About
I have been inspiring singers and students of the vocal art for over 30 years. Many of my students have been accepted into major music schools in the United States such as The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and Westminster Choir College. I have been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) since 1992, and recently joined the Rhode Island chapter of NATS. In addition to my voice studio in Providence, I have had a voice studio in Philadelphia for 25 years, and held positions of voice faculty and vocal artist in residence at the Hotchkiss Summer Portals Vocal Chamber Music Program in Lakeville, CT, Voice Instructor at Westminster Choir College, and Artist Faculty of Voice at the Westminster Conservatory of Music in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as Haverford College, in Haverford, PA, just outside Philadelphia. As a Brazilian Portuguese Diction Specialist I have coached talented singers at The Curtis Institute of Music, Festival dei Due Mondi (Spoleto, Italy), Westminster Choir College, and at The New York Festival of Song (NYFOS). He have also taught vocal technique and master classes in choral conducting at the Sacred Music Society of São Paulo, Brazil, and have been an invited judge at the Westminster Vocal Scholarship Competition at Westminster Choir College. I hold a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy with distinction and a Bachelor of Music in Church Music and Voice from Westminster Choir College, School of Music of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey.
"I teach from the singer's perspective, from the one who produces the tone, who is in the arena of daring greatly to open his or herself physically, mentally, musically, and emotionally to be the very best singing musician they are able to be, in whatever singing situation they find themselves."
- Paulo Faustini
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Reviews
Aedn
Rachelle
Jane
Mary
William P.
Linda
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
VOICE CONSULTATION: A full studio hour consultation is scheduled so both you and I can meet online, get to know each other, and see if we click and feel good about working together, under no obligation to commit to lessons. I explain my teaching philosophy of working from your perspective of singing, and vocalize and work with you so that you can get a feel for how we work in our studio. I ask a lot of questions to learn about what it is like to be you when you sing. I give you feedback on what I hear and you leave with a full professional vocal assesstment. You also share your goals and ask any questions you may have about our work together. If we both feel good about working together you may sign up for lessons or think more about it.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I hold a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, with distinction, and a Bachelor of Music in Church Music and Voice from Westminster Choir College, School of Music of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. I have over 30 years of private voice teaching experience. I have been teaching online since 2018 and have been accompanying all the technological updates for online voice training. I have been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing since 1992. I have performed in concerts, Operatic productions, taught masterclasses in Itay, Spain, the USA, and in South America. I have taught at Westminster Choir College, in Princeton, NJ, as well as Haverford School, in Philadelphia.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing for online lessons varies by location the student lives in. Please contact me so we can discuss your options. Providence area students are charged $80 per hour lesson.
How did you get started teaching?
First as an undergraduate student in vocal pedagogy I was asked to teach someone in front of our class for about 15 minutes. At the end of class my professor told me I was a natural teacher and encouraged me to consider teaching. While a graduate student in Vocal Pedagogy I taught voice students in front of our vocal pedagogy professor and classmates. In addition, I was given the opportunity to teach current undergraduate music majors as a graduate associate in voice, and then was hired as an adjunct after I completed my masters degree.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with people from all walks of life, from talented high school students who are in preparation for college auditions, to undergraduate non-music majors, music majors, graduate students, young professionals looking to prepare for graduate voice auditions, young professionals, semi-professionals looking to become a professional, young ensemble singers, adult (middle aged and seniors) amateur choral singers who want to develop their overall musicianship, develop their ensemble voice, learn French, German, Italian, Latin, English, Spanish, Portuguese diction for singing.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I am very proud of my summer choral and vocal program I founded in 2006 in Italy, that now takes place in Spain, for choral singers, both amateurs and professionals. To learn more about it visit umbrianserenades.com
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Check out other voice teachers before making the decision to study with someone. Make sure you trust someone 100% so you are open to working with someone and give it your all. It is important for me that you feel 100% open about working with me.