How often should I have a lesson?
What happens if the studio is full?
What summer programs and area groups do you recommend?
What career paths might one pursue in the arts?
I am interested in a career in opera/musical theater. How I should proceed?
Lessons are priced by the hour and are available in half hour or full hour increments. For current rates, contact the studio directly at 703-321-8213.
We are located in Springfield, Virginia, very near the intersection of Braddock Road and the Beltway. You will receive directions in your starter email prior to your first lesson.
Voice: Lessons are most effective when taken weekly. For all beginning students, we begin with a half hour lesson slot. Hour slots are available only at Laurie Nelson’s invitation.
Drums: We recommend that half hour lessons be taken weekly, although 2 hour long lessons per month can also be effective. Hour long weekly lessons are available at Brad Davis’ invitation.
We maintain 2 lists for times when either studio is full; the Cancellation List, and the Waiting List. Lesson spots do become available from time to time during the year. Each year, a number of hours always open up in the regular schedule when students graduate, move, or leave for college. These spots are often filled by late spring or early summer, so taking a spot on one of the following lists is advisable.
The Cancellation List: This list is limited to 5 students. In keeping with our studio cancellation policy, students inform me of their absences ahead of time. Depending on the student’s availability, 2-3 lessons can be scheduled each month in other students' canceled lesson times. You will be contacted by email if we have a few days notice, or by phone if an opening comes up at the last minute. Students on the cancellation list have first access to lesson times that open up during the calendar year, but are usually assured of a regular spot by August of any calendar year.
The Waiting List: This list is also limited to 5 students. You will be contacted if no student on cancellations can take an open slot, and you will be moved to the cancellation list as students move into regular time slots. Once you are moved, the cancellation list explanation applies. You may be moved directly from the waiting list to a regular slot if the timing aligns with the exodus of students leaving town for college each August.
NM Productions offers a wonderful performance experience each August called the Summer Concert. Please read about it in the Voice Studio section of the website, and visit our youtube channel for clips of previous concerts. That link is www.youtube.com/voiceanddrum.
For other summer programs, please visit the relevant age and genre category under the “Getting Gigs” tabs in the voice and drum studio sections. You will find detailed information there on summer programs and other performance opportunities in and around Washington DC. The information is listed in 3 age groups and 4 genres. The age groups are: Children, HS & College, and Emerging Professional. The genres are Musical Theatre, Opera, Choral Arts, and Jazz/Pop.
There are many, and very often, full time musicians engage in a combination of various pursuits. We will focus on some career paths that could relate to the arts from a starting point of voice and drums.
As you explore the website, you will discover that we have provided you with many resources to assist the exploration of this endeavor. If you are interested specifically in a career as a performer, we suggest that you organize a list of questions and schedule a lesson slot which we will devote to providing practical advice in terms of career planning.
First, let me state that there are many paths to the top of the mountain, and the definition of success differs for every human being. Ultimately, the goal must be for personal happiness and professional satisfaction. Many of us achieve this with a mix of many musical and artistic pursuits. That being said, if you would like to pursue a full time performance career, here are some steps we suggest.
1.) Acquire a college degree in music with a focus on either voice performance or music education. There are benefits and challenges inherent to both:
The performance degree is the equivalent of jumping into the deep end of the pool, with all of the risk that implies. However, if you and your family are comfortable with making this commitment, it can be a great way to go. This degree program will allow you to focus on your technical development and your performance skills. You will have more performance opportunities and access to the best private voice faculty members at your university.
Upon graduation, you might plan to support your endeavors with private teaching, freelance performance work and perhaps a regular church job. This would leave you with the time and energy to go to auditions and the flexibility to accept contracts when they are offered. If you are drawn to this approach, it is important to understand that while your own private voice studio is potentially your greatest financial resource, developing such a business requires strong entrepreneurial skills, a solid understanding of vocal pedagogy and an instinct for diagnostics. In other words, in order to build a reputation, you must be good at what you do. Teaching privately also requires a supportive nature and a high level of self discipline. These particular qualities will certainly help you in your own performance career, but if you are not prepared to be in business for yourself, you might consider the next possibility instead.
