Years again, the best teacher I had ever met, for me (of course) was a great man named George Axiltree. When I returned to New York, a couple of years ago; I was deeply saddened to learn George has passed on a few years previously. I thought it may be difficult to find so exceptional a teacher as George . . . but, I was mistaken!
A friend of mine here in New York recommended me to her teacher. Now, I am a rather new student with Tania Travers . . . and my friend, and others (*wink), are absolutely right -- she is AMAZING!
Joan Lader is by far the best voice teacher in the city. Her technique is INCREDIBLE. She has taught me so much. She teaches Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, to give you some of her clientèle... She is a vocal goddess.
During my time at Shenandoah University, I worked with Jeanette LoVetri, owner of The Voice Workshop in New York. Many of her students have appeared on Broadway. Visit www.thevoiceworkshop.com for more details. I recommend her highly.
Make sure whichever teacher you choose matches what you're looking for in terms of technique. I LOVE Tanya Travers - she's Idina Menzel's voice teacher, but no teacher is going to be right for everyone. Do you want a more "b'way belt" or "legit"?
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
Virginia Sandifur (OBC of Follies) is my voice teacher and she's fantastic. Teaches wonderful techniques.
"We need people not to come to Broadway shows wearing shorts and flip-flops. We are working hard up here folks. Find a pair of socks."-Joanna Gleason
"I hear L. Ron Hubbard is gonna blow the ladies...and all that jazz! C'mon babe! We're gonna unicorn hug, I bought some NyQuil down....at Wal-Mart?!"-Bebe Neuwirth singing ATJ to Musical Mad Libs at DQYNJ :)
What about someone who's done "straight" acting for most of their college career and is interested in branching into musicals? I don't know if I'm legit, a belter, or anything in general. Would any of the voice teachers mentioned just through their hands up in the air, or do you think someone would really take me on, knowing I don't have a lot of vocal experience but have a lot of determination?
Victoria Clark also occasionally teaches at the Michael Howard Studio.
ANNND our very own robbiej does up the vocal classes...you might wanna check him out!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
What about someone who's done "straight" acting for most of their college career and is interested in branching into musicals? I don't know if I'm legit, a belter, or anything in general. Would any of the voice teachers mentioned just through their hands up in the air, or do you think someone would really take me on, knowing I don't have a lot of vocal experience but have a lot of determination?
I'm in the exact same boat.
I did musical theater all throughout high school, never had any formal training, and now am studying Theater Arts (Acting) in college.
I've taken "Acting for Musical Theater Stage" which was given much like a Musical Theater course (building a book, vocal exercises, performance technique) but have never had my own private coach.
Would love to find someone patient (and cheap enough) to take me on :)
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock