Monsey, NY Acting Lessons

merglass Opera and the Aspen Music Festival. I also have undergraduate and master's degrees from Brown University and the Manhattan School of Music.

But don't let the fact that I'm an "opera singer" give you the wrong idea. Yes, strict classical training gives me in-depth understanding of how the human voice works, but I love and teach music of all genres. My students include professional opera singers, yes, but also rock and Broadway-style singers, college and conservatory students, teenagers singing in their school musicals, doing All-State chorus, or preparing for NYSSMA, as well as adults who are taking voice for the love of singing, the fun of the challenge and so they can join their local chorus or sound great on karaoke night.

Above all, the most important qualities I offer as a teacher are the simple human ones: understanding, patience, imagination, kindness, enthusiasm, respectfulness and absolute commitment to helping you meet your vocal goals.

*** Lesson Details ***

I tailor my lessons to each singer's particular interests, goals and challenges. Some students thrive with a highly technical approach; some thrive in a less formal, more supportive environment; most singers do best with an approach that mixes the two. The important thing to know is that you will receive lessons that are specifically tailored to you. There's no single template.

*** Specialties ***

For advanced classical singers I have a great depth of experience and wide knowledge of oratorio, opera, German lied and French, English and American art songs. I also have a specialized background in "performance practice" baroque and classical vocal ornamentation.

For all singers, I am also a superb acting coach!

ic dreams.

MORE INFO:
I have been singing since I was 3, anything and everything from Michael Jackson to Elvis Presley to Luciano Pavarotti. Originally from Colorado, I studied music/theatre, as well as vocal pedagogy at The University of Colorado at Boulder, where I graduated with highest honors. I made my Broadway debut in "The Phantom of the Opera" at age 24. I also performed in "Chess in concert" as a featured rock tenor soloist at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway with Josh Groban. I have understudied and performed lead roles in the first AEA National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Whistle Down the Wind." Regionally, I have played many lead roles all over the United States in productions including "Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon," "The Wild Party," and "She Loves Me."

As an ASCAP recording artist, currently I am working in the studio with a full production team on my first pop/rock album. I also often sing on demos for producers and write songs for other artists in many different genres.

As a TV/Film actor, most recently I was on set with Marvel's TIARA 2 on Netflix. I have booked lead roles in 4 SAG-AFTRA short films, as well as the comedic lead in a SAG-AFTRA Web-series. I was called back for producers as a Series Regular for "The Knick," an episodic series produced and directed by Steven Soderbergh on Cinemax.

My audition prep will help you master your sides for any playing space; Broadway plays/musicals and especially on camera.

TIYA clients include (aspiring) Broadway performers, Film and TV actors, singer-songwriters, news anchors, dancers, comedians, CEO's all over the world, as well as karaoke enthusiasts, and songwriting hobbyists.

My TIYA members have performed on television in Smash, Glee, and venues around NYC ranging from The Underground, Le Poisson Rouge, Drom, Cornelia Street Cafe, Arlene’s Grocery, to the Broadway productions of Ghost, Sister Act, Evita, Wicked, West Side Story, South Pacific, The Phantom of the Opera, and Rent to name a few.

*** Lesson Details ***
We will always work on whatever you want.

For Singing, as a vocal technician/trainer I am like going to the gym for your voice. My exercises are safe, simple, and most importantly, I teach you how to practice correctly.

For ACTing, we can explore both the foundation itself with monologues and scenes, as well as the tricks of the trade mastering the camera frame and how to create memorable auditions for TV/Film.

For Songwriting, we can explore the fundamentals of both lyrics and music, as well as catchy hooks, production, and song structure.

You may use my time however you wish (Voice, Acting, Songwriting, or Artistic/Career guidance).

Most vocal sessions will usually be a combination of strengthening/ conditioning exercises, and then exploring/performing a song.

Most ACTing sessions will be theatre monologues, TV/Film sides and/or On camera auditioning craft.

