We'd like to help the world raise its voice in song.

New York Vocal Coaching's teaching philosophy is part of our core DNA. Our approach blends the rich foundation provided by classical technique with a strong understanding of the techniques and stylizations related to contemporary pop/rock/R&B music and Broadway. But, how we approach vocal instruction is not a "method."

Lean more about each part of our philosophy below. Each of these items relate to our approach and not to specific vocal technique. Together, we will explore technique further in your lessons. We hope that the following concepts help you to get a sense of what is important to us as teachers and to get an idea of our teaching style.

Everyone is Different

We customize our approach to the individual. No two people are exactly alike. Therefore, no two voices, no two learning styles, and no two sets of goals are exactly alike. Some vocal studios have a certain "technique" or “method." They apply the same system to all their students. While systematic approaches have worked well for some, we believe in working a bit differently. Our vocal exercises and lessons are tailor-made for each individual singer.

Vocal technique and vocal science do indeed dictate some universal truths about singing. However, we have found that it is more efficient, creative, enjoyable, and productive to teach free from a rigid vocal methodology, yet without abandoning universal truths of vocal technique. We have seen that this approach does not impede clarity and growth. Instead, it greatly enhances it.

Singing in a Positive Environment

Learning your vocal craft in a positive environment is one of the most important factors to becoming a great singer. At New York Vocal Coaching, one of our primary goals is to create a nurturing and safe space of support and encouragement. Singing is one of the most liberating, beautiful, and spiritually fulfilling things one can do. Yet, singing is also many people’s greatest fear. This shouldn't be the case when everyone has the potential to “Make a Joyful Noise!”

Many singers come to us having had negative past experiences or destructive words spoken over them. These experiences result in singers tightening up, developing confidence issues, feeling vocally limited and confused, and in many cases giving up on singing for years. Eliminating the doubts, fears, and negative energies that have become attached to your singing (for whatever reason) is essential to becoming the singer you aspire to be. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or a leading professional - EVERY singer needs and deserves a positive place in which to work on their voice.

Singing is transformative and is a deep and personal part of the human experience. Because of this, vocalists typically thrive in environments that are supportive and are stifled in environments that are critical or judgmental. In fact, a safe space alone, even without professional-level vocal technique instruction, can still result in vocal growth. Similarly, singers can struggle in environments where great information is present, yet they do not feel supported. However, when elite training is combined with positive support, it produces the dramatic results that we strive for at New York Vocal Coaching.

Every NYVC teacher is committed to creating a supportive environment for students to grow as professional artists and as people. Great improvements and achievements are accomplished through detailed constructive feedback. Yet, at the same time, we create a space safe enough for our singers to take risks, to make mistakes, and to explore their voices. This winning combination creates singers who are confident, joyful, highly skilled, and truly connected to the soulfulness of their artistry.

Also, see Musical Theatre Workshop to develop skills to master your musical auditions.

Technical vs. Abstract

Some students prefer a very technical approach to singing. They like to know how the voice works anatomically and scientifically. For those students, we provide a detailed working knowledge of healthy vocal production and work in a very specific technical manner.

Other students prefer a more abstract, creative, and hands-on approach to singing. For these students it is not as helpful to use technical language, so long as they have a visceral understanding of how to experience vocal technique in a way that can be replicated as they practice. Abstracts singers tend to learn better through a more sensation-based style that incorporates images, physical exercises, vocal games, mimicry, and other less technical approaches.

The majority of students need balance in their vocal training. Part of our tailor-making approach with singers is developing a firm understanding of each singer’s unique learning style. From there, lessons can be taught with great efficiency and clarity.

Singers’ Learning Styles

Here are some of the learning styles that are common among vocalists and voice students:

Academic Learners. Some singers learn best by understanding the technical specifics and intricate details of the voice. For these singers, we are committed to providing the most thorough and current information on vocal technique, anatomy, physiology, and vocal science.

