Vocal Training with Dena M.

Dena Murray’s performance career has included musical theatre productions, television and motion picture work, and singing for radio commercials. Specializing in vocal coaching and technique for over 25 years, her passion has been to help singers to achieve their dreams. Dena teaches privately in home and online, working with both beginning and professional singers worldwide. Additionally, she is Patron for The Voice College and contracted to work internationally online as a master teacher and coach. She is also a key Subject Matter Expert for The Modern Vocalist, a large and growing website serving the needs of vocalists internationally. In 1994, she joined the teaching staff at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. From 1996-2006, Dena coordinated the technique taught by all of the vocal instructors and wrote the curriculum for that department. Some of her students have included Sarah Hudson, Holly Valentine (Hyper Crush), Michael Salerno (Gemini Syndrome), Jon Hensley, Lauren Adams, Adeline Mocke, Alitsiya, demo-and-session artists, as well as voice talent from CBS, NBC, HBO, motion picture films, and television. Dena’s first book, “Vocal Technique: A Guide to Finding Your Real Voice” (Hal Leonard Publications, 2002), features an introduction to the vocal mechanism and why it might be necessary to separate the head and chest registers before bridging the voice. Her second book, co-authored by Tita Hutchison, “Advanced Vocal Technique: Middle Voice, Placement, and Styles” (Hal Leonard Publications, 2008) describes a unique method for proper mask placement through every physical sensation, and how to practically apply it to all styles of singing. Her last book, “Vocal Strength & Power: Boost Your Singing with Proper Technique and Breathing” (Hal Leonard Publications, 2009) is a culmination of all of her years coaching and teaching vocal technique to singers that contains little known secrets behind the art of breath technique for a much more powerful one-register sound, and how to keep the throat open while singing. Dena graduated from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, with a Bachelor of Science in Speech.