About
I am incredibly passionate about teaching musical genres including musical theater, classical, opera, R&B, pop and jazz for voice and piano. I am currently working with students of all ages and would encourage anyone who wants to explore their musical potential to take a chance putting themselves out there. I have witnessed music being an outlet for many people, offering relief from our mundane daily lives, and it has been known to release stress, improve memory, help with speech problems, teach empathy, remind us to breathe and strengthen our deepest intuitions.
Singing has become a way of living- a form of expression and I can't wait to continue helping my students find their own artistic outlets as well. I am also a member of the New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA) and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and teach lessons regarding vocal technique, repertoire coaching, dramatic or acting coaching, career counseling, music notation and theory. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any further questions!
With a B.M. in vocal performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, soprano Selena Siri has developed her interest in music since she learned to play the piano as a child. Her most recent engagements singing Mozart include the 1st Lady in Die Zauberflöte (2020), Susanna and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro with the New York Lyric Opera (2019). She received her debut with the Greek Opera Studio as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro (2016) and continues to work in finding a deeper understanding of singing. Other appearances in The Rutgers Opera Chorus include Così fan tutte (2016), L'Enfant et les Sortilèges (2016), Fidelio (2017), Dialogues des Carmélites (2017) and Die Zauberflöte (2017) where she performed Pamina in the Act II finale with the Rutgers Voorhees Choir.
Prior to this experience she also received 1st place in the Washington D.C. regional round of the 水立方 Shui Li Fang pop singing competition where she competed in the final round in Beijing, China and 1st place in the NJ NATS competition (2014). She was also involved in many musical theatre productions including TiMoune in Once on this Island (2014) and Rapunzel in Into the Woods (2013). Offstage she continues to encourage students to find freedom in their practice while improving their technique. By doing so she continues to expand her knowledge by teaching piano and voice lessons in her private studio as an apprentice teacher with the New York Singing Teachers Association and National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Website: https://selenasiri.com/private-lessons
Facebook: Selena Siri, Soprano
Instagram: sirivoicestudio
LinkedIn: Selena Siri
I feel an innate responsibility to listen not only to external sounds but to the whole human being standing in front of me, just as my most influential voice teachers have done. I understand that there can often be “baggage” that can come with singing either from emotional blockages or physical limitations that a student is dealing with, and that is why I hope to create a safe and nurturing environment for students to explore their potential.
At the end of the day, the goal of singing is not to sound perfect or imitate our favorite celebrities on the radio; One of my favorite professors once told me “We sing who we are” and once we begin to accept all aspects of ourselves as an individual, the more confidence and enjoyment we will gain from music.
Highlights
Photos and videos
Reviews
Erica Z.
ML
Alan J.
John S.
Roux B.
Alexis A.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I offer the first trial lesson at a discount of $30; Here, I thoroughly assess a new client's experience, interests and goals for singing or piano. Depending on the student's interests they can choose whether to continue on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. All the lessons are individually tailored to each client's needs in order to protect the uniqueness of each person's character.
I have a 24-hour cancellation policy to make sure I can fill that slot with another student who may be interested. Also I ask that payments for online lessons are made at the time of booking. Otherwise I am not able to guarantee a slot for that student. Acceptable methods include PayPal, Zelle, Square, or Stripe.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 2020
New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA) 2018-20
B.M. Voice Performance - Mason Gross School of the Arts Rutgers University, Class of 2019
New York Lyric Opera Summer Program, 2019
The Greek Opera Studio, Summer Opera Training 2016
"Shui Li Fang" Beijing Pop-Singing Training Program 2015
Rider University, Musical Theatre Intensive, 2014
Mason Gross School of the Arts "You Need To Be On Broadway" Musical Theatre Training Program, 2014
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Lessons are offered for 30, 45 and 60 minutes with very reasonable rates.
Packages of 4 receive 11% off, and packages of 10 receive 20% off.
How did you get started teaching?
As a teenager I loved singing pop and musical theater songs from shows such as Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde, Jekyll and Hyde, Hedwig, Chicago, Funny Girl, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, you name it! I later realized that my voice had plenty of vibrato, as pointed out by my former voice teacher, and perhaps it was better suited for operatic singing. After this realization I gave classical music a try and discovered I really loved it. I continued in my studies at Rutgers University along with several operatic training programs which led me to sing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The National Opera Center (NYC), Apollo Theater (Greece), Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing) as well as other stages throughout the U.S. I am so grateful to have learned from various styles of teaching from all over the world and have noticed many overlaping ideas about breathing and resonance. I hope to use my skills to help my students find their healthiest, most authentic voice possible!
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages are welcome! I have worked with students as young as 4 years old to adults 65 years old. What I have learned from kids and teenagers is that new ideas work best when they are introduced in a creative way. As much as I help my younger students, I am fulfilled by the unique expressiveness they each bring to their lessons.
Also, I've heard a lot of adults tell me "It's too late for me", but that is the biggest fallacy on the planet since the voice is supposed to become richer with maturity. I truly enjoy working with them in musical styles including pop, rock, jazz, musical theater, classical and opera!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Performing in the "Shui Li Fang" Chinese pop-singing competition was a life changing experience for me. It took several months of preparation for songs sung completely in Mandarin, and since I did not speak the language at the time it was quite an adventure! I struggled initially with the communication barrier although it taught me an important lesson that I still choose to pass onto my students: human expression has no limits. Throughout the competition I did what I could with the acting, intentions, and feelings of each song and was fortunate to become one of 12 finalists on CCTV. I will always remember the struggle I dealt with here for whatever I apply myself towards and I encourage my students to do the same for any of their goals!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
What musical styles are the most enjoyable for you? What is your 'raison d'etre' (in other words, purpose)? What makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning? It is so important to hold onto your passions and remember why you wanted to study it in the first place.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Does my teacher understand my goals? Are they relatable? Am I able to communicate effectively on what I need? Does the teacher explain concepts in a way that keeps me motivated?