Physical Learners. Some singers learn best by feeling and through physical awareness. For these singers, we design vocal exercises that emphasize the physicality of vocal production. Once physical understanding is gained in lessons, the singer then builds muscle memory by repeating vocal coordinations during practice sessions or in performance.

Auditory Learners. Other singers learn best by hearing or even by mimicking. The entire staff of New York Vocal Coaching are professional-level singers who can adroitly and succinctly demonstrate vocal nuances both technically and stylistically. Thus, for auditory singers, we provide aural examples with our own voices in order to demonstrate various technical coordinations and stylistic details.

Visual Learners. The voice cannot literally be seen. It can only be heard, felt, and studied. However, some singers are visual learners. For these singers, charts, diagrams, pictures, physical demonstrations, and a directional approach to singing can work best. Visualizing the voice is more possible and more helpful than it would initially seem.

Conceptual Learners. There are also singers who learn best by conceptual thinking. These singers benefit from innovative ways of thinking of the voice "outside the box." By using imagery and creative language, concepts that are intricate or complicated can often begin to make sense to those who have felt confused by the difficult intricacies of vocal pedagogy.

Soulful Learners. Finally, there are singers who learn best by letting go and "not thinking". For these singers, we create exercises, games, physical tasks, and neurolinguistic strategies to help prevent the singer from over-thinking, over-analyzing, or "judging" their voice. Freedom can certainly come from technical understanding. However, there is also room for strategies that help the singer simply "let go” and have victory over the emotional and spiritual barriers that can restrict the voice.

While it’s helpful to identify one’s primary learning style, most singers need a combination of many or all of these approaches. We try to identify patterns in the learning styles of our singers to determine what methods help achieve the fastest and most efficient results.

Dancers and Actors Who Don't YET Sing

Many of our students are dancers and actors who don't consider themselves "singers first”. Some need to refine their vocal technique while others have never sung before. If you have been told you are "not a singer", we encourage you to pursue your studies once again. There are both physical and mental aspects involved in being a great dancer or a great actor that go hand-in-hand with becoming a great singer. Our Vocal Staff is very experienced in theatre, acting, anatomy, alignment, and movement and can help you discover ways that your skills as a dancer or actor can compliment your vocal technique training.

There are, of course, some aspects that make singing a challenge for skilled actors and dancers. But, after identifying and working through these common barriers, you will ultimately find that you already have far more assets than limitations when it comes to singing. We urge you to not let people tell you that you can't be a "triple threat". Many of our actor and dancers have gone on to achieve great success at vocal auditions. We are thrilled that we have even had artists make it to the Broadway stage after having never sung previously. So, dancers and actors take heart!

Vocal Registration - How to Belt, Mix, and Go Between Head Voice And Chest Voice

Mastering Vocal Registration is a vital skill for success in singing. Learning how to belt, how to mix, and how to move gracefully between Chest Voice and Head Voice are skills emphasized in Vocal Technique lessons at New York Vocal Coaching.

Most singers struggle with Vocal Registration in one way or another. Perhaps your voice lacks power, tone, and body. Vocal strength can be added. On the other hand, maybe it lacks range, high notes, agility, and flexibility. The voice can be stretched. Or, perhaps you have difficulties “bridging the gap” between different parts of your voice. Your voice can be blended.

Our staff is very passionate and knowledgable about the nuances of Vocal Registration. We help singers learn to develop and master various registers and resonances of the voice. We teach ways to navigate them gracefully so that you sound and feel like you are always singing with "your voice" and not multiple or separate voices. We also coach our singers on how to apply these coordinations directly to the style of music that they like to sing.

By addressing Vocal Registration, it is common for students to leave their lesson in awe of their wonderful growth and achievements. We are thrilled when we witness our singers’ true vocal capabilities emerge as they learn to master their Vocal Registration.

Singing By Feel, Not By Sound

Having a great musical ear is very important for any musician. Singers are no exception. However, too much listening to oneself can be extremely problematic. If there is too much self-scrutiny and self-conscious listening, vocal freedom often becomes compromised.

