Rachel Menconi

WHAT CAN RACHEL DO FOR YOU?

BY THE TIME STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM LESSONS THEY:

1. Gain a lifelong, solid, consistent, and healthy technique that they can always count on in practice and performance.

2. Gain specific technical and personal notes in a notebook and/or computer file that is organized and always accessible for review.

3. Gain artistry, performance skills, and a strong voice that will look/sound authentic; Singers will sound appropriate to whatever style of music they are singing. (No fake sound or look.) Actors will just be in the moment and truthful whether they are on stage or in front of the camera.

4. Gain the confidence to always put on a great performance.

5. Gain focus and a more productive mind frame.

6. Become self-sufficient by knowing how to assess a problem and then fix it without creating a new issue.

ABOUT THE STUDIO

The Menconi Performance Studio: Where you not only learn healthy technique, but how to become a self-sufficient artist. Professional training and customized programs in singing and acting technique. All learning styles, all ages, and all levels. Private lessons and group classes.

We prepare our students for the real world with up to date training (singing and acting) and both performance opportunities and showcases in front of industry professionals when students are ready.

Students come from all walks of life. All voice types, all ages, all levels, all mediums (TV-film-theatre), all character - ingenue actors, and ALL genres (Rock, Pop, Alternative, Funk, Soul, Musical Theater, R&B, Jazz, Opera) welcome!

Rachel's students (current and former) have gone on national tours, released albums, are in bands, have been cast in regional/Off-Off-Broadway/Off-Broadway Theatre, movies (Noah, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Finally Famous), music videos, and on TV (Royal Pains, Smash, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Law and Order: SVU, & NBC's The Voice competition).

Owner/Teacher: Rachel Menconi
SAG-AFTRA, VASTA, NATS (certified), NARAS, NAMTA, BMI
14+ years of teaching to children - teens - adults (Ages 6+ group classes, 8+ private lessons)

RACHEL MENCONI'S BIO

Rachel is a member of SAG-AFTRA, The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS certified), VASTA (Voice And Speech Trainers Association), NARAS (The Grammy Awards), New Jersey Theatre Alliance, NJMEA, NAfME, NAMTA, MAC, and BMI. She has been teaching Bel Canto singing technique for the modern singer and Stella Adler-Stanislavsky-Chekhov-Meisner acting technique for all mediums for 14+ years to children, teens, and adults.

Rachel has trained at The Hages Music Studio under a master teacher for 20+ years in the Bel Canto singing technique for all genres, studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC as well as recorded and released her first album called "Just Meant To Be". Other credits include commercials, films, TV shows (One Tree Hill, AMC, Food Network), music videos (including Rachel's singles "Don't Even Try", "You Will Love On"), & numerous stage credits (Off-Broadway/NYC Theatre). Rachel most recently was seen in the reading of a new play "Vanishing Son" by Peter Gil-Sheridan performed in NYC. She is also a songwriter (16+ years), scriptwriter (9+ years), director (12+ years), and an international recording artist (10+ years).

Rachel has been performing for 27+ years, has performed in front of sold out crowds, and has been honored with many standing ovations. Other honors include magazine covers, featured articles, singing to thousands of people, studio recordings/albums, originated the role of "Antigone" in "Oedipus: The Musical", 2002 Helen Hayes Nomination for" Outstanding Vocal Performance in a Musical" ("Miss Adelaide" in "Guys And Dolls"), & 2008 finalist for NYC Singing Idol Competition. Rachel has also been fortunate to have worked & performed with many people in the business including Grammy-Tony-Emmy Award Winners/Nominees.

LESSON DETAILS

Whether you are a parent looking for instruction for your child, or for yourself, Rachel can customize the right program that best suits your needs. Her students come from all walks of life and have different goals, but they all have one thing in common. They love performing and have the desire to be the best at their chosen craft (singing/acting).

Some students want to sing for themselves, others want to sing for a hobby, and others want to be professional performers. That's where Rachel comes in. No matter what your goals are, as long as your serious about lessons and getting better, she can help. Rachel teaches her students how to become true artists without tearing them down and without taking away the part of them that makes them unique.

Learning how to sing is a process and doesn't happen overnight. Rachel's ultimate goal as a teacher is to not only make her students the best performers and singers they can be, but also give them all of the proper tools they need to have a more productive mind frame and become self-sufficient. Of course this can take years to master. It takes time and dedication.

OTHER LESSON INFORMATION

SINGING: Bel Canto singing technique for the modern singer is taught in private and group classes. No one sounds like old opera singers, even if the student wants to sing opera. Students are allowed to choose most of the material they learn in the lesson. There will be times when Rachel will suggest a song to a student but if the student doesn't enjoy the song, they will work as a team to find a song that does work for the student. Gain a better tone quality, complete control of your voice, bigger range, more flexibility, and confidence. Learn healthy voice technique, how to fully take care of your own voice so you can sing for the rest of your life (even after lessons), and become a self sufficient performer for life.