Career consultations usually include how to get an agent, headshots, branding, and marketing to align your artistic dreams with a strategy for success.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Yamaha PSR 950 61-key arranger keyboard
Sony Handycam DCR-SR 100
Fovitec Studio PRO - 5' x 6.5' Gray/Blue screen
MacBook Pro 13-inch: 2.4GHz
with Retina display
Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar
Bose Wave Music System
iPhone 6S plus

*** Specialties ***
SINGING, ACTING, SONGWRITING, CONSULTING

The TIYA vocal training method is uniquely my own as it combines both Bel Canto and Speech Level Singing. Emphasis is on developing a relaxed, released, authentic vocal timbre to sing in any style. Concepts explored include: Coordination, Registration, and Intonation. Chest, Head, Edge, and Pharyngel registration, 2 instruments in 1, posture, breath management, vocal cord adduction, trigger phrases, ring, consistency, and more. 

red on Channel 5 Good Day New York morning news program.

~~Teaching Philosophy~~

IF YOU CAN TALK YOU CAN SING and I guarantee it!!!!!

I teach beginners and advanced of all ages as well as all styles of music:

Opera - Classical - Musical Theatre - Pop - Jazz - Folk - Rock - R&B - Gospel

*I teach the freedom of the jaw, neck and shoulders to allow the breath to connect without tension allowing the production of a free vocal tone.

*Singing on the vowels with clean articulated consonants before and after the vowel is sung.

*Correct understanding and pronunciation of French, Italian, German and English languages

*Musicianship, theory, piano, all musical styles and song writing

*Performance and acting skills

*Audition techniques

*Career guidance

*Annual Student Recitals in professional New York City Venues

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons take place at my home studio. Lessons may be recorded on my professional recording equipment or you may bring your own recording devices. This is an excellent learning tool. I teach my students how to extend their range, increase breath control and the freedom of their body in order to enable a free and easy produced vocal tone. I teach song repertoire to the student's particular musical style choices. I also work with students that wish to write their own songs so that their musical ideas can be heard clearly and precisely. A guitar is available for students if they wish to use it to accompany themselves. I teach my students how to deal with performance anxiety . Students are presented in recitals twice a year and performance classes are held once a month in addition to the private lessons.

IF you can talk you can sing and I guarantee it!!!! I teach beginners to advanced of all ages.

*** Specialties ***
Voice, Piano
I teach the freedom of the jaw, neck and shoulders to allow the breath to come without tension allowing the production of a free vocal tone.

Beginners and advanced of all ages. "If you can Talk you can Sing and I guarantee it!!!! Opera - Classical - Musical Theater - Jazz - Folk - R&B - Gospel - Country - Rock -

n't creating success for a student she will quickly change to another till she finds the right words or method to enable the student to succeed with the least amount of frustration.”

*** Lesson Details ***
I draw on a wide range of materials in The Holistic Piano (and voice) method. The curriculum may be color-based or number-based, we might focus on chord building or sight-reading, or Songwriting, depending on the student's need and desire.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Large Music Room: one grand piano, 2 keyboards, parents can sit in on lesson from living room

*** Specialties ***
Because each student is an individual, I approach teaching like a coach, custom designing a course of study for each student to meet their individual needs.

lessons myself in NYC to always get better. I am trained in the classical methods, but happy to experiment with others. I believe a solid technique in any level is the foundation and then, if you need more expertise, I am happy to refer you to others I know who teach in that style.

Each lesson , depending on your age, will have some kind of technical work, such as drills, work on whatever level you are at in music theory, sight reading, musicality and all components that would make you a complete musician, as I have been trained You will also have some FUN because it just would get boring and then practicing would be a pain instead of inspiring you. Games, little fun tests spelling musical words and the like,.

*** Studio Equipment ***
So, yes, great equipment at various studios that I can teach at all over the NYC metro area. If curious, for piano lessons, can use a portable keyboard as well as a "regular " one :)

*** Specialties ***
Mostly classical, but have at times worked with some Broadway singers, got them to sing technically correct, then referred them to a more appropriate teacher.

y Rock", Gilmore Girls", "Law and Order" and others. Her goal in working with her students is not only to teach healthy vocal technique, but in keeping with her theatre background, her strong belief that "Every song is a scene or monoglogue" leads her to make sure the student know what they are singing or speaking about, and can do so with a clarity of emotion and dramatic intent.
She has a BA in theatre/voice from the University of Kansas where she serves on the Advisory Board For the Department of Theatre and Film and has an MFA from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she is a guest lecturer. She is a member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, AGMA and The Dramatists Guild.
"Mary is able to reach not only those students who are already excited about theater but inspire those who have no previous knowledge of it. To watch these young men and women become more and more accomplished is a marvelous thing. She inspired them all."...Mark St. Germain, Obie winning playwright.