This is why it is often quite difficult for people to teach themselves how to sing. What you hear can often be misleading in comparison to what you feel. A good rule of thumb is: "if it feels free and easy, it probably sounds good. If it feels tight and difficult, it probably doesn't sound as good as your ear thinks.”

The best singers surrender their voices when they sing and also when they study voice. They understand that excessive judgment prevents them from releasing their voices and making their best and freest sounds. At NYVC, all vocal exercises are designed for each individual student. This gives singers a very precise and understandable way to experience physical changes to their voices. By understanding these changes physically first, the auditory results happen more quickly.

We want our singers to have great musical ears. This is particularly helpful for singing multiple styles of music, for harmonies, and for overall development of musicianship. However, learning to experience your voice as physical and muscular, puts you in touch with your own body. This leads to muscle memory, increased consistency with various vocal coordinations, and a voice that is reliable in performance and recording settings. “Make A Joyful Noise”, yes! But, make sure you know exactly how you did it!

Sing Like Only YOU Can Sing

It’s important that Voice Teachers have voices that make students say “Wow!”. It’s common sense that any vocal professional ought to exhibit exceptional vocal technique that can serve as a model for students. This being said, it’s actually not uncommon for vocalists to experience limitations due to attempting to imitate and emulate sounds.

Vocal mimicry can lead to poor vocal habits as well as a lack of authenticity. Actually, this is one reason that the need for voice training exists in the first place. If it were easy to “copy” sounds that other singers make, then achieving positive vocal results would be as simple as singing along to recordings. But this is not the case. For this reason, it is important that singers do not rely too much on imitating other artists or even their Voice Teachers.

At New York Vocal Coaching, all of our Vocal Staff possess singing and speaking voices capable of inspiring singers as well as elucidating difficult vocal coordinations. However, we are very intentional with the way that we use our voices during lessons. We make sure that the purpose of our demonstrations is to provide students with accurate aural representations of technical and stylistic details.

Our emphasis is to help singers to feel, experience, and understand the sounds they are making rather than rely on mimicry. NYVC singers develop vocal technique that is truly their own - not a carbon copy of how someone else sounds (including us). This assures that students are confident in their own unique vocal abilities and are also able to recreate these sounds in practice settings, in performance environments, and in the recording studio. Our passion is not to flaunt our own vocal prowess, but rather to help you to discover how to sing like only YOU can sing!

Becoming a Complete Singer - Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul

Many great singers are actually masters of surrender. In one way or another, they have practiced the art of letting go and they understand the necessity of this for their craft. Many people long to be great singers. Yet, there is something holding them back. Often they struggle to figure out what it is. At NYVC, we help people to transcend their limitations because we are devoted to training the full artist. Vocal Technique is not one-dimensional. It is a study that incorporates the entire singer- body, soul, mind, and spirit. In taking a holistic approach with our singers, we address the needs of our singers on many levels.

Physical

All singers have some amount of unwanted physical tension. Possible vocal tensions can include the jaw, the tongue, outer-laryngeal muscles, and also posture and alignment muscles. Physical tension can manifest from poor vocal habits, stress and anxiety, and alignment tendencies. Thankfully, physical tension is often the easiest to address because it is so tangible.

Much of this may indeed be purely physical, but some of it may also stem from deeper places in the mind, emotions, or spirit. Whatever the root cause, physical tensions can restrict vocal growth in severe ways. At NYVC, our Voice Teachers incorporate a wide variety of physical exercises and strategies (including Yoga and Alexander Technique) to help singers become more attuned to their physicality and eliminate physical habits that may be standing in the way.

Mental

Some vocal problems are purely mental. And, many vocal limitations originate in the mind. Difficulties can stem from overthinking the voice, from technique confusions, or from negative or misguided thinking. Vocalists often feel confused, even when seeking guidance from a Voice Teacher. It’s all too common that singers take voice lessons, but aren’t quite sure exactly what they are learning.

