Marissa V.

My musical journey started in high school when my algebra teacher saw me in the hallway, grabbed my hand and brought me to the choir room to sign up for The Sound of Music auditions. To this day I cannot believe my math teacher unknowingly sent me straight down a path that I would walk the rest of my life. After The Sound Of Music I never left music. I kept singing in high school by participating in the school musicals and different choir ensembles. When it came to college I started taking private lessons and music classes for fun until I realized this is my passion and I wanted to make a life of this. When you wake up everyday and the first thing you do is sing at that point there was no other way to live. There I started my journey with really learning the voice as an instrument and how it works. I found that I am a vocal scientist at heart believing you will go a long way as long as you know how to grow. Being a vocal scientist, I find it so interesting to know what exactly needs to happen when we sing in order sing in a healthy and beautiful manner.

While I was at Moraine Valley after I firmly chose music I felt I needed more of a diverse program so I can answer any possible music based question. I then went on to get my degree at VanderCook College of Music where they teach nothing but music education. Their program intensely teaches all the band and orchestral instruments on top general education classes and your major, mine being voice. While I was there I also took the time to study privately with our percussion professor to learn rhythms and with our sight singing and ear training professor to further develop my ear and knowledge. All in all I have been studying the voice for 13 years and counting. I do all this so that I could pass that experience down to you.

▪Lesson Details▪
In my lessons I like to teach vocal techniques such as raising your soft palate, correct breathing techniques, and a forward placement. These are the tools to help a vocal musician grow for the rest of their lives.

Another part of being a vocal musician that I teach is ear training and or rhythm. These are things I wish I would have learned earlier on and are essential to being an independent musician.

Expression (including body movements, hand gestures, facial expression, and musical expression such as accents and dynamics) are a large part of performing as a vocalist and are definitely things we prepare as well.

I like to keep a more uplifting environment when teaching so although you should expect a push for success, you should always feel comfortable and not afraid to make mistakes.

▪Performance opportunities▪
Studio vocal recitals

▪Studio Equipment▪
Lessons in the studio room, electric piano

▪Travel Equipment▪
I can provide literature and a music stand while the students should have a full length keyboard and or piano.

▪Specialties▪
I teach rhythm, sight singing and ear training, general musical terms, expression, and specific vocal techniques.