*** Lesson Details ***
In a one hour lesson, we will spend twenty five minutes on vocal exercises designed to teach support and placement. Having performed leads on and Off Broadway, I know that without good technique you can't do eight shows a week, do back to back sets in a nightclub or cabaret or tour as a pop or rock singer. The second half of the lesson is spent on songs. As an acting as well as vocal coach, I focus on dramatics as well as musical interpretation. A singer must be connected to the words as well as the music. I hope to teach you to love singing as much as I do.

*** Studio Equipment ***
casio keyboard, speakers, desk, extensive library of scripts and sheet music, internet

*** Specialties ***
pop and musical theatre singing
college and theatre auditions/monologues and song performance

onal tours, released albums, are in bands, have been accepted into performing arts schools (high schools and colleges), have been cast in regional/Off-Off-Broadway/Off-Broadway Theatre, movies (Noah, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Finally Famous), music videos, and on TV (Royal Pains, Smash, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Law and Order: SVU, & NBC's The Voice competition).

Owner/Teacher: Rachel M.
SAG-AFTRA, VASTA, NATS (certified), NARAS, NAMTA, BMI, MAC, NJMEA, NAfME. NJ Theatre Alliance, & Certified Artist Developer with Conquer Entertainment,
15+ years of teaching to children - teens - adults (Ages 6+ group classes, 8+ private lessons)

RACHEL M.'S BIO:

Rachel is a member of SAG-AFTRA, The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS certified), VASTA (Voice And Speech Trainers Association), NARAS (The Grammy Awards), NAMTA, NJMEA (New Jersey Music Educators Association), NAfME (National Association of Music Education), NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association,) MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs), The NJ Theatre Alliance, NSA (Nashville Songwriting Association International), and BMI (Broadcast Music Inc). She has been teaching Bel Canto singing technique for the modern singer and Stella Adler-Stanislavsky-Chekhov-Meisner acting technique for all mediums for 15+ years to children, teens, and adults.

Rachel has trained at The Hages Music Studio under a master teacher for 22+ years in the Bel Canto singing technique for all genres, studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC as well as recorded and released her first album called "Just Meant To Be". Other credits include commercials, films, TV shows (One Tree Hill, AMC, Food Network), music videos (including Rachel's singles "Don't Even Try", "You Will Love On"), & numerous stage credits (Off-Broadway/NYC Theatre). Rachel most recently was seen in the reading of a new play "Vanishing Son" by Peter Gil-Sheridan performed in NYC. She is also a songwriter (16+ years), scriptwriter (10+ years), director (14+ years), and an international recording artist (10+ years).

Rachel has been performing for 20+ years, has performed in front of sold out crowds, and has been honored with many standing ovations. Other honors include magazine covers, featured articles, singing to thousands of people, studio recordings/albums, originated the role of "Antigone" in "Oedipus: The Musical", 2002 Helen Hayes Nomination for" Outstanding Vocal Performance in a Musical" ("Miss Adelaide" in "Guys And Dolls"), & 2008 finalist for NYC Singing Idol Competition. Rachel has also been fortunate to have worked & performed with many people in the business including Grammy-Tony-Emmy Award Winners/Nominees.

LESSON DETAILS

Whether you are a parent looking for instruction for your child, or for yourself, Rachel can customize the right program that best suits your needs. Her students come from all walks of life and have different goals, but they all have one thing in common. They love performing and have the desire to be the best at their chosen craft (singing/acting).

Some students want to sing/act for themselves, others want to sing/act for a hobby, and others want to be professional performers. That's where Rachel comes in. No matter what your goals are, she can help. Rachel teaches her students how to become true artists without tearing them down and without taking away the part of them that makes them unique. She teaches healthy technique that is based off of the human anatomy; the science of how the body/mind works and how the body/mind can work as efficiently as possible while singing or acting.

Learning how to sing/act is a process and doesn't happen overnight. Rachel's ultimate goal as a teacher is to not only make her students the best performers and singers they can be, but also give them all of the proper tools they need to have a more productive mind frame and become self-sufficient. Of course this can take years to master. It takes time and dedication.

