The Menconi Performance Studio (Arts Education Division Of Sunshine Face Productions)
About
BY THE TIME STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM LESSONS THEY:
1. Gain a lifelong, solid, consistent, and healthy technique that they can always count on in practice and performance.
2. Gain specific technical and personal notes in a notebook and/or computer file that is organized and always accessible for review.
3. Gain artistry, performance skills, and a strong voice that will look/sound authentic; Singers will sound appropriate to whatever style of music they are singing. (No fake sound or look.) Actors will just be in the moment and truthful whether they are on stage or in front of the camera.
4. Gain the confidence to always put on a great performance.
5. Gain focus and a more productive mind frame.
6. Become self-sufficient by knowing how to assess a problem and then fix it without creating a new issue.
ABOUT THE STUDIO:
The Menconi Performance Studio: Where you not only learn healthy technique, but how to become a self-sufficient artist. Professional training and customized programs in singing and acting technique. All learning styles, all ages, and all levels. Private lessons and group classes.
We prepare our students for the real world with up to date training (singing and acting) and both performance opportunities and showcases in front of industry professionals when students are ready.
Students come from all walks of life. All voice types, all ages, all levels, all mediums (TV-film-theatre), all character - ingenue actors, and ALL genres (Rock, Pop, Alternative, Funk, Soul, Musical Theater, R&B, Jazz, Opera) welcome!
Rachel Menconi's (Owner) students have gone on national tours, released albums, are in bands, have been cast in regional/Off-Off-Broadway/Off-Broadway Theatre, movies (Noah, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Finally Famous), commercials (Sleepy's, Optimum Business, Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Beats By Dre, JC Penny), music videos, and on TV (Royal Pains, Smash, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Law and Order: SVU, & NBC's The Voice competition).
Whether you are a parent looking for instruction for your child, or for yourself, Rachel can customize the right program that best suits your needs. Her students come from all walks of life and have different goals, but they all have one thing in common. They love performing and have the desire to be the best at their chosen craft (singing/acting).
Some students want to sing for themselves, others want to sing for a hobby, and others want to be professional performers. That's where Rachel comes in. No matter what your goals are, as long as your serious about lessons and getting better, she can help. Rachel teaches her students how to become true artists without tearing them down and without taking away the part of them that makes them unique.
Learning how to sing is a process and doesn't happen overnight. Rachel's ultimate goal as a teacher is to not only make her students the best performers and singers they can be, but also give them all of the proper tools they need to have a more productive mind frame and become self-sufficient. Of course this can take years to master. It takes time and dedication.
I love it when the light bulb goes off in my students' heads and they have their "Ah-ha!" moment! Mini breakthroughs in lessons lead to bigger ones and when a person is enrolled in a singing and/or acting training program, it is a very personal process they go through to become the best artists they can be. Each student learns a lot about themselves along the way. As a teacher, it's wonderful to see my students grow as performers/artists but it's even more rewarding to see them grow as people (more confidence, true self-trust, self-worth, and self belief).
Photos and videos
Reviews
Elaine R.
Patricia T.
Mike N.
Joshua S.
Danny G.
Jacqui S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I find out what each student's short and long term goals are. Since everyone is different and learns differently, I find out what each students' learning style is so I can start helping them as quickly as possible.
I challenge each student without indimidation and I make sure not to tear down their spirits or take away that part of them that makes them unique.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Rachel Menconi (Owner/Teacher/Actor) loves her job and feels so fortunate that she is able to share her passion of the performing arts by teaching, performing, writing, recording, and directing.
Rachel is a member of SAG-AFTRA, The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS certified), Voice And Speech Trainers Association (VASTA), NARAS (The Grammy Awards), New Jersey Theatre Alliance, NJMEA, NAfME, NAMTA, MAC, The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and BMI.
As an arts educator, Rachel has been teaching Bel Canto singing technique for the modern singer and Stella Adler-Stanislavsky-Chekhov-Meisner acting technique for all mediums (theater, on-camera) for 17+ years to children, teens, and adults.
