Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio

$90/hour

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Introduction: I am an equal-part voice teacher and acting coach, and teach both straight acting and musical theater. My students are taught classical vocal technique adjusted for the genre at hand, while at the same time learning the skills to create performances layered with nuance and honesty. Casting directors are on a constant quest for performers with an equal mastery of both these skills, and it is for this reason that my students are so successful in both their auditions and performances. I specialize in song and monologue coaching (where I integrate classical vocal technique with methods from the many Stanislavski-based schools of acting, catered to individual students), scene study, repertoire coaching, audition technique, college auditions, accents/dialects, the differences in film vs. stage acting, and voiceover. I also offer coaching on strategies for breaking into the entertainment industry, and in putting together headshots, a resume, and a demo reel that will stand out from competition and catch the eye of casting directors. As a director, I have won nine international stage and film festival awards, and bring the lessons I have learned from that success into my studio so that my students can benefit from my experience. In addition to teaching my students their craft, I am also passionate about guiding those who are pursuing (or already in the midst of) professional theater and/or film careers in how to present and market themselves in professional settings in ways that make them stand out from the substantial competition. I have a 94% success rate in getting my younger students into their first-choice college conservatory programs, and those who did not get their first choice all ended up in excellent college programs. I also teach annual musical theater classes at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Independence Awards. As seriously as I take my job, it is equally important to me that my students have fun during lessons, and that they know they are in a safe place where they can feel inspired to shatter any glass ceilings imposed upon them by others or even themselves. My students and I work very hard in our lessons, but we also spend a lot of time laughing - and I would never have it any other way.

Overview

Hired 10 times

Serves Bryn Mawr, PA

Background checked

1 employee

19 years in business

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Social media

Facebook, Instagram

Featured Projects

9 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for responsiveness, work quality, and professionalism.

Exceptional 5.0

15 reviews

100%

Read reviews that mention:

Kaylah P.

Jul 15, 2022

Hired on Thumbtack

I am brand new to acting. Never done anything and Michael is literally the best teacher ever. Before I went with an acting coach I consulted with 3 other acting coaches, and from the very beginning I have been blown away from Michael. He has so much valuable knowledge inside of him and the best part is that he teaches everything he knows and doesn’t keep the good stuff to himself. He is so attentive to detail and I know he wants what is best for me and for my career and every single week I look forward to our lesson. I have nothing but good things to say about him. I will always recommend Michael to anyone who is interested in acting. I would give him 100000 stars if I could!!

Details: 18 - 25 years old • No experience • To build confidence • To explore as a hobby • To continue professional development • To prepare for an audition • Not applicable; lessons are for personal interest • What the teacher recommends • No specific focus • 1 person • Remotely (phone or internet)

Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio's reply

Kaylah! Thank you so much for this wonderful review, it means so much to me. You have been an absolute delight to teach. In just a few months, you have gone as far as many actors would go in years - and that is because you are a teacher's dream student. You work hard, you ask deep and insightful questions, and are positively fearless when it comes to challenging yourself about what you think you can and can't do. And I believe there's nothing you can't do - and I very much look forward to proving that! Keep up the great work. If this is how much you've one in just a few short months, I can't wait to see what will happen in all the months and years to follow! Thank you again for trusting me with your considerable talent, and for taking the time to write such a kind review :)

Acting Lessons

Kristin L.

Apr 29, 2022

Hired on Thumbtack

I'm so glad we found Michael! My daughter is a high-school junior getting ready for vocal/musical theater auditions in her senior year. She is a really strong classically trained vocal student, but needed to hone in on her acting skills and finding better monologues. She really enjoys his teaching style, and after every lesson she's excited and energized with what she's learned and how she'll apply her new skills. For example, he coached her through her spring musical role and already we've seen a difference on stage. He has been great doing one-on-one scene study and exploring her song choices for auditions. We highly recommend Michael!

Details: 14 - 17 years old • Advanced • To prepare for an audition • To continue professional development • Musical theater • Theater • Physical theater and movement • Scene study • What the teacher recommends • Refine vocal expression • 1 person • Remotely (phone or internet)

Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio's reply

Thanks so much for leaving such a kind review, Kristin! It has been an absolute privilege to work with your daughter, and as I've told her and you many times, I am truly blown away by how much progress she is making, and in such a short span of time. As we keep working together, I can't wait to see how much more she'll be capable of - because I honestly think the sky's the limit with that one!

