Marina H  
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Musical Theater, Opera, Electronic, Showtunes

I began teaching music in 2006 while still in college, and I have worked at a variety of different music schools and teaching companies, most notably at the University of Southern California. I taught and maintained a small voice studio of my own in New York City for four years before the pandemic forced me back to the west coast to care for my family. I typically work with a wide variety of students with different ages and backgrounds, and I pride myself on offering a holistic and trauma informed approach to the study of voice and singing. Some of my students are professional musicians, some are adults looking to sing for a special occasion or just for fun, and some are kids just beginning music lessons. I work with several pop and rock/metal singers dealing with vocal fatigue or problems, and I consider this my speciality.

For classical and opera singing, I teach a healthy Bel Canto technique rooted in the Italian school of singing. I am also skilled in teaching SOVT style, but I typically avoid it with beginning singers. For musical theater and pop, I teach healthy belting techniques that preserve vocal quality and focus on a connection to the chest and body, alleviating vocal tension. For my guitar students, I teach fingering techniques and basic chords first, and then I focus on giving each student a basic repertoire--several pieces they already know and like to showcase their abilities and track progress. For beginning piano students, I prefer to use the John Thompson books. Please note that I do not teach the Suzuki method. Regardless of method, my focus while teaching is to keep the student engaged and to always give them material to practice that they like to keep them encouraged.