Rachel has trained at The Hages Music Studio under a master teacher for 20+ years in the Bel Canto singing technique for all genres, studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC as well as recorded and released her first album called "Just Meant To Be". Other credits include commercials, films, TV shows (One Tree Hill, AMC, Food Network), music videos (including Rachel's singles "Don't Even Try", "You Will Love On"), & numerous stage credits (Off-Broadway/NYC Theatre). Rachel most recently was seen in the reading of a new play "Vanishing Son" by Peter Gil-Sheridan performed in NYC.
As an artist, Rachel has been performing for 27+ years, has performed in front of sold out crowds, and has been honored with many standing ovations. Other honors include magazine covers, featured articles, singing to thousands of people, studio recordings/albums, originated the role of "Antigone" in "Oedipus: The Musical", 2002 Helen Hayes Nomination for" Outstanding Vocal Performance in a Musical" ("Miss Adelaide" in "Guys And Dolls"), WINNER of the "I Like It Award" for Female Vocalist by JPF/SP PRODUCTIONS/PROMOTIONS, & 2008 finalist for NYC Singing Idol Competition. Rachel has also been fortunate to have worked & performed with many people in the business including Grammy-Tony-Emmy Award Winners/Nominees.
With 14+ years as a director of theater and on camera projects, Rachel is also a songwriter (18+ years), scriptwriter (10+ years), casting director (8+ years), vocal director (15+ years), Choreographer (6+ years), and an international recording artist (12+ years).
Rachel is fully background checked with fingerprinting.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing is on a sliding scale.
2018 Prices:
Every Week:
$75 per hour
$65 per 45 minutes.
Every Other Week (Bi-weekly; every other week):
$85 per hour
$75 per 45 minutes
Once a month $100 per hour
Technical Group On-Going Class: $40 per class
If pre-pay for 3 months, classes become $35 per class.
If Prepay for 6 months, classes $30 per class.
If Pre-pay for 7 months+, classes become $25 per class.
Performance/Technical Group Class (6 month class of technique/performing technique building; Includes a guarenteed performance at end of each session in a NJ or NYC venue and DVD of performance): $2,000 per person per session.
All private lessons and group classes are prepaid monthly before lessons start. There is a $5 off per lesson discount if pay for two or more months in advance.
Ask about on location lesson prices.
Ask about the requirements to enroll in our Work Study Program for discounted classes.
WE ACCEPT: Cash, personal check, or Venmo. Other fees will apply if check bounces or may apply if there is a late payment.
How did you get started teaching?
"I started teaching when I was 15 at my musical theater school teaching voice and assisting my director. At that time I had 10 years of musical theater training, 7 years of classical vocal training, 4 years of dance training, and 8 years of on-camera/theater acting trainng.
When the school closed in 2004, I started taking on a few voice and acting students and in 2005 I officially opened my home studio "The Menconi Performance Studio". I teach at different studios through out New Jersey and NY.
As I say in my bio, I love what I do and feel so fortunate that I'm able to share my passion of the arts through teaching, directing, performing, writing, and mentoring. I love my job!" - Rachel Menconi
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages, all backgrounds, all genres, all mediums, and all learning styles.
Minimun group class age: 6 years old
Minumun private lesson age: 8 years old
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
From October 2015-End of July 2016, Rachel directed, vocal directed, music directed, and choreographed for 5 shows. She also wrote 4 out of the 5 shows.
Rachel is proud that all shows and casts recieved rave reviews. She is especially proud that cast commented on their big technique growth and how much they learned about themselves during the rehearsal process.
Currently Rachel is the director of an untitled comedy webseries. Season one is in the process of being filmed.
Rachel starts theater directing again in October 2016.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure you feel comfortable speaking with the teacher. The teacher also needs to feel comefortable with the student as well. Both the teacher and student should be working as a team in order for the student to be the best they can be.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What can you do for me? What are the benefits? What is your policy?