NYVC Voice Teachers are not just teachers of singing, but also lifelong students of the voice. We are passionate about constantly expanding our vocal knowledge so that we can explain difficult vocal concepts clearly to our students. Not only this, but we are acutely aware of the common mental patterns that tend to frustrate and limit singers. By identifying unhelpful mindsets, singers make serious breakthroughs and overcome vocal issues that have been “all in the mind.”

Emotional

Maybe someone told you you couldn't sing when you were younger. Maybe a casting director criticized a certain element of your singing. Maybe you have anxiety about high notes or even stage fright. Maybe a Voice Teacher in your past discouraged you. Maybe no matter what you try, you simply don’t like the sound of your own voice.

Singing is very emotional. Many times when audiences admire a singer it’s because of the “emotion” in their voice. Yet, there are so many negative emotions that can become attached to our singing. At NYVC, we create an environment where our students feel that they are emotionally supported and cared for. We are committed to helping singers move through trapped emotions that have stifled their singing and their self-confidence. With some work, NYVC singers often find that they can move emotions through their singing, instead of keeping them trapped inside. This results in healing, giggles, tears, giddiness, honesty, Joy, evolution, inspiration, and self-actualization. It also results in breathtaking performances that are emotionally connected and authentic to each singer's journey.

Spiritual

Many singers find singing to be a very spiritual experience. In fact, singing can be as deeply spiritual as just about anything. Singing has the power to heal wounds, to inspire great purposes, and to transform lives. At NYVC, we have witnessed countless occasions where singing has been directly responsible for radical inner change. The study of singing can liberate parts of the spirit that have been neglected or undiscovered and can be the catalyst for spiritual awakening and inner growth.

There is no specific “method” that we use for helping singers to connect with the deepest and truest parts of themselves. It is simply something that just happens as singers pursue the Joy of their singing under the care of a Staff that is devoted not just to vocal technique, but also to people. We soulfully stand beside our singers and are so proud to witness them “Make A Joyful Noise.”

Stylistic Diversity - Singing Multiple Styles Of Music

We teach all styles of singing at New York Vocal Coaching. NYVC only employs teachers who are truly capable of stylistic diversity in their voice teaching. Collectively, our teachers have all worked as professional singers in every style - Opera, Broadway, Gospel, Pop/Rock/R&B/Country, and Jazz. As Voice Teachers, we are devoted to teaching all styles with depth and precision.

NYVC Voice Teachers share a philosophy that vocal sounds do not necessarily need to be classified as “good or bad” or “right and wrong”. Instead, we ask: “What sounds do our singers wish to make?” - and - “How can we help them to do it?” Our aim is to help our singers to get where they want to be as quickly and as healthfully as possible. Open-mindedness to vocal styles, coupled with broad technical understanding, allow NYVC Voice Teachers to customize their approach to the needs of each and every singer.

We also believe in encouraging stylistic diversity in our singers. Whether you consider yourself a traditional singer or a contemporary singer, there are always ways to learn to sing in the styles that you had thought "just weren't you". Classical singers are often surprised at how beneficial it is for their sound to sing a Pop song. Rock singers are often surprised too at the benefit of singing an Italian art song. This kind of vocal “cross-training” is another strategy that we find helps NYVC singers reach their vocal goals even faster. NYVC Voice Teachers are excited to be on the cutting edge of contemporary vocal training, where stylistic diversity is possible and highly beneficial!

Can Everyone Sing?

Perhaps the biggest myth about singing is that you have to be born with it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Virtually every great singer either trains formally, works very hard on their own, or is brought up in an environment that encourages frequent singing. It’s false to think that singers just open their mouths one day after having never sung and magically discover that they have majestic singing voices. This misconception often discourages people from developing their voices to their fullest potential. While it’s true that some singers possess more physical facility, raw talent, and musical instincts than others, everyone can learn how to sing well if they so desire.

