RPM Vocal Studio

RPM Vocal Studio

5.0 (6)
2 employees
16 years in business

About this pro

Come train at RPM Vocal Studios here in New York City with Kevin Richards. If you are looking to fully develop your singing voice to it's maximum potential, nothing works better than private voice lessons. rpmvocalstudio.com

I am passionate about seeing singers and performers realize and become the artists they truly want to be. I know that sounds hokey, but it's true. Many vocal teachers are just revolving doors for students and don't take much interest in their careers - I really do. Whenever I can, I attend my student's performances, advertise their music on my YouTube channel and have them be opening acts for my own music projects. I care about my students development and success. Their success is my success.

Read more about this pro


Credentials

New York, NY 10018
Email verified
Phone verified

6 Reviews

5.0

  • Robert Flores

    Kevin is an awesome teacher! He really knows a ton about the voice and can easily explain techniques in a fundamental way as well as complex depending on your level of understanding and interest. He listens and is extremely helpful in aiding you in achieving the style you're going for which is by far my favorite part about taking lessons with him. He doesn't try to sway you from doing what you want to do! I highly recommend taking lessons with him. Did I mention he doesn't butcher your wallet like a lot of other vocal coaches?

  • Courtney A.

    Patient, Kind and Individualistic Teaching Style

  • Andrea

    I just recently started lessons with Kevin as my first venture into rock vocals after classical training. I have already grown and expanded as a vocalist and learned a lot. I'm excited to keep working with him

  • Dominic

    Kevin is an outstanding teacher who understands how to develop the skill of high range rock singing like no other I have come across. Attempting to learn rock singing from RnB, pop, jazz, opera or musical theatre singing teachers is simply a waste of time since rock singing is its own arcane animal quite distinct from other singing styles. If you want results get lessons from Kevin!


Show all reviews

FAQs


What is your typical process for working with a new student?

Each student is different so the process is different each time. Singers come to me with different levels of natural talent, different built in strength and weakenesses. My job in the first lesson is to assess the students abilities to determine a course of action. I DO NOT teach out of a book nor do I follow a strict a method of singing or teaching. I draw from every method out there to help the student see the best results quickly. There is no "one size fits all" method to teaching someone to sing properly.


What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I  have been studying and reseaching the voice for 25 years, collecting and reading well over 200 books on the subject. I also trained for over 10 years with various teachers from different methods of teaching. I do not believe a piece of paper from a university qualifies someone to teach an art. Experience is the best teacher and I have been performing professionally as a musician for 35 years to audiences of 15 to 15,000 - for me there is no better teacher. I am STILL an active performer, out there, lugging equipment, hitting the lights and putting on a great show. Not many teachers out there are active performers playing 50-75 shows a year. They simply can't relate to putting on a show in today's market - I can.


Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.

Yes, but students need to contact me for pricing.I do not share that with competitors.


How did you get started teaching?

I started teaching as a full time job 12 years ago after deciding I wanted to work for myself and not for someone else anymore. Before that I was a web designer and graphic artist for 20 years.

Although I still design and build everything related to my teaching profession, I enjoy teaching much more than graphic design.


What types of students have you worked with?

I have worked with every type of artist - folk, country, Rap, Hip-Hop. Pop. Rock, Heavy Metal, Opera, Broadway and even a barbershop quartet.

Many teachers price themselves into a market where they only work with working professional singers or kids in a wealthy family - all to avoid teaching beginners and intermediates. That's lazy teaching to me. I LOVE working with beginners - seeing their progress and confidence grow.


Describe a recent event you are fond of.

Singing before 6,000 at an outdoor music festival in Delaware this past June.  Although I have done shows to that many people and more, the crowd at this event were exceptionally enthusiastic for our band and the music we were playing. Nothing is more exciting than having 6,000 people singing along with you to a song.


What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?

Look for a teacher who understands the type of music you are singing and can relate to you as a performer. Make sure they can actually demonstrate what they teach and can answer ANY question about singing (technique/vocal issues/performing).

If a teacher can't explain a simple thing like resonance to you and you can instantly understand it and apply it, move on and keep looking.


What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?

Students should ask a teacher:
1. When is the last time they performed live for more than 1 hour?

2. Are they familiar with how to teach various style of music and can they sing them?

3. If they a male teacher - can they blend their voice seamlessly from chest into head voice without falsetto?

4. Do they teach every student the same way or do they adapt their teaching to fit the student?

5. What is their lesson payment and cancelation policy?

6. Can they help them learn to perform on stage better?