Voice Lessons in Babylon, NY

Instruments: Voice

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I was backpacking after high school and realized that if I wouldn't try studying music professionally, I would regret it. So I gave it a go and loved it. It gradually developed into a profession.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
An actor or a psychologist. Human behavior fascinates me.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Right now, I am playing with a mixture of Rock, Jazz and oriental music and how they fit into my music and singing.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
It sure does! My mother is a composer, music teacher and choir conductor. Growing up in a small town, she was also my kindergarten music teacher. Her father was a pianist and my cousin is a pianist, accordionist, and a conductor. In family meetings, they used to play the piano with 6 hands.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
Performance- to really know my instrument. I am a singer after all. Voice pedagogy- to help singers in the best way I can and know all I can about the human voice. I keep on learning as voice research keeps evolving.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I would love to sing George Gershwin's music from West Side Story or Porgy and Bess. This music still moves me deeply and singing it would be an almost spiritual experience for me.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
We start with reflecting on the past week- difficulties and success in practice. Singers will say what they wish to achieve today and start singing. I hear where they are and gather enough information to start working. We sing exercises to help them in their goal and apply the tools that helped them in the song. If we have time and overcome the technical issues, we work on refining the song to performance level- we work on how to tell the story of the song and convey emotions to the audience, how to stand on stage and what tips could help to perform in a confident way. At the end of the lesson, we make sure they know how to practice and what are the emphasizes.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I teach Complete Vocal Technique and sometimes use their charts and book (the new app) in lessons, according to the singer needs. Students can purchase the app and communicate with me with the same terminology, but doesn't have to. I adjust myself to whatever they need and however they prefer to learn.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Yes, students of mine won 3rd, 2nd and 1st places in various competitions/projects at a college level and national level. They attended them when they felt prepared after years of refining their craft, and kept a sincere emotional attachment to the pieces they were performing. It made them stand out creatively, emotionally and technically from the others.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I have recorded my debut album and releasing it in May 2018. In the process of it's making I combined everything I learned and experienced as a singer, musician and even teacher, to find my own sound. I poured everything I had inside me to this creation and am truly proud of the outcome and how it shaped me as an artist.

Read More