The mistake that is often made is to classify singing as a unique skill or hobby, as opposed to recognizing it as an integral part of the human experience. For example, it would be very unusual to attend a wedding, or a funeral, or a celebration without singing being a part of it in some way. But, singing is ideally not just for the big events of our lives, but rather a part of our daily lives. This is because humans are meant to sing. We sing for Joy, for recreation, for healing, for praise, for recognition, and for the soul. There are endless reasons to “Make A Joyful Noise!” Singing is not for a few of us. Singing is for all of us.

Unfortunately, many people have denied themselves the gift of singing, the right of singing, and the necessity of singing based on the false notion that only those lucky enough to be “born with it” should be singing. But, now you know the truth, that YES - everyone is meant to sing. At New York Vocal Coaching, our mission is to help singers at any stage of their journey to quickly attain new heights to their craft. Even if it’s that first stage of saying to a singer, YES you can do this!

Am I Too Old to Sing?

Many people have given up on their voices because they feel that they are “too late.” It is common for hopeful singers to say, “If only I had started when I was younger” - or - “I always wanted to sing, but I was never encouraged“ - or - “I used to sing, but life happens and now there’s no point anymore.” It is a singing myth that you must start when you are young. Not only can anyone learn to sing, but the voice can be successfully trained at any age.

We must never forget that singing is muscular. Everyone knows that if you want to get in good shape, you must work out. Some people begin their workouts already in decent athletic shape. Others begin with the knowledge that they have a ways to go. Some begin at a younger age and others at an older age. However, if one exercises and stays focused, they will improve their physique.

Singing is no different from this except that vocalists learn to master singing muscles instead of fitness muscles. And, the beauty of singing muscles is how trainable they are at any age. Singing muscles don’t require you to bench press heavy weights or to run long distances. Instead, vocal muscles rely on coordination. Much like throwing darts or shooting pool, singing is the kind of “sport” that can be enjoyed and cultivated at any stage of life.

Certainly, there have been several examples of celebrity singers who have reached fame and fortune at older ages. Usually, though, the older we get, the more we realize that life is not about fame, fortune, and money. It’s about cherishing the gifts that we have been given and also giving them to others. Singing is one such priceless gift. Is singing the gift you need to give to yourself? Or is there someone in your life who would be very touched if you sang them a song? It’s a shame when the answer is “no” simply because of age. At NYVC, when we help our singers “Make A Joyful Noise”, we know that Joy has no expiration date.

Acting While Singing

Our staff also is unique in that all of our teachers at one time or another have both trained at top universities and also worked as professional actors in New York City. Our training and experience in acting and theatre has only reinforced our belief that singing and acting are inseparable. This is certainly true for song performance, but we believe that it starts as early as vocal technique exercises.

We feel that it adds an unnecessary step to learn vocal technique in a rote or rigid fashion and then "add in the acting later." Some of the best sounds are made when a singer is connecting to something inside their heart and soul as opposed to "just making sounds." This certainly doesn't mean that technical specifics are not important to emphasize, but singing is just plain easier and more enjoyable when a singer is communicating something. In our work with students, we often place emphasis on acting technique alongside vocal technique from early on in the process. This is true for both the technical exercises as well as for your songs.

"Games"

Some of our vocal exercises borrow from the acting training tradition of playing "games". So many acting teachers use these because there are many ways that "games" or exercises that are not overtly technical can help actually achieve the desired result "accidentally". In other words, sometimes we need ways of fooling our brains and voices into doing what we could not get them to do by trying deliberately.

Actors that have benefited from this approach find that they discover some of their best work through these exercises. By simply focusing on a silly, distracting, or physical task, very often an honest, original, and even brilliant choice can be released from deep within the sub-conscious. We have found the same concept works with singing. When engaged in a seeming unrelated activity, very often the voice and breath can relax enough physically to produce surprising and beautiful results.

