Voice Studio of Melanie Whitney

SCROLL DOWN TO HEAR AND SEE SAMPLES OF MY WORK

ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR:

I am a certified music teacher in the state of NH. I hold a BM in Music Education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. During my undergraduate studies as an education major, choral conducting and vocal pedagogy (the art and science of teaching voice) was my main focus. After graduating, my interest in vocal pedagogy led me to Dr. Anat Keidar who is a well noted vocologist (a person who diagnosis and corrects vocal faults or pathologies) out of New York City. I have taken several of her graduate level courses and have had the pleasure of observing and assisting her in her personal clinic. This work has colored who I am as a private vocal instructor as well as a choral conductor. It is very important to me that my singers understand how to use their voices in a healthy, productive manner and I feel as though I have the tools to help them achieve that. As a conductor, I have had the honor of singing under and studying with some of the most highly regarded choral conductors of our time: James Jordan, Joseph Flummerfelt, Weston Noble, Charles Bruffy, Bruce Chamberlain, and Lorin Maazel. As an undergrad, I sang in many ensembles, one of which performed with the New York Philharmonic each year at the Lincoln Center. I have worked in New Jersey and New Hampshire for the last eight years as a choral director, private vocal instructor, and music theory teacher. I recently left my wonderful job at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH to have my first child. Some of the ensemble work I did during my time there can be seen and heard below. I have only been without a choir since June 2011 and I already miss it desperately! I am very much looking forward to starting these ensembles and providing an outstanding and unforgettable singing experience for singers who may not, otherwise, have the opportunity.

COME AND SING WITH US!

I am currently looking for singers to join either the YOUTH CHORUS or the ADULT CHORUS.

The Youth ensemble has been singing together since April 2012. There will be no rehearsals in July and August. We will begin singing again the first week of September. The Youth ensemble is open to singers of all ages up to age 18.

The Adult ensemble is open to singers from age 18 and up. These vocal ensembles are for any person who loves to sing or wants to learn how! There are currently no auditions required. We will rehearse once a week at my studio in Manchester, NH and will perform concerts throughout the year at various places within the Manchester and surrounding communities. Singers may join at anytime.

WHAT EACH SINGER WILL GAIN:

Singing in a choral ensemble is a unique and exciting experience that can only be created within a group. For this reason, ensemble singing builds collaborative skills and a sense of community. Choirs function much like sports teams in that each singer must do his/her best for the benefit of the entire ensemble. This helps build a sense of responsibility for ones own success as well as the success of others. We, musicians, music together because it is fun and because we enjoy sharing our gifts with others in performance. As we reflect on the message of each piece and how we can communicate that message to our audiences, we become more empathetic and thoughtful individuals. Musicians are goal setters and, as we receive the applause and feedback from our audiences, we gain a feeling of accomplishment and pride of a goal met and a job well done. In each rehearsal singers will learn the skills of reading music and being musical. These tasks have proven to exercise both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Harmonizing, blending, and balancing voices requires extremely refined listening skills and a solid understanding of healthy vocal technique. It is my hope that, as we progress as a choir, individual students will find their voices growing and changing. We will be singing many styles of repertoire including pop, folk, broadway, world music, gospel, classical, jazz, etc.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

Contact Me: 603-490-0615 or sing@vocal-freedom.com

First Rehearsal: September - Tentative depending on enrollment

Cost: $13 per rehearsal

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