singing, speaking, and music theory.

I believe every singing or speaking voice can benefit from a foundation in classical vocal technique. Whether you prefer to learn through singing songs or through various exercises, I can customize our lesson plan to fit your needs. Therefore, I provide a fun and engaging lesson atmosphere, but you need to bring your best as well! We will both be happier with the process if we are equally invested in your growth. We will start with something you already know (an aria, vocal exercise, or excerpt from a song) and work toward singing in your preferred vocal style. For example, classical singers will build their knowledge of English, German, Italian, and French diction and song styles. Additionally, I will always respect and include my student's musical interests.

Along the way, I am happy to address basic music theory ideas. If you prefer, we can also spend additional time reviewing and learning those principles to enrich your musical experience. I will always provide different exercises and ideas to keep your brain active in the singing process.

I believe in whole body, whole spirit singing. As a performer, I employ a variety of holistic exercises and theories to develop my own voice, such as basic Alexander Technique principles, voice therapy techniques, a variety of pedagogical palates, and energy work. If these sorts of things interest you, I am more than happy to incorporate them into our lessons. My personal results with those practices have been incredible, so I am always eager to share.

My personality is outgoing and energetic, so I bring that sort of atmosphere to a lesson. I expect preparedness and readiness on your part to maximize our work together. My greatest desire in teaching is to see you grow! So, if a challenging, yet comforting, work environment sounds like something you would like to try, consider scheduling a trial lesson with me. I am always happy to hear from new students!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Open area between the living room and the dining room, seating available, piano to accompany the voice lesson, garage/driveway/street parking.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I prefer for my students to have a keyboard or piano, and if possible, a music stand. We can always make a situation work if the student does not have access to these tools. I provide music, pencils, etc.

*** Specialties ***
I am an opera singer, and specialize in classical singing. However, I apply similar vocal technique to all genres of music, and focus on breathing technique, body and energy awareness, and discuss a holistic approach to singing with all students.

various conservatory and college programs. My professional students have performed at such venues as New York City Opera, Radio City, in Film and Television and on National Tours. I love what I do and find it fulfilling to give my students the tools that they need to succeed and watch them achieve their goals.

I have performed in both the US and internationally on a professional level. As a performer I am comfortable in a range of repertoire: Musical Theater, Jazz, Opera, Pop, Folk and other genres. As a teacher, I find that my own experiences in performing inform and help guide my teaching style. In addition to teaching and performing in operas, concerts and musicals, I perform on behalf of an outreach organization called Concerts Motion, bringing live performances to audiences who are hospitalized, isolated or in need. I have also served as a Cantorial Soloist at Shaaray Tefila of Bedford, New York and the New York Area.

In addition to my more advanced and adult students, I have a passion for teaching children. I began working with younger students as an instructor at the Cranbrook Theater School. While there I taught lessons and group workshops on singing, acting and general performance to students ages 5 through high school. Since then I have worked with young students on a regular basis in both private lessons and working with music outreach programs in New York schools. In addition to building musical skills, I find that performing and studying music gives children a sense of accomplishment and confidence in their lives.

Teaching Emphasis

*Musicality
*Breath Control
*Healthy Vocal Technique
*Wide dynamic and vocal range
*Performance Practices
*Song Selection
*Children's Lessons
*Lessons to Improve Public Speaking and Speech

My approach to vocal instruction encourages a healthy technique bringing freedom throughout the entire body. I teach a variety of ages and singing levels. I look forward to working with you!

*** Lesson Details ***
The style and pace of my lessons are tailored to each individual student. I bring structure to the lessons, but work at the speed that is comfortable for you. It is my ultimate goal to give you the tools and the confidence to learn and perform music on your own. Most importantly we make the most of our time together for whichever length of lesson you choose.

Each lesson generally starts with a physical and vocal warm up. This is followed by vocal exercises (arpeggios, scales, and various other exercises that will develop flexibility and also breath control in the voice, as well as expanding the vocal range). The last part of the lesson will most often focus on a song or piece of music as we incorporate the technical and artistic elements we have worked on thus far.

Expectations:

Depending on the level of the student we will begin with the basics: pitch matching, simple vocal exercises, and standard songs. After a few months of lessons students should expect to have the skills to move on to more difficult vocalizes and advanced songs. All that we do in our lessons will have an emphasis on singing in the most healthy way for your voice.

We will work on intonation, rhythm, style, diction and projection. We will also do audition and performance preparation. I will give the you exercises to take home and work on between lessons.

We will have fun and learn a lot in the comfortable and energetic setting that I create!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Private in-home studio: Separate studio with electric piano, music stand, several chairs, music books, mirrors, speakers and open space for us to work in!

There is a separate living room/waiting room where parents/caretakers are welcomed to wait while their student is in their lesson. Parents/caretakers are also welcomed to sit in on all or part of lesson in the studio.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will bring music repertoire books that we might be using. I would expect them to have a keyboard or piano.

*** Specialties ***
I am classically trained, but have studied pedagogy pertaining to many different types of singing. I work with many singers of Opera and Musical Theater. I also have a lot of experience working with singers who are in bands and play instruments (guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, keyboards) while they are singing. I find this provides an entirely new set of challenges for the singer and feel that I have found efficient and successful ways of negotiating this. I also teach students of jazz and folk music and work with singer-songwriters on getting the best of themselves on their original pieces.

ustained sound with no strain or discomfort! I promise, you will see results after your first lesson with me!