ACTING: Stella Adler, Stanislavsky, Chekhov, and Meisner Acting Technique for Theatre/Camera is taught in private and group classes. All students are exposed to each technique and Rachel sees which technique each student responds to the most. Once the student and Rachel are able to identify the technique, Rachel continues to use the terminology of that technique for the remainder of the time the student is in lessons. Students eventually are able to play roles truthfully and realistically, even if the roles are opposite of the student's own personality.

SPECIALTIES: We specialize in Bel Canto voice technique for the modern singer. Each student can sing all genres without sounding too classical, "fake", and without losing their voice while singing for long periods of time. Other Specialties: Teaching acting technique for theatre-TV-Film (Stella Adler, Stanislavsky, Chekhov, & Meisner), performance skills, songwriting, and creating self-sufficient singers-actors-performers (Artist Development).

TESTIMONIALS:

"Rachel goes above and beyond to make you the best you can be. She is seriously the best voice teacher I have ever had!" - Laura S. of Northern NJ and Burbank CA.

"I've been in this business a long time and have gone to many other so called 'vocal coaches'. Hands down Rachel is best voice teacher I've ever had and she is the only voice teacher I can really trust. She not only helps me with my voice but she also helps me with organization, artistry, and keeps me accountable. She gives me personalized warm ups and a plan to practice to help achieve me goals." - Fatimah B. of West Orange, NJ

"Rachel makes everything so fun. I've learned so much! My voice used to get tired and hurt after I sang. Now my voice is getting so much stronger and doesn't hurt at all. I take both private voice lessons and group performance classes. I highly recommend Rachel's program to anyone and everyone!" Elaine R of Northern, NJ (Solo Singer)

"She makes me feel so comfortable. I'm an actor first, but want to be a musical theatre performer. I have issues with matching pitch. I've only been with Rachel for about 4 months, but I've already seen a huge difference in my pitch and tone quality. I've gotten alot better. I live about an hour away but that doesn't stop me from coming to lessons and performance classes. Patricia T of Southern NJ (Actor, Aspiring Musical Theatre Performer)

"When I had my first lesson, I knew I had to come back. Rachel makes everything so clear and she gets me. I like that." Naomi S. of Upper Saddle River, NJ (Solo Singer)

"I've only had one lesson with Rachel but I've already learned so much, not just in singing but how my mind works. She was able to break through some of the barriers I've put up in the past. I've never liked my voice. When I was in the lesson, there were times that I actually liked the sound that was coming out of my mouth! I can't wait for my next lesson!" Mike K Of Ramsey, NJ (Guitarist, Drummer, Bassist, and Singer of a band)

"If you want to increase your range, breath control, learn how to keep your voice for the rest of your life,...in other words be the best singer you can possibly be, you HAVE to go to Rachel!" Steve P Of Paramus, NJ (Solo Singer and Songwriter)

"I don't know how she does it but Rachel always knows how to fix my problem(s) and makes sure that I know how to fix my problem(s) too. Rachel really is the "Sherlock Holmes" of singing!" Josh S of Hillsdale, NJ (Solo Singer, Guitarist, and Songwriter)

"When I came to Rachel, I literally had no voice or range at all. I even had problems matching pitch. I've been with Rachel for a little over 11 months now and I can't believe the difference in my voice! It's so much bigger and I can match pitch so easily now!" Danny G of Nyack, NY (Lead Singer, Lead Guitarist, and Songwriter of rock/ska band)

"I really wish I could come to Rachel's more often. She really cares about me and tries to accommodate me and my needs as much as possible. I'm so fortunate I found her!" Mia P of Northern NY (Solo Singer)

"My voice is so much bigger and I'm alot more confident with my singing and performance skills! Thanks Rachel for all your help!" Alli K of Hillsdale, NJ (Musical Theatre Performer and Solo Singer)

"I came to Rachel because I couldn't advance anymore by myself. I had some of a voice when I started but I had trouble being in control of my voice. I had problems with my break and singing with my falsetto. After 10 months, I've seen a huge improvement in my voice and singing is so much easier for me." Josh S of Nashville, TN (Solo Singer, Guitaist, and Songwriter)

"I hated my falsetto and when I started to go higher, my voice sounded much thinner in the beginning. I am still working on it but feel and hear a huge difference in my voice! I live about 45 minutes - 60 minutes away from Rachel depending on traffic. She is worth the distance!" Brad S of Parsippany, NJ (Musical Theatre Performer and Singer)

"I love how in the private lessons and in the performance classes, we not only learn so much, but Rachel makes it fun. She gets me to think and to see things that I do in other people. This helps me learn faster." Jillian A of Parkridge, NJ (Solo Singer)

"I had been classically trained before I came to Rachel. I hadn't been to a lesson in over a year and needed to find someone because I was ready to go on a short summer tour with my band. Rachel tried to explain to me that my problem was that I was screaming instead of supporting my voice. This is why I could never create a mix tone easily. Well, I'm so happy that now I can sing with a mix!" Jacqui S of Nyack, N.Y. (Lead Singer of a rock band, Song Writer, and Recording Artist.)

"Rachel not only knows what she is talking about in singing and in performance technique, she is also the nicest person you will ever meet. I love working with her because she makes the lesson fun and teaches without intimidating me!" Mark O of Southern NJ (Solo Singer)