Clinton, PA Music Performance Lessons

ere in Pittsburgh premiering works by local composers and created the role of Pamela in the premiere of TOOWHOPERA by composer Sorrel Hays in Rome, GA. On the concert stage, I have recently appeared with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Chattanooga Bach Choir and CreateHere'™s Hops and Opera.

Highlights of my performances include Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflote with West Bay Opera, Stockton Opera, Opera San Jose and Pocket Opera, Despina in Cosi fan tutte with Mission City Opera, Blonde in Abduction from the Seraglio and Yvette in La Rondine with Pocket Opera, Cunegonde in Candide with Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Other roles include Rosa Bud in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Abigail in The Crucible, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Madame Herz in The Impresario, Lucy in Threepenny Opera, Monica in The Medium, and Pamina in The Magic Flute.

I was a featured performer in a series of concerts in Europe, South America, and Australia aboard Cunard'™s Vistafjord and Royal Viking Sun.

I was named a world finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a semi-finalist in the Jenny Lind Competition and a regional winner in the MacAllister Competition.

*** Lesson Details ***
Whether it is preparing for a competition, an audition or a role for the school play, I enjoy helping students of all ages reach their goals. I structure the curriculum to the individual needs of my students, focusing on healthy vocal technique, musicianship, stage presence, and joy in music.

During your first lesson, you will sing various vocalises to determine how you negotiate the changes in registration, what your vocal range is, and what you have to work on to improve your vocal quality, stamina, and flexibility.

If you do not see an available time, please call Takelessons. I sometimes have availability that is not visible on my calendar.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room: baby grand, couch, chair, bench, small table, adjoining dining room where parents can wait.

joy teaching and want to help you explore your hidden talents and reach your fullest potential. With that in mind, the learning environment in my studio is relaxed and fun. I never condescend or put pressure on a student who makes mistakes. I encourage students to try new techniques and make mistakes along the way. I also work very closely with my students to achieve their own personal goals. I know that there are many different types of learners who all have different aspirations and I feel it is my job to ensure that my students are satisfied with their progress. I understand that someone hoping to attend a conservatory will have different needs than a small child. I promise to give nothing less than the highest quality teaching in an environment conducive to learning.

For piano students, I will spend much time on proper technique and making sure the student does not compromise the wrist, fingers, arms, or back which may create discomfort later. In the first 3-6 months a student can expect to learn technique, repertoire, and basic musicianship skills such as sight reading and transposition.

Composition/ Songwriting students will be coached according to what their specific goals and interests are. I incorporate the technical aspects of writing music along with music business which will help students get their music played and recorded.

Music theory students will practice skills such as four part writing, melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic dictation, modulation, roman numeral analysis, sight singing, and score analysis.

I do encourage the use of specific curricula but I am always willing to explore something new if you have a preference or have found success with something else. I hope that music will give my students lifelong enjoyment and I encourage you to come make music with me.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Aeolian Baby Grand Piano

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect piano students to have their own piano but beginning students can start out on a keyboard if need be. Also, students are responsible for purchasing all books and materials for lessons.

*** Specialties ***
*Teachers classified as a Student Favorite have taught a minimum of 25
lessons and have received the highest feedback rating from students.I specialize in classical piano in all eras from baroque through twenty-first century music. I also am trained in various compositional styles including baroque through twentieth century harmony as well as jazz, pop, and songwriting.

Dominic Castillo, a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, who was a student of Jerry's as well. After studying under these talented musicians, I went on to pursue my education in music and received my BA in Music from San Jose State University in 2004. I started teaching music privately during my time with Jerry and Dominic and continued to teach during college up until the present, and have taught hundreds of students since. I now live in San Diego where I teach, work as a freelance musician, and play in local funk/jazz/rock group Science Fiction Jazz and gypsy/kickstomp outfit Quel Bordel!

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a very easy going, friendly individual who believes that learning music is built upon a strong relationship between teacher and student. This relationship involves good communication, honesty, open mindedness, and most importantly the desire to LEARN and have FUN. I approach teaching music by knowing and understanding the student's musical goals, and teaching fundamentals, theory, and technique through the style(s) of music that the student wants to learn. For beginners, I tend to teach basic techniques and chords through simple songs to get the student playing music as quickly as possible.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living Room: couches, table and TV, music stand, student can borrow instrument for first lesson, parents can sit in on lesson

*** Specialties ***
My main musical styles that I perform and teach are rock, blues, jazz, funk, R&B, and reggae. I studied jazz in college so I also have extensive knowledge of jazz theory.

there after that. I also started teaching at another well respected music school and remained there until the end of 2010. During this time I was very fortunate to have a large database of students who were with me from the beginning of my teaching career up until I left both schools. The only reason I left was as I am also a performer; I was offered an opportunity to perform overseas and i took it. It was a very exciting part of my life as a performer and has helped me grow as an artist and teacher immensely.

