Villanova, PA Singing Lessons

I am an active professional singer with six years of teaching experience. My students include a range of levels and ages who vary in musical aspirations and sing in many different styles, including opera, art song, jazz, blues, pop, and musical theater. My students have gone on to sing on Broadway, pursue music and theater degrees, compete and win competitions. Many of my students also study piano or guitar in order to increase musicianship and independence in study. Students are given every opportunity to become well-rounded, performing musicians when studying with me. I am a friendly, open-minded, enthusiastic musician who loves teaching others!

My approach is fun, simple, and easy to understand. I focus on getting a strong foundation and excellent first experience with music. The child will be given a lesson and theory book to work from, but will also be encouraged to sing music they personally like. This keeps the child motivated to practice and adds an element of fun! These songs can then be used in our recitals, for auditions, or put in their personal repertoire book.

I have also successfully prepared many students for their Cab Calloway School for the Arts auditions and have made it in.

Lessons consist of learning a solid vocal technique, and learning various repertoire from Broadway, pop, to classical. Also, performing skills will be incorporated, so that the singer feels comfortable acting the song as well. I strongly believe that singers must be actors, and that is what makes us different from instrumentalists. It is also a lot of fun! For children or adults who are willing, I also teach sight singing and spend some of the lessons time learning some basic reading skills.

I have been teaching for the past 8 years and am passionate about healthy, comfortable singing. My lessons are structured to include vocal warmups/technique exercises, sight singing to strengthen musicianship, and then the working of repertoire. I will have suggestions for repertoire, but also am happy to work on anything the student may be interested in.

As a professional opera singer and recitalist, Rachel uses her first-hand experience in the business to guide her students and to teach them healthy vocal technique. Her students find her to be energetic, warm, and one of her biggest goals is to make her students feel more empowered when they leave than when they arrived. Music is a transformative art form and she hopes to enrich her student’s lives.

Learning proper singing technique is essential for the health of singers of all ages and genres. And YES! Everyone can sing! Rachel personalizes each lesson to her students' needs and provides a safe and fun atmosphere that is essential to creative learning. Musicianship, better intonation, breath control, support, tone quality, freedom of sound, and a love of music are all topics covered in voice lessons.

I love teaching. I go into every lesson with the belief that the student is there to learn; if they weren't interested in learning, they wouldn't be there. Because I have always had diverse musical interests, I create a stress-free atmosphere for my students by allowing them to pursue whatever avenues of music interest them. My degrees may be in Jazz Studies and Performance, but I have extensive experience with Classical and Popular music; I provide a unique perspective and enthusiasm to every student.

I'm classically-trained in voice with a versatile sound and style. I've an extensive background in performing and teaching. I'll show you how to expressed musical themes through tempo, phrasing, volume and dynamics; perform as a soloist or with ensembles. I'll help you through the challenging parts of your song selection . As we approach the conception of music and arts together we will enhances your ability to focus and perform better anywhere!

I like to balance both the science and the intuitive as a teacher, and think both are equally important. I come with a strong background in voice anatomy as well as an intuitive sense of physical and vocal tensions. I use a trusty toolkit of exercises and "voice hacks" to help achieve your best sound as easily as possible.

In each lesson I'll assess and learn your voice through specific exercises first, followed by working through the music you love to help you achieve increased vocal freedom and the level of expression you desire. The focus is on the balance of ease and effort - with the occasional yoga pose thrown in for good measure. :)

In my voice studio we will sharpen all of the tools relevant to the art form and have a great time doing it! We will explore vocal technique, breath support, diction, repertoire selection, stage craft, audition consultation, et al. All experience levels are welcome! I will be teaching out of my Alma Mater, the Academy of Vocal Arts, right off Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.