The education degree offers you a broader degree program with more flexibility for a masters degree in a different direction. You will have a strong foundation in teaching techniques, and it’s possible that you could still maintain a small private studio on the side. It is important to remember that in many school systems it is not legal to teach your own classroom students privately. If you elect to teach younger aged students in the classroom, then your older private students should not create a conflict.
Upon graduation, you would seek a teaching position through the public or private school systems. We would suggest beginning your teaching career in K-8th grade, and hit the audition circuit. While these positions typically pay less than high school positions, they have several other advantages. 1.) They often require only a bachelor degree, which would allow you to teach and audition for a few years before determining whether to go back to school, and what degree program to pursue if you do. 2.) K-8th grade music programs are less demanding than high school programs. You should be finished teaching by 2:00 each day which leaves you with energy to study, practice and pursue performance opportunities. If you later decide you like the idea of teaching at the high school or college levels, you can return to school for your graduate work.
During your college study, you should explore and participate in as many of the following opportunities as possible:
Upon graduation, you have several options.
Throughout this process, you can participate in different levels of competition, such as the Met Council Auditions. These opportunities can provide you with quick access to higher level auditions if you are selected. Also, there is another career option. There are several companies throughout the world with full time paid opera choruses. The Metropolitan Opera in NYC is one such company. Competition is fierce, but if hired, you receive an annual salary and full benefits. You can do your own regional work during the off season, and you can teach on the side.
As your level of experience builds, it will be easier for you to determine the next steps on your own. They will include acquiring your AGMA card by getting cast in an AGMA production, acquiring representation, recording contracts, major roles with large companies, articles in music publications, etc. And not necessarily in that order! Ultimately, you could be performing major roles with the major opera houses of the world, recording contracts might abound, and we may all know you by your last name. If this level of achievement is your heart’s desire, we will support you every way we can and we will certainly cheer you on!
As you explore the website, you will discover that we have provided you with many resources to assist the exploration of this endeavor. If you are interested specifically in a career as a performer, we suggest that you organize a list of questions and schedule a lesson slot which we will devote answering those questions and providing you with practical advice in terms of career planning.
While you are still in high school, you should begin developing your skills in the 3 areas which will be components of your college auditions, and which are essential to your professional success. You are already studying voice so you’ve got that covered. You should also be taking dance classes and you should work with an acting coach. I can recommend a good coach to you.
Acquire a college degree in musical theatre with a focus on either performance or education. You can pursue these courses of study in either Conservatory Programs or BFA programs. The conservatory program has a stronger focus on the skills you will use as a performer. The BFA will have a wider focus and makes it easier to pursue a masters degree in a different field should you later decide to do so. There are benefits and challenges inherent to both.
During College: You should be working on your performance resume. Your High School resume will no longer be viable for you in auditions, so you are starting from scratch. You need to participate in any and all college productions available to you, and should actively audition for shows in your town. Attending a city school widens the available options considerably. You will also need to acquire summer stock experience while you are a college student. There are theatre conference auditions specific to this pursuit, and they are listed on this website.
Upon Graduation, you will need to do the professional theatre conference auditions as well as local “Leagues” auditions in your city. You will be called by those companies interested in hearing you for specific roles. You should include any and all musical and dance experience on your resume as well as more eccentric skills if you possess them. One of my students received a call from the Shakespeare Theatre after doing the Leagues audition and was asked to sing, do a monologue, play the piano, and play a short piece on her clarinet. And that was for Shakespeare. You get the picture.
You must expect that at some point you will move to New York, but if your home town has a strong theatre scene, like Washington DC, you can begin to acquire professional experience at home before making the move if you choose. You are seeking leads and supporting roles, your equity card, and eventually representation by a reputable agent. Ultimately the goal is of course, Broadway.