About
Melissa is a singing voice specialist with a passion for teaching grounded in science and healthy use of the voice while meeting the demands of musical theatre performance. Her lessons are specifically tailored to meet each individual singer’s needs and goals through functional exercises and repertoire coaching.
Melissa completed all three levels of certification in Somatic Voicework TM: The Lovetri Method for Contemporary Commercial Music. She was formally trained by Dr. Katherine Verdolini Abbott in Voice Therapy Spectrum (VTS), which includes Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) and Casper-Stone Confidential Flow Therapy (CSCFT). Additionally, she participated in Dr. Edie Hapner and Dr. Aaron Ziegler's phonation resistance training exercises (PhoRTE) workshop. Melissa regularly attends vocal pedagogy courses, events, and conventions to continue her knowledge of the science and art of singing.
With over fifteen years of singing and performance experience, Melissa is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s Musical Theatre Integrated Program and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from The New School University. When not teaching, she is working on her Master of Science (M.S.) in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University (NYU) so that she can also work with injured performers' voices and conduct voice-related research. She has been performing steadily Off-Broadway, including principal roles in productions at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre and Times Square Arts Center.
Professional Affiliations:
•National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
•New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA)
•Somatic VoiceworkTM Teachers' Association
•The Voice Foundation
•Pan American Vocology Association
•American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Group 3: Voice and Upper Airway Disorders
•National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
•New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NYSSLHA)
Research:
•Honors Master of Science Thesis: “Voice Patients with Acid Reflux: Students’ Perceptions of the Efficacy of Lifestyle Changes" with Dr. Celia Stewart, CCC-SLP (In-progress)
•Member of NYU Langone Voice Center's Research Lab with Dr. Aaron Johnson, CCC-SLP
Reviews
Jurij 2.
Rob A.
Alex S.
Matt T.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Melissa generally begins the initial consultation discussing your vocal background and goals. Lessons may include voice function exercises and/or application of technique to repertoire. Each lesson is individually tailored to meet the needs and goals of each student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Melissa is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s Musical Theatre Integrated Program and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from The New School University. She received her Master of Science (M.S.) in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University (NYU) where she worked with injured performers' voices and conducted voice-related research. She has been performing steadily Off-Broadway, including principal roles in productions at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre and Times Square Arts Center.
Melissa completed all three levels of certification in Somatic Voicework ™: The Lovetri Method for Contemporary Commercial Music. She was formally trained by Dr. Katherine Verdolini Abbott in Voice Therapy Spectrum (VTS), which includes Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) and Casper-Stone Confidential Flow Therapy (CSCFT). Additionally, she participated in Dr. Edie Hapner and Dr. Aaron Ziegler's phonation resistance training exercises (PhoRTE) workshop. Melissa regularly attends vocal pedagogy courses, events, and conventions to continue her knowledge of the science and art of singing.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Online lesson rate: $100/hour
How did you get started teaching?
I have been taking private voice lessons and performing since I was eight years old. My voice teacher urged me to teach voice lessons when I moved to NYC to pursue acting and singing. I developed a passion for helping students achieve the sound they want in a healthy way. Then I got interested in singing voice rehabilitation after meeting voice pathologists who help Broadway performers maintain their vocal health.
What types of students have you worked with?
Beginner to advanced children and adults. Specialization in aspiring and professional musical theatre singers.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
When looking for a musical theatre voice teacher, I first determine what type of vocal pedagogy training they have had. I make sure the vocal pedagogy method is for contemporary singing (not classical). The method should have an accurate basis in anatomy/physiology and not involve direct manipulation of the structures inside the throat.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I love to know what your singing goals are.