Breathing

All styles of singing are initiated from successful breathing and breath support. We are committed to helping singers find a deep and reliable connection to their breathing when they sing. This is the foundation for singing with consistency, with ease, and with confidence in all performance situations. We will help you to not only increase the freedom and ease of your inhalations, but your ability to know how to use your breath with maximum efficiency. We don't believe in "tanking up" when singers breathe. This can often cause “over-breathing”, a lack of balance, and vocal tension. We are interested in helping singers find ways of getting appropriate amounts of air without taking "singer breaths." This is crucial for singing actors who need to perform in a naturalistic and conversational way while still making gorgeous sounds. This is a very attainable goal and we offer both technical exercises as well as conceptual ideas to help you to do it.

Breathing for singing should strike a great balance between deliberate intent and relaxation. In other words, a great singer should have a systematic approach to breathing properly, but this process should ultimately lead them to the most effortless breathing, singing, and delivery possible. Breathing is one of the main elements that remain fairly consistent from style-to-style. Whether you are singing classical music or contemporary music, low breathing from deep in the body as well as consistent and relaxed breath support and breath management are essential.

Space and Resonance

The space and resonance that a singer uses to sing is a key component to what kind of sounds they eventually make. This refers to many different spaces: pharyngeal cavity, mouth, nasal cavity, soft palette, etc. It is a similar concept with musical instruments. Depending on the size and shape of any given instrument, a variety of sounds can be made. The sound of 2 different acoustic guitars, for example, is largely going to be determined by their resonance space. In the same way, singers use the resonance spaces of their bodies to make and manipulate sound. We will show you not only how to use these spaces to create effortless vocal production, but also how to change the use of these spaces depending on the situation. By manipulating the way you use the resonators in your body, you can sing all styles of music with freedom and skill.

Projection

We have found that many singers do not use their entire voice when they sing. Much of this comes from physical tension as well as hesitance resulting from doubts in the mind. Using physical exercises, breathing technique, concepts from Alexander Technique and Yoga, and opening up resonators, our singers are often amazed to discover just how much of their voice has been dormant all along. Volume does not need to be the primary goal of good singing, but a healthy vocalist should certainly be able to be heard well and to feel as if their voice is very “present” when they perform. This is true even of singers who are primarily microphone singers.

Also, many singers have been told how to breathe deeply since they began singing. Very often we find that experienced singers know how to take a pretty good inhale breath, but then do not know how to release it and manage it effectively. Again, some of this can be physical and some of it can be mental. But, in many cases free production and projection is lacking because of this common phenomenon of being too cautious or physically tense with the exhale breath. We will address these issues with you as we examine what obstacles might be preventing you from projecting or from using your whole voice naturally.

Singing Is Like Talking

Not thinking of singing as "singing" is helpful to singers in producing the highest quality sounds. Often we find that in trying to make perfect, pristine, or "singer-like" sounds, singers do not release their voice the way they are capable of. Also, they often do not use their resonators to their fullest capability. In reality, the release that singing requires is closer to conversation-level talking, an energetic stage voice, a healthy shout, or an active whisper. We work with singers on exercises that help them link their singing with more familiar and natural ways that humans produce sound. Not only does this concept help with great singing technique, but it also aids the singing actor.

By doing too much "singing", a performer can actually block their ability to communicate as an actor. We don't mean that the singer should sacrifice tone quality or musicianship, but by getting one's mindset off of making "perfectly sung sounds" the singer ironically can produce a more connected and more musical vocal technique. Interestingly, by making sounds that at first seem "ugly”, “weird”, or “wrong", many times a singer can move into uncharted waters with their vocal development- areas that were unexplored for fear of making a mistake or sounding bad.

Rehabilitation of Damaged Voices

Many times we work with singers who have experienced vocal problems or damage in the past or are still living with it currently. If you are a singer who struggles with vocal damage or problems, please rest assured that there is hope! We have worked with many singers to correct vocal problems and to rehabilitate damaged voices.