In 2012, I relocated to Miami and have been teaching from my private home studio while I continue working on my music career. As a musician and educator, I am very passionate about my teaching and like to bring the best out in my students. Every lesson is tailored specifically to your individual learning needs. I will teach you a vocal technique based on the Seth Riggs Teaching method with my own methods implemented, performance skills, repertoire selection, and audition preparation amongst other skills. It doesn't matter what your desired goal is, I can help you achieve it. The most important part of it all is that you have fun!!

And for piano I like to teach through a series of books depending on your learning levels. We can start at book one, with scales from the book A Dozen a Day, or we can take the the more traditional route of scales, or learn popular songs. This decision can be made by you and I when we meet at our first lesson and discuss what your goals are as a musician.

*** Lesson Details ***
Every lesson is tailored to your individual learning levels. I normally asses this in the first lesson. Lets start with the Singers.

Most singers are looking for help with contemporary popular music so using specific texts are void here. I will teach you a method of singing technique based on the Seth Riggs singing method, implemented with a technique called "Emotion Centered Singing" which will help you understand music beyond melody and composition but also through text and individual interpretation through story telling customed to your needs. I also teach Musical Theatre Singing, pop, rock, jazz, so if these are routes you would like to take, I can help you on your way there. I will help you choose repertoire for auditions, performances, we will work on performance and audition technique and many more fun things!!!

For the Pianists. This also depends on what you want to get out of your lessons. Do you want to learn pop songs? arrangements? Or do you want to learn classical pieces? I ask you all these questions and more at our first lesson to make sure you and I are both happy with the direction we will take. I use either Scale Books or The Dozen a Day Series or the ABRSM Piano series, Alfred's Adult Piano book and many more. Once again the important factor here is Fun based learning!

*** Studio Equipment ***
I provide a full size digital weighted piano for all Lessons, it has various different sounds and a great grand piano sound for piano students. Printer for any homework given, and stationery

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide some books for learning and make copies accordingly. The student should have a working piano/keyboard in the home. If i request they purchase a book for their learning development, they are required to purchase it.

*** Specialties ***
For Singing- I teach a method called Speech Level Singing. Similar to the Seth Riggs Speech level singing as well as a technique called Emotion centered singing which deals with connecting with the song and feeling the connection through the core. This is useful for performance and interpretation. I specialize in teaching, Pop, RnB, Musical Theatre, Rock and Folk

For Piano, I use a variety a books. I particularly like the Alfred's series as well as the Bastien Series. I also like to encourage other learning materials for holidays which is lots of fun!! This depends on the students learning level. I asses learning levels in the first lesson and plan lessons accordingly after that in order to have the student progress each week. I teach classical piano and contemporary, pop

gree in flute performance from Duquesne University, where she studied under Damian Bursill-Hall of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

ou're interested in playing piano, you will learn how to read music and/or play by ear. You'll learn scales, chords, arpeggios, sight-reading, and basic music theory. For singers who are interested in piano, I've developed a great technique to teach you how to accompany yourself.

For songwriters, I can help you write stronger lyrics and set them to music appropriately.

In general, I'm pretty upbeat and fun. However, I expect you to practice. When you practice, you hear and feel the difference and everyone's happy! If you don't practice, you'll remain in the same place, and it's frustrating for everyone. :( Please, please, please practice! :)

My degree in music education and wide range of experience allows me to accommodate different learning styles. I have a knack for breaking down seemingly difficult or mysterious concepts in a way that's easy to understand. I also understand the demands of being a full time musician, and can offer advice to students who are interested in going that route.

I would love to help you enhance your enjoyment of music by making it fun and easy for you to learn!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Upright piano
Yamaha keyboard
Music Stand
Full length mirror
Library of great music
Music theory workbooks
Manuscript paper

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Jazz, R&B, Musical Theater, Gospel, Pop

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.

cials, movies, and other performing artists. I also co-own and co-operate an independent record label. I live in TN with my wife, a small wire-haired terrier that looks like a cartoon character, and an embarrassingly large collection of books and vinyl records.