Interested in learning with Melanie?
Contact us to schedule your first lesson!
Contact us to schedule your first lesson!
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Melanie is a singer, actor, pianist, and dancer. She has been performing professionally since she was 5 years old and has earned both her Bachelor of Fine Arts and her Master of Arts in Musical Theatre Performance.
Throughout her undergraduate and graduate career she studied under the tutelage of Dominic Aquilino (Italian technique), Andrea Gant Hayes (Italian technique), and Caroline Hurst (Estill Voicecraft). She obtained her BFA from Mars Hill University, graduating summa cum laude. She then received her MA from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, graduating with distinction. While there, she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Assembly Hall in Glasgow, the SOHO Theatre in London, the Signature Theatre and Joe’s Pub in New York City, and around Europe. |
She has performed with Billy Boyd (Pippin from Lord of the Rings) and with Alexandra Silber (Broadway and West End performer).
After completing her degrees, she moved to Japan to teach and perform. In Japan she was a foreign English teacher and the lead singer of a Brazillian band. She writes and performs her own cabarets, directs and produces musicals, and teaches music, theatre, and dance.
Since moving to the Charleston area, she has begun to perform at local community theatres and hopes to continue to do more. Melanie has been teaching professionally since 2014 and has taught students of all ages, abilities, and a variety of languages. Melanie has played piano since childhood and studied piano in both high school and college. She teaches beginner to intermediate piano students with a strong focus in music theory. Additionally, she encourages her vocal students to also learn piano so they can study their music independently and accompany themselves using chordal playing.
Melanie recently has created an online platform for musical theatre artists to come together and perform musicals in a safe and encouraging environment. She is passionate about art and about people and loves to get involved in any way shape or form. During these times, the creation of art is of the utmost importance.
Melanie is so happy to join the SC Music Lessons LLC family and she can’t wait to see all of the students grow as individual artists!
After completing her degrees, she moved to Japan to teach and perform. In Japan she was a foreign English teacher and the lead singer of a Brazillian band. She writes and performs her own cabarets, directs and produces musicals, and teaches music, theatre, and dance.
Since moving to the Charleston area, she has begun to perform at local community theatres and hopes to continue to do more. Melanie has been teaching professionally since 2014 and has taught students of all ages, abilities, and a variety of languages. Melanie has played piano since childhood and studied piano in both high school and college. She teaches beginner to intermediate piano students with a strong focus in music theory. Additionally, she encourages her vocal students to also learn piano so they can study their music independently and accompany themselves using chordal playing.
Melanie recently has created an online platform for musical theatre artists to come together and perform musicals in a safe and encouraging environment. She is passionate about art and about people and loves to get involved in any way shape or form. During these times, the creation of art is of the utmost importance.
Melanie is so happy to join the SC Music Lessons LLC family and she can’t wait to see all of the students grow as individual artists!
Melanie's Teaching Style:
As a teacher, Melanie believes that each student is unique and individual, which requires a variety of teaching techniques. She also believes that all people can sing. Singing is a part of creation, and it is given to all people, no matter their level or "natural ability." Because of this, she approaches the techniques from a scientific perspective believing that a singer should understand their instrument functionally and learn how to create the sounds in a healthy and effective way. From the academic knowledge of how the voice works, Melanie then uses a blend of Italian and musical theatre techniques to improve and strengthen the belt, the blend between head and chest voice, and the clarity of sound.
Students should be able to view their voice as one connected voice from top to bottom rather than separate sections. Students will also learn music theory, aural skills, and character development and storytelling. In doing so, the students will learn how to convey proper emotion, develop an ear for music, learn how to read and understand music and gain confidence as a performer, an artist, and as a person. Although Melanie’s specialty is musical theatre / contemporary / pop / rock, she also teaches jazz and classical music. Students are able to focus on the vocal styles and music they are interested in while also learning techniques that will make them flexible musicians. Melanie is available for both in-person and online lessons.
Please Note:
The student's comfort and safety is the number one priority for Melanie. She will be wearing a mask at all lessons and she asks that students feel free to sing as they feel comfortable and safe. No lip trills will be done in any in person lesson. For any student under the age of 18, the teacher asks that a parent or guardian stay during the lesson if the lesson occurs at the teacher's home. She also asks that students wash and sanitize their hands before each lesson. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
As a teacher, Melanie believes that each student is unique and individual, which requires a variety of teaching techniques. She also believes that all people can sing. Singing is a part of creation, and it is given to all people, no matter their level or "natural ability." Because of this, she approaches the techniques from a scientific perspective believing that a singer should understand their instrument functionally and learn how to create the sounds in a healthy and effective way. From the academic knowledge of how the voice works, Melanie then uses a blend of Italian and musical theatre techniques to improve and strengthen the belt, the blend between head and chest voice, and the clarity of sound.
Students should be able to view their voice as one connected voice from top to bottom rather than separate sections. Students will also learn music theory, aural skills, and character development and storytelling. In doing so, the students will learn how to convey proper emotion, develop an ear for music, learn how to read and understand music and gain confidence as a performer, an artist, and as a person. Although Melanie’s specialty is musical theatre / contemporary / pop / rock, she also teaches jazz and classical music. Students are able to focus on the vocal styles and music they are interested in while also learning techniques that will make them flexible musicians. Melanie is available for both in-person and online lessons.
Please Note:
The student's comfort and safety is the number one priority for Melanie. She will be wearing a mask at all lessons and she asks that students feel free to sing as they feel comfortable and safe. No lip trills will be done in any in person lesson. For any student under the age of 18, the teacher asks that a parent or guardian stay during the lesson if the lesson occurs at the teacher's home. She also asks that students wash and sanitize their hands before each lesson. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.