Singing with Melissa F.

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to learn a bit more about me! I’m Melissa Folzenlogen, aka Baethoven, a Black and Japanese NY born and raised multi-instrumentalist and singer. I started studying music, specifically violin at 4 years old, and basically never stopped. I’ve played on streets and train cars, I’ve played at SXSW, Lincoln Center and NPR’s Tiny Desk, I’ve done weddings, graduations, parties, festivals, recordings, and surprise marriage proposals (one of my favorite things to do) and I’ve been teaching music all the while! I’ve had students for voice, guitar, bass, ukulele, piano and theory/composition in many different styles of music for over a decade, and pride myself on making lessons for specific peoples’ goals and needs, and making sure it’s fun while doing so. Over the years I’ve spoken to so many people who once expressed interest in learning music until they had a teacher uninspire them through rigid, judgemental pedagogy - and I never want to do that! My students have fun and learn about music (and sometimes even a bit more about themselves), and leave with a furthered curiosity about music. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Through the blessing that is funding for NYC’s school system, I was lucky enough to start learning violin early, attend several music programs like ISO and Mannes’ pre-college division, and eventually LaGuardia High School and Hunter College. And I couldn’t be more grateful! I think about this everyday, and it is partially why I am so adamant about funding being available for music and art programs for underprivileged youth, and why I often work on a sliding scale for those seeking lessons/performances but have limited means. These programs allowed me to create my own destiny and career in something I love - I don’t know who I’d be without it! So advocating for resources to be made available to those in positions without them, and extending that blessing forward by working with people’s budgets, is very important to me. Whatever your goals are, whatever your focus is, I’m happy to help design a program for you to help you get there. Music theory, improv, composition, technique, expression, ear training, video game/cartoon music, supplementary school tutoring? I’ve helped many students with all of these, and more. If you have any other questions/would like to know more about me, please feel free to reach out, I would love to hear from you. And if you’ve read this far, once again I’d like to thank you for taking some time to read about me. I appreciate it a lot!