Sometimes it is necessary to consult with vocal doctors and in other cases it is not necessary. Quite a bit can be fixed by working to discover if the problem is being caused by stressful or very tense singing or speaking. We can help you to determine the severity of the problem. Then, we can determine if the problem is solely based on technique or whether it is solely physical.

From here, we can create a plan to solve the problem using vocal technique solutions, advice from vocal doctors, or a combination of methods. If assistance is necessary, we have colleagues in the world of vocal science and vocal medicine. We also have a singing voice rehabilitation specialist on site, through our sister company, New York Speech Pathology. By working with these professionals, we can determine what kind of damage there may be if the damage is severe. In any case, please know that there is a great deal of hope in many cases where people’s voices are not performing as they once did. Don’t give up on yourself, but rather seek out the best information you can.

Respect For Other Teachers

The world of vocal technique is filled with a variety of wonderful approaches and ideas. Many singers have benefitted from many different methods and forms of vocal instruction. While this multitude of different ideas can be good, it can also leave students very confused. This is especially true when teachers become territorial, insecure, or critical about other methods, other teachers, and other styles.

There is no perfect singer. And, there is no perfect teacher. Each teacher has his or her own unique part in helping singers on their journey toward vocal success. For this reason, we are actively NOT territorial when it comes to our teaching. We don’t expect you to adhere to “our method” or to sing with “our technique”. Also, we don’t expect you to study exclusively with us. Many of our singers at New York Vocal Coaching study with multiple teachers on our staff. And, some singers even study with us as well as other wonderful teachers in the New York City area.

Also, though we receive many students who were unhappy or misled by their former instructors, we do have an unspoken policy of not speaking negatively about other teachers and other approaches. If students come to us having had a clearly negative experience or obvious misinformation, we will focus on building new vocal habits instead of focusing on the negative elements of the past.

It is very important to have respect for other artists and other teachers. The best artists are free from putting down their colleagues and trying to elevate themselves through criticism. The best teachers are generous with their information, time, energies, and resources. Great artists and great teachers both have an enormous amount of respect for anyone who participates in the glorious experience of making music, even if their approaches differ. We believe in fostering this kind of “greatness” in our studio along to accompany the fantastic skills we will be working to achieve.

It's Okay to "Fail"

Actors and singers are usually perfectionists. This is a good thing in a lot of ways because it allows us to hold ourselves to a very high standard of excellence for our craft. But, perfectionism is often an artist's biggest curse as well as their biggest blessing. At New York Vocal Coaching, we like to emphasize that "it's okay to fail." If that doesn't sound like a good recipe for success to you, we beg to differ. We have discovered, in fact, that it seems to be just about the only way to become successful. How?

Well, we would never advise that anyone reduce his or her passionate commitment to doing a great job. But, often our need for perfection puts an unbelievable amount of pressure on our singing, acting, and performing. When this happens, we lose the ability to be joyful, creative, silly, happy in our work, and to have fun. This ultimately defeats our ability to become the artist we set out to be. The irony of an environment that promotes and allows "failure", is that it makes failure ultimately impossible. On the other hand, when failure is "simply not an option" in our minds, unfortunately it ends up manifesting more often than not.

Becoming an Artist

What then, does it mean to be an artist as a singer? Well, we certainly do believe that it is a person who is committed to being very technically proficient at their craft. But, we also feel that it is much more than this.

In an industry that can often resort to superficiality, type casting, and imitation, becoming a true artist is not an easy task. But, we believe it is the only way to be a truly fulfilled performer as well as someone who has a career that can stand the test of time. Therefore, we will help you discover what being an artist means for you. There is something inside every performer that is unique to them and special to us. Nobody else can do what they do or express things in quite the same way. This is what we ultimately want to help you to find through your singing voice. We’re not just interested in making you a singer of finest quality (although we’re confident this will happen), but we’re also interested in helping you to say what only you can say to this city and to the world through your music and voice.

Some people say that you shouldn't sing from your throat, you must sing from as deep as your diaphragm. An artist to us sings from a place deeper than the diaphragm. They sing from a place as deep as their soul.