Singing with Mary V.

Hello! Please note: I'm interested in experienced/dedicated students ages 14 and up (this includes adults). Advanced/serious singers welcome, experienced teenagers & adults welcome to write me and see if we are a good fit. My studio mainly consists of advanced, professional singers as well as college students pursuing Music Degrees and high school students preparing for school whom are very active in their music/choral/band/orchestra/theater programs. If this sounds right for you, read below: About Me as a Teacher: I’m a dramatic soprano living in Germany, currently pursuing my Master’s Degree at the Hochschule Franz Lizst in Weimar. I have done a lot of work on my technique through the years - having a voice type that is by definition high maintenance, I have a lot of insight into technique as the training for this type of voice is extensive by necessity. It was a long road - I was first considered a mezzo, then a soprano, then I worked internationally as a dramatic coloratura, after which I developed towards a spinto in my thirties before my voice finally settled. All this development has been made possible by my having worked with stellar pedagogues, and the journey has itself given me a large perspective about technical issues. I speak Italian, Russian and German. I believe that the best hope for any young singer to improve technique is through diversified repertoire (Musical Theater, Pop, Classical, etc;). I have students singing and competing in many genres but one thing my students have in common is the discipline to work in this diversified manner. Many of my students have been with me for 3 or even 4 years and see the benefits that classical has given their musical theater, particularly with flexibility. My approach is to assign repertoire that confronts technical issues, not avoids them. I think this is a massive mistake with voice teachers these days. No high notes? Sing something lower. No flexibility? Sing something simple. No range? Let's pick a song with less notes. This is NOT how I work and it is important that anyone interested in lessons with me understands this. My students enjoy the benefits of improved technique outside of lessons. In lessons we work hard. Lesson Format 30m lesson: Warm-Ups (15m) Pieces/Songs (15m) 45m lesson: Warm-Ups (15m) Classical Piece (15m) Musical Theater Piece (15m) 60m lesson: Warm-Ups (25m) Classical Piece (15-20m) Musical Theater Piece (15-20m) Recommendations: Beginners: One 30m session per week Enthusiastic Beginner: Two 30m sessions per week Intermediate Student: One 45m session per week Advanced/Experienced Beginners: One 45m session per week Intermediate-Advanced: One 60m session per week Clarification about level (please read to assess yourself) Beginner: No experience, interested in trying out Enthusiastic Beginner: No experience, motivated Intermediate Student and/or Advanced Experienced Beginner Students: Students who have either already taken lessons, or students heavily involved in their Choir/Musical Theater/Band/Orchestra etc; therefore have experience in Musical settings Intermediate-Advanced: Experienced with lessons & technical work, looking to move forward. Who I am not good for: Students who are not ready to confront their technical shortcomings. Students who want to sing in voice lessons for fun, not for improvement. (By the way, improving can be fun-but it does confront issues.) People who are not willing to have a flexible approach to repertoire for technical growth. People who are not ready to be confronted with direct feedback.