OTHER LESSON INFORMATION

SINGING: Bel Canto singing technique for the modern singer is taught in private and group classes. No one sounds like old opera singers, even if the student wants to sing opera. Students are allowed to choose most of the material they learn in the lesson. There will be times when Rachel will suggest a song to a student but if the student doesn't enjoy the song, they will work as a team to find a song that does work for the student. Gain a better tone quality, complete control of your voice, bigger range, more flexibility, and confidence. Learn healthy voice technique, how to fully take care of your own voice so you can sing for the rest of your life (even after lessons), and become a self sufficient performer for life.

ACTING: Stella Adler, Stanislavsky, Chekhov, and Meisner Acting Technique for Theatre/Camera is taught in private and group classes. All students are exposed to each technique and Rachel sees which technique each student responds to the most. Once the student and Rachel are able to identify the technique, Rachel continues to use the terminology of that technique for the remainder of the time the student is in lessons. Students eventually are able to play roles truthfully and realistically, even if the roles are opposite of the student's own personality.

BY THE TIME STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM LESSONS:

1. Gain a lifelong, solid, consistent, and healthy technique that they can always count on in practice and performance.

2. Gain specific technical and personal notes in a notebook and/or computer file that is organized and always accessible for review.

3. Gain artistry, performance skills, and a strong voice that will look/sound authentic; Singers will sound appropriate to whatever style of music they are singing. (No fake sound or look.) Actors will just be in the moment and truthful whether they are on stage or in front of the camera.

4. Gain the confidence to always put on a great performance.

5. Gain focus and a more productive mind frame.

6. Become self-sufficient by knowing how to assess a problem and then fix it without creating a new issue.

*** Studio Equipment ***
PRIVATE HOME STUDIO: Keyboard, speakers (smartphone, iPod, iPad), CD player, tape recorder/player, digital recorder, music stand, mirror, laptop, sheet music selections, HD video camera, tripod, video editing software, audio editing software, USB microphone, and high speed WiFi internet. Full PA, two mixers (one mixer with 8 inputs and the other with 4), 8 Lavaliere microphones ("body mics"), multiple hand held microphones, laptop stand, and music stands.

**ASK ABOUT ON LOCATION TRAINING (ON SET, THEATER, PERFORMANCE EVENT, OR RECORDING STUDIO)!

**ONLINE LESSONS ALSO AVAILABLE!

*** Specialties ***
We specialize in Bel Canto voice technique for the modern singer. Each student can sing all genres without sounding too classical, "fake", and without losing their voice while singing for long periods of time.

Other Specialties: Teaching acting technique for theatre-TV-Film (Stella Adler, Stanislavsky, Chekhov, & Meisner), performance skills, songwriting, and creating self-sufficient singers-actors-performers (Artist Development).

STUDIO POLICIES-

CANCELLATION:
24 hour lesson cancellation

MISSED LESSONS/MAKE UPS:
If the student needs to miss a lesson for sickness, they or their parent/ guardian, if the student is under 18, must let Rachel know at least 24 hours before their missed lesson. If they need to miss due to an other activity or vacation, they must contact Rachel at least a week from their next scheduled lesson in advance to prevent from forfeiting the lesson. All make ups will be scheduled within 4 weeks from the missed lesson. If rescheduled lesson or make up lesson is missed, no new make up will be given unless Rachel is not able to teach for some rare reason.

LATENESS:
If a student is going to be late they need to contact Rachel as soon as possible, to let her know they will be late. Lessons will end on time unless she is able to extend the lesson due to a late student or her schedule allows for it though please understand, Rachel would be extending a courtesy and would not be obligated to do so. If on the rare occasion Rachel is running late, she will always make up the time.

SITTING IN: Parents/Guardians are ONLY permitted to stay for the first lesson and are NOT permitted to sit in for any other lesson/class unless invited. This is to promote good/strong teacher-student relationship quickly and easily. Also, many times students feel more comfortable when their parents/guardians leave.

"I try to be as fair as possible to both parties when it comes to cancellations, rescheduling, lateness, and make ups. Have a concern or question? Just talk with me. I'm all about communication!" - Rachel