My style of teaching is tailor-made for each individual student. I teach all levels of singers from beginners to professionals and every student of mine receives a personalized lesson and approach to his or her development. Singing is not a science; it is a highly personal combination of technique and musicality; the physical and the emotional. As a professional singer, I understand the demands of combining my emotional and musical instincts with a well-founded technique, and I help each of my students strike that balance. Some of the things we work on include:

  • Focusing and gathering your sound so it is as efficient and resonant as possible with the least amount of work being done by your muscles
  • Finding where your tension lies and releasing it to produce a more relaxed, effortless sound
  • Making singing feel good; no, GREAT!
  • Exercising to maximize your time while vocalizing and getting you warmed up quicker.
  • Using the words in your songs to help "pop" your sound without doing any extra work
  • Establishing maintenance and "survival techniques" for singing professionally, on an 8-show-a-week schedule
  • Building your repertoire list
  • Performing the song: the final product!

    I am currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Music at New York University with a certificate in Vocal Pedagogy. My growing knowledge of the voice combined with my years of professional experience as a singer, provides my students with the ultimate in guidance and knowledge. I am very passionate about teaching and sharing what I have learned. I look forward to working with you!

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    "Working with Elena Shaddow has been a blessing! I noticed a difference within our first lesson, and her sense of knowledge and expertise in training gave me the skills and confidence to continue growing. She has an expansive vocal vocabulary and her understanding of the voice has brought my performance to the next level. Her teachings have brought out the best in my voice." -Logan Kesslar, actor, La Cage aux Folles, 2010 Original Broadway Revival Cast

    "I came to Elena from primarily a dance background, and I think any dancer would really click with her approach to vocal training. Elena teaches the way a dancer thinks: envisioning proper internal physical structures and placement. She teaches you how to engage your whole body to produce sound with a sense of certainty and freedom. Both the quality of my sound and my confidence are completely changed because of Elena's instruction, and I love the new songs we add to my book." - Caitlin Mundth, previously a ballerina with the North Carolina Ballet and now a Broadway Actress

    "Elena combines sound technical knowledge with impeccable musicianship and interpretive skills to provide a truly unique training experience. Not only has she studied voice pedagogy thoroughly, but she also brings to the table the wisdom of having implemented it in her own career and performing. This affords her the wonderful ability to know exactly where her students are coming from and also to use their vocal technique to enhance their dramatic power, and vice versa. She is an absolute asset to anyone looking to improve their confidence and ease in singing." - Caleb Hoyer, Composer, Conductor, Rehearsal Pianist, and Accompanist

    "Elena embodies all the qualities one seeks in a gifted teacher: experience, professional knowledge, technique, people skills and trust. With Elena's teaching and coaching I have achieved new and exciting vocal discoveries and broken through what I once never realized were surpassable goals in my singing. She is simply put, the best of the best." - Christophe Caballero, Triple threat Broadway actor, dancer and singer