Opera Voice with Jonathan H.

Teaching philosophy: Taking voice lessons can be a very exciting and wonderful learning experience. It does take dedication and hard work, but can be quite rewarding in the long run. There are many different genres of music and therefore various styles of singing. Although there are no set rules for how a singer should use his/her voice, having a better understanding of how the voice operates is crucial to one’s vocal development. My teaching method focuses on good breathing, vocal support, forward placement, clear diction, and freedom of sound. This technique has a classical base, but can be applied to a variety of musical styles. In addition to exploring contrasting musical styles such as classical music and musical theatre, students also learn to read music and study basic music theory. Students receive a well-rounded education in vocal technique and good musicianship so they will be able to sing all types of music. Along with vocal technique, students learn to sing expressively using various acting and performance techniques. They study the music and lyrics and learn to use gestures and facial expressions to communicate the text and portray the character, attitude, and emotions of a song to the audience. When appropriate, students may also learn to use staging or choreography to enhance their acting skills. With all they learn in voice lessons about both, vocal technique and music theory as well as movement and acting, students are able to use these techniques to strengthen their performance in other venues. My teaching accentuates the positive by first focusing on what is already presently working well with each student and by focusing on what's missing: for example, the natural quality of their voice, and the ability to express their love of singing. I then point out techniques that need to be incorporated, which will produce maximum efficiency in your singing. Whenever a student recognizes the new freedom that this technique brings, they then experience a new found joy and ease. As the voice, is our main form of communication, correctly learning how to use it as a singer adds a further dimension to their connecting with others. Biography Praised for his "robust voice" and "comic flair," North Carolina native Baritone Jonathan H. holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He recently made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium performing Schubert's Mass in G and Mozart's Missa Brevis. He has also appeared as Silvio in Pagliacci with the New Rochelle Opera, as Tiny Tim at the Dicapo Opera Theatre in the world premiere of Thomas Pasatieri's God Bless Us Everyone, as Trigorin in Thomas Pasatieri's The Seagull at the Dicapo Opera Theatre and also at the Szeged National Theatre in Hungary; and on Jimmy Fallon as Walter White in a Breaking Bad opera skit. Other credits include Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with the Martina Arroyo Foundation's Prelude to Performance, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Marcello in La Boheme, the Baron in La Traviata, Belcore in L'elisir d'amore, Dr. Falke in die Fledermaus, Morales in Carmen, Masetto in Don Giovanni, and Starveling in A Midsummer Nights Dream. He also presented a master class at the Cherry Lane Theater during their first annual Intensive Summer Program. His singing has garnered praise from the New York Times, The New York The Daily News and Classical Singer Magazine. "All singing needs to be good singing. Everything else is a matter of style." Regina Resnik. I look forward to working with you!!