In-person lessons resume May 2023!
Please contact Lisa here to schedule.
In person lessons are taught at
Lisa's Upper West Side Studio
near 1,2,3 and B,C subway & M7, M104, M72 bus
Where
170 West 74th St., SE corner Amsterdam; See map.
Details will be sent in FIRST LESSON document upon scheduling your lesson.
When
Monday-Thursday 11:30-6:00, Friday 11:30-5:30
Lessons are 45 or 60 minutes.
As the schedule varies, please contact Lisa regarding your specific scheduling needs.
$120.00 - 1 Hour Lesson
$110.00 - 45 Minute(Or Discounted*) Lesson
$500.00 - 5 Lesson Series
First Lessons must be paid via PayPal through website 24 hours in advance of the scheduled time to hold the lesson. Checks/Cash are accepted after the first lesson; No Venmo at this time.
Payment is expected at the time of your lesson, with the exception of advance payment for all first lessons and series lessons.
Prepaid series of lessons must be used within 8 weeks of the first lesson. Arrangements can be made if travel out of town is required due to work.
*Discounts for AEA, SAG/AFTRA, AGMA, AGVA members, LaGuardia High School Students, NTI Alum, Marymount Manhattan College Alum, LoVetri SVW referrals and clients referred by Voice Therapists and MD's
Cancellation Policy
Your private lesson time has been reserved exclusively for you. If you need to cancel, a minimum of 24 hours notice by phone and email is required, or you will be responsible to pay for the missed lesson. If cancelling or running late, please note that the studio phone (212-724-3470) does not receive texts, so please leave a voice mail.
Not Sure Whether to Cancel?
If it is close to 24 hours before your lesson and you think you may be getting sick or anticipated a possible conflict, but don't want to cancel yet, call the studio phone to cover yourself, and we will go from there. That gives an opportunity to get someone "in the wings" and you're off the hook.
Running Late?
The studio phone does not accept texts. Please email and leave a message at 212-724-3470. Both will be checked on a break or if you are not on time.
For those travelling outside Manhattan, I strongly recommend using mass transportation in order to avoid traffic delays. I cannot extend the reserved lesson time or make-up lessons missed due to unreliable traffic conditions.
Location
The studio is located on the Upper West Side.
2 short blocks 1,2,3 train (W 72 St)
2 long blocks B, C train
Rates and Payment
1 Hour Lesson
$130.00
45 Minute (or discounted*) Lesson
$120.00
5 Lesson Series
$550.00
Payment is expected at the time of your lesson, with the exception of 24 hr. advance online payment for the first lesson. Checks/cash are fine after first lesson; no Venmo at this time. *Discount for AEA, SAG/AFTRA, AGMA, AGVA, LaGuardia HS, NTI & MMC Alum, Voice Therapy and MD referrals, LoVetri SVW referrals. Prepaid series must be used within 10 weeks of the first lesson, however arrangements can be made if travel out of town is required due to work.
First Lesson
First lessons must be paid via Paypal through the website 24 hrs. in advance of the scheduled time, in order to hold the lesson. After scheduling your first lesson, please be on the lookout for an e-mail with FIRST LESSON INFO, and read at least a few days before your lesson to ensure smooth sailing when you arrive.
What to Wear, What to Bring
Wear loose fitting clothing that allows you to breathe and move freely, possibly on the floor.
Please bring sheet music in a binder. *For specific audition, please e-mail a day in advance.
Water
Recording device of choice
Cancellations/Lateness
Your private lesson time has been reserved exclusively for you. If you need to cancel, I require a minimum of 24 hours notice or you’ll be responsible to pay for the missed lesson.
Not Sure Whether to Cancel?
If it’s close to 24 hrs. before your lesson & you think you may be getting sick or anticipate a possible conflict but don’t want to cancel yet, call me at 212-724-3470 as a ‘head’s up’ to COVER YOURSELF, & we’ll go from there. That gives me an opportunity to get someone on deck, and you’re off the hook. ☺
Running Late?
Please e-mail Lisa. If you’re traveling from outside Manhattan, I strongly recommend using mass transportation in order to avoid traffic delays. I’m unable to extend the reserved lesson time or make-up lessons missed due to unreliable traffic conditions.
Studio Policies and Protocol
After you schedule your first lesson with Lisa via e-mail or phone, you’ll receive an e-mail with details regarding studio policies and protocol, including important details pertinent to your first lesson. Please be on the lookout for e-mail with FIRST LESSON INFO, and read at least a few days before your lesson to ensure smooth sailing when you arrive.
Lesson Tips
Wear loose fitting clothing that allows you to breathe and move freely, possibly on the floor.
Try to avoid eating heavily and/or eating mucus-forming foods within 1-2 hours of your lesson.
When prepping for a specific audition, please send sides a day before your lessons to optimize lesson time.
Prep your music (in a binder, please) to optimize lesson time. Hard copy is preferable to tablet, at lessons
Please let me know early in the lesson re: needing to address time sensitive material
Remember to record lessons in ‘airplane’ or ‘do not disturb’ modes to avoid losing lesson recordings!
Treat your lesson as any other professional appointment; try to get a decent night’s sleep, leave sufficient travel time and try to plan your meals and ‘rushing around’ activities accordingly. The main point here -take control of what you can. There are always curveballs and unforeseen stressors; avoiding preventable stress can help you get the most of your valuable lesson time
Practice Tips
TIPS FOR PRODUCTIVE PRACTICE a/k/a HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LESSONS ☺
According to all experts on the subject of success as well as scientific research on the learning process, it takes 10,000 thousand practice hours to master a skill. Elite athletes, musicians and performers all understand that talent and beginner’s luck only go so far – they know from their experience that persistence and hard work are the keys to maintaining a consistently high level of performance that will last over time.
Use your recorded lesson at least 4-5 times between lessons. Each time you work with the recording, you are having another lesson - for the price of one! You will be programming your muscle memory as well as receiving the benefits of the exercises. You want to program the desired muscle behaviors with enough repetition that your brain can transfer the work to your autonomous nervous system…so that it becomes ‘automatic’. Just as important, you will be internalizing the corrections and will begin to recognize issues on your own and then start to self-correct. The stop-and-go of the lesson is an opportunity for you to learn to assess and then reassess what is working. This is a great way to empower yourself and begin to ‘own’ your technique.
Create a dedicated practice space for your work. Even if you share a room, arrange private work time/space. While it’s not always possible to practice at home, honor your process by giving it a dedicated space.
Practicing consecutive days (vs. alternating days) can be most effective in programming your muscle memory. Elite athletes, musicians, dancer, yogis practice very precise sets of exercises daily. Take a day off after several consecutive practice days and play/experiment with exercises. Establish a routine and then vary/play with it.
Practice with your recording using external speakers or through computer speakers vs. using the speakers on your recording device, ear buds or a headset. It’s important that you practice listening and sensing your sound “out in the room”. We do not get realistic representation of our sound from inside our head or in headphones.
**For quick progress – the most resisted, yet most effective practice tool… audio & video record your practice sessions. What some may consider an agonizing process of watching oneself can often be the quickest fix and wake-up call of all. ☺