About
Welcome to XOXO Music Studio!
Xan Oliva is a recent graduate of Arizona State University's Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre Performance program. She is now based in Manhattan, NYC and is represented by the Carson-Adler Agency, Inc. Since moving to NYC, she has been seen in Ramona, a New Musical (Swing) and Scandusical (Swing). She was also performing on The Polar Express Train Ride during the holiday season.
Coming from a musical family, Xan has been involved in the musical arts since the age of 5. Since then, she has been seen in countless musicals and operas throughout California, Arizona, and New York City. She has had over 10 years of vocal training that has helped her find a passion for teaching others to use their own unique voices. Xan has many awards and nominations such as the NATS Cal-Western Regional Student Competition (second place), CMEA State Solo and Ensemble Festival Rating Superior/Gold, the Asya Pleskach Scholarship for Young Choral Singers, as well as the SARTA Elly Award nomination (Best Actress in a Play). She also has released her self-written pop singles, "Sorry For Myself" and "Already Missing You", available on all streaming platforms.
Xan loves teaching all styles of vocal performance, but specializes in musical theatre and pop. She is also known for her impersonations of unique voices, such as that of Britney Spears. Xan is great at preparing students for musical theatre auditions-she can teach everything from finding that perfect 16 bars, to talking to the accompanist and what actually happens in the audition room. She has the inside scoop on the NYC musical theatre audition scene. Xan also teaches beginning piano and songwriting. With a Bachelor of Music, she is not only proficient in the performance arts, but also highly knowledgeable of music theory, piano, sight-singing, harmony, music history, choral conducting, and more.
Xan is extremely outgoing, energetic and positive. She believes encouragement is necessary for her students to gain confidence and make improvement. She tries to make her classroom a safe place to make mistakes so that students may try things that ultimately lead to growth. She truly believes that everyone can and should engage in musical activities!
Check out her website to learn more!:
Xan XOXO (xanxoxomusic.com)
I am passionate about music and sharing it with the world!
I love watching students gain confidence in their talents.
Music and performing arts has had such a positive impact on my life- I love helping others have that same experience.
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Emily K.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Voice Lessons: Our first meeting is all about getting to know you and your unique voice! We will have a quick chat about goals and needs and then get to singing! We will start with vocal exercises tailored to your specific voice and move to full songs or audition cuts. I work in a very positive and encouraging fashion. Students can expect to learn great vocal technique while gaining confidence!
Piano: Do you want to be able to play your favorite tunes on the piano? I can help with that!
In our first meeting, we will talk about your goals and experience. Then, we will start learning based on where you are in your piano playing journey.
Don't read music? No problem-we will start with the basics: basic music theory like pitches and rhythms. We will learn exercises to get your hands used to playing the keys and then start with songs! Piano isn't nearly as complicated as it seems. Everyone can play!
Musical Theatre Audition Prep: Do you have a passion for musical theatre? Does the sound of an audience applauding take you to your “happy place”? Do you dream of making it big in New York City? Or maybe just want to step out of your comfort zone and be part of your high school or community theatre production? In order to do that, odds are you will have to audition at some point!
Auditions can be nerve-wracking, but they don’t have to be. There is a whole psychological component to auditioning, and through being a professional performer in New York City, I have accumulated tips and tricks to help you put on your best performance.
During our first meeting, we will talk about your goals and experience with performing. Then, we will get to work!
You will learn about cuttings, repertoire, headshots/resumes, "in the room" etiquette, the psychological side of audition, tips for nerves, and more!
If you are not a "beginner" at auditioning, we can jump ahead of the basics and just focus on the performance of the cut! We can work on song intepretation, acting the song, style, etc. If you just need to perform the song in front of somebody and have them give feedback, I'm here for you!
Songwriting: Have you ever wanted to write a song? Me too! I have been writing songs since I was 11. It's a fun and engaging way to process emotions and situations! I will give you tricks and tips on how to take what's in your head and put it out into the world! We will work on writing the perfect melody for the song, picking the best word choices for the lyrics, and finding the perfect chords to match!
In our first meeting, we will talk about your goals with songwriting and start writing a song!
Music Theory: Do you want to learn to read music? It may seem like a daunting challenge, but it is just like learning a new language! We will start with the basics- musical terms, note names, rhythm, etc. Music Theory is like anything- it just takes practice!
In our first meeting, I want to get a sense of your level with music theory. I might give you a little quiz to see where you are at, unless you are a complete beginner!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Arizona State University:
BACHELOR OF MUSIC: MUSIC THEATRE PERFORMANCE