Acting Lessons

Michelle V.

Nov 30, 2020

Hired on Thumbtack

I would 100% recommend Michael Bihovsky as an acting coach. He was very knowledgeable and kind. He helped my daughter prepare her lines and record a self tape for an audition. He spent time to make his lesson specific to what my daughter needed. We picked up many tips and We felt very comfortable. He has a true passion for his work and we will be contacting him again!

Details: 10 - 13 years old • Intermediate • To prepare for an audition • TV episode • Scene study • No specific focus • 1 person • At the pro’s location

Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio's reply

Thank you so much Michelle! It was such a pleasure working with her - that much talent is always such a pleasure to help shape, and for her to have it at such a young age is truly remarkable. I hope so much to see her again on the other side of this pandemic nightmare - and in the meantime, I'm a Zoom call away if you need me!

Acting Lessons

Caitlin L.

Apr 29, 2022

I’ve been working with Michael for a little over 3 months now, and in that short amount of time I have improved immensely in my acting skills and overall confidence. Michael carries so much knowledge about acting styles, repertoire, and vocal technique, and always gives constructive advice that produces immediate improvements in my work. He constantly pushes me to dig deeper into repertoire to create a real and honest product, and teaches me vital tricks to prepare me for the world of professional theater/music. Despite us doing lessons virtually via Zoom, he is super easy to talk to and has created a fun and productive environment in our lessons. I couldn’t ask for a better teacher, and I’m so lucky to have found him as I prepare for college auditions!

Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio's reply

Thank you so much, Caitlin - you are a teacher's dream student. Not just because of how incredibly talented you are, but because you have such a sharp analytical mind and commitment to your craft. And because of that, you're able to take direction that requires a completely new way of thinking, and make it your own with such speed and alacrity. It's such a delight to work with you, and I look forward to all the work yet to come - by the time we're done, I think even you yourself might be surprised by what you're capable of!

Dylan H.

Jan 11, 2022

Hired on Thumbtack

Michael was outstanding! He worked with me step by step and helped me come out of my shell. He helped me understand some of the basics to start acting and showed me how to dig deep for any role! Loved working with him and Highly Recommend pursuing him as a Coach!

Details: 18 - 25 years old • No experience • To continue professional development • Film • TV commercial • TV episode • What the teacher recommends • Scene study • Cold reading • Method acting • Classical acting • Improv • Physical theater and movement • Develop specific dialect(s) • Refine vocal expression • Hone diction and enunciation • Expand vocal range • Strengthen vocal projection • Develop specific accent(s) • 1 person • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

Michael Bihovsky Voice and Acting Studio's reply

Thanks so much, Dylan! You're a phenomenally fast learner, and your passion for the craft is so very clear. We have lots of great work to do together.

Acting Lessons

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Michael Bihovsky

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My hourly rate is set at $80/hour lesson (which I charge rounding down to the closest 15 minutes when going for longer or shorter than one hour). This price remains fixed no matter how many different teaching subjects you need me to address in a given lesson. I specialize equally in voice, acting (especially the combination of the two), accents/dialects, songwriting, music theory, directing, and more. In other words, I am many teachers for the price of one!
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I do require an audition (any video of you singing with accompaniment is fine) before accepting you as a new student. If I feel like we would be a good match, then we will schedule our first lesson, so that you can be assured firsthand that I will be a good fit for you as well. For our first lesson, I will have you bring 2-3 memorized pieces in different styles/genres that you already feel pretty confident with, but which you also feel have room for improvement. This will give me the chance to get to know what you already do well (if it ain't broke, don't fix it!), while also giving me an opportunity to try out multiple methods of vocal and/or acting technique to discover which techniques you best respond to. From there, I develop an approach that is catered specifically to your strengths, weaknesses, and style of learning.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated NYU with a degree in musical theater performance and composition, and studied orchestration at Juilliard - in addition to two decades' worth of private lessons in voice and acting in both Philadelphia and New York City. I have been acting and singing professionally since I was a teenager, and have both directed and starred in award-winning theater and film productions.