About
Hi! I am Elena. I am a musical theater actress, a singer and a theater director. I have been singing since I am four, and this is my most favorite thing to do!
I am certified in vocal pedagogy and have performing experience on different stages - Musical Theater, Rock concerts, cover band performances, voice over recordings. I am an active Musical Theater actress (still auditioning myself, and can help you with that) and recording sessions singer. I am also currently enrolled to the Directing theater program at the university to pursue a theater director's theater pedagogy career.
We all are built differently, so my students can expect a personal approach to their needs and requests. I will design vocal exercises for each student individually, so it fits your voice and nature the best. As a professional actress I believe that every song is a little monologue, so I will teach you how to express your feelings through the song and how to find the best intonation and the way to perform it.
My primary goal as a teacher is to help students understand themselves better. The singing and acting techniques are mostly about how our body and our mind works. I believe that ability to think and to analyze yourself always gives you an advantage either in profession or life.
I teach singing technique for all styles and genres, and coach for Musical Theater or pop and rock music. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your unique voice!
Specialties
Musical styles
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Photos and videos
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The key to successful singing or acting lessons is trust. It's crucial for students to feel open and relaxed. In our first lesson, I focus on building that trust by connecting with the student. I introduce myself, share a bit about me and what we'll be working on, and then encourage students to talk about themselves and their goals. We'll start with a couple of simple exercises, the ones that I call "a register world tour", we'll chat about student's expectations and plans, and then decide what direction to take.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am holding a certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from the New York Vocal Couching. I graduated from the Theater Drama School in Tbilisi, Georgia (the country) and worked in the musical theater there for nine years. Additionally, I am holding a bachelors degree from the Moscow Shchukin Theater University in Theater Directing, as well as currently I am enrolled to the Rider University to confirm my bachelors in this field and get the masters in theater pedagogy. My training in Musical Theater includes studies at various schools in Moscow and the USA. Notably, I participated in Broadway Dreams Foundation School, learning from instructors like Rob McClure and others. I also attended Walnut Street Theater for musical theater classes covering singing, acting, and dancing.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
The standard price for private lessons is $60 for 60 minutes. However, if the student wants to have longer sessions, I can offer a discount. Also I am offering price packages
How did you get started teaching?
When I was taking Directing Theater classes at the Theatrical University in Moscow, I got this offer to teach a children's acting class. That was about 15 years ago. Back then, I didn't feel quite ready, so I turned down the offer. However, the idea stuck with me, and I found myself getting prepared for it in my own way. One day, it just felt right. I headed to the local art education center in my town and proposed singing lessons and acting for puppet theater classes (since I'm also a Puppeteer). My first classes were for small groups of children aged 4-10 and 10-15. Eventually, I started offering private lessons too.
What types of students have you worked with?
I worked with pretty much all the ages (4 years old to 65 years old).
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
The most important thing in studying art dicplines is a trust and connection to a student. So the most advice is to find a right teacher for you personally.