Ellen Teufel

Introduction: I am a professional opera singer with a recent Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music. As a teacher, my passion is helping people to sing and speak in a healthy, sustainable way. I have seen that all voices can be beautiful and can maintain their beauty and power into old age with proper technique and care. Likewise, all people can learn to speak comfortably through long days of presenting or teaching if they have the patience and diligence to change old habits. All problems-- diminished range, trouble completing phrases because of lack of air, tense or abrasive sound--boil down to the overactivity of the wrong muscles and the underactivity of the right ones. It is a very simple method to understand, but one that does take a bit of time to master! I usually teach at my apartment in Washington Heights, but in some cases, I will travel to your home. I love the experience of making things easier for people. The greatest fun in to pull out a piece that we had put away for a couple of months and hear a student be a amazed at how they don't even think about the breath anymore, or how the high note doesn't even feel high! The voice is an instrument like any other. When was the last time you heard a trumpet player complimented on the beauty of his trumpet? No--it is his skill that makes the sound beautiful or not. The size and color of voices varies according to one's body, but beauty is a function of technique. Many singers and teachers are hung up on the idea that one either "has a voice" or not from birth. I emphatically disagree, and empowering my students by giving them real skills that give them the freedom to sing how they like is my ultimate joy.