Contact us for discounted rates during COVID-19

Hello! 

After being onstage for many years I am very excited to pass on what I have learned through musical genres including musical theater, classical, opera, R&B, pop and jazz for voice and piano. I am currently working with students from ages 4-65 and would encourage anyone who wants to explore their musical potential to take a chance putting themselves out there. I have witnessed music being an outlet for many people, offering relief from our mundane daily lives, and it has been known to release stress, improve memory, help with speech problems, teach empathy, remind us to breathe and strengthen our deepest intuitions. 

Singing has become a way of living- a form of expression and I can't wait to continue helping my students find their own artistic outlets as well. I am also a member of the New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA) and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and teach lessons regarding vocal technique, repertoire coaching, dramatic or acting coaching, career counseling, music notation and theory. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any further questions!

Teaching Philosophy

I feel an innate responsibility to listen not only to external sounds but to the whole human being standing in front of me, just as my most influential voice teachers have done for me. I understand that there can often be 'baggage' that can come with singing either from emotional blockages or physical limitations that a student is dealing with, and that is why I hope to create a safe and nurturing environment for students to explore their potential. 

At the end of the day the goal of singing is not to imitate our favorite celebrities on the radio; One of my favorite professors once told me “We sing who we are” and once we begin to accept all aspects of ourselves as an individual, the more confidence and enjoyment we will gain from music.

Testimonials

"As a woman with a lower alto voice naturally, aural skill college classes with soprano voice assignments stressed me out a lot. Selena helped me so much with opening up my range and making my general sound so much better. I am very thankful for our lessons, and often use the exercises we went over for daily warm ups :)" - Veronica K.

"I loved working with Selena during our time in undergraduate studies at Rutgers in our voice pedagogy course. We learned everything about the voice from the anatomical/physiological components as well as practice-taught students that we had been assigned by the teacher. She’s an amazing artist and I know she’ll be a wonderful voice teacher to rely on for guidance and advice on improving on the voice." - Shreya C.

"Selena is extremely talented and very patient. One of the best performers I know who also spends the time to make sure her students pay attention to proper technique and other artistic details."-Ananya K.

"Selena is a very patient teacher and talented performer. I have truly enjoyed working with her throughout our undergraduate studies. I have watched Selena's artistry evolve so much in her time at Mason Gross. I often use her guidance through her teaching methods. Selena has the tools to really bring out the best in a student's voice and unlock their potential. I truly believe that Selena continues to be a wonderful voice teacher, and I highly recommend her." -Alexis A. 

Payment: Online lesson payments are required prior to the lesson at the time of booking. For NJ and NYC in-person lessons, payments are due at the end of each single lesson or after the first lesson of a package. Methods include cash, PayPal, Zelle, Stripe or Square. 

24-hour Cancellation: Students must give the instructor 24 hours advanced notice before a cancellation or they will be charged. Failure to do so will result in paying for that lesson. This is so that the instructor has advanced notice to accommodate any other student(s) waiting for that time slot. Exceptions will be be made for true emergencies such as a car accident, flat tire, family emergency, severe weather, etc.

Late Fees: Any payment or partial payment made after it is due (at the time of booking for online lessons, or at the end of an in person lesson) will result in a $20 late fee. This is to ensure that all payments are made on time.
 

Sickness: It is asked for students to NOT come to an in-person lesson if sick. Students who show up with a cold will be sent home and charged for their lesson. With many students passing through the same studio space each day it is important to maintain a clean and sanitary environment for everyone’s health.

Lateness: Any student who arrives late runs the risk of their lesson being cut short. Many times there will be back-to-back lessons and the instructor cannot cut into the next student’s lesson time. If there is a problem with the internet connection causing an online lesson to start late, the instructor may schedule an extra 5-10 minutes to the end of the lesson (if no student is scheduled directly after) or add it to the following week’s lesson.

Emergency Situations: The safety of students is the instructor’s utmost priority. In the event of an emergency (severe weather, family emergency, flat tire, car accident etc.) the student should inform the instructor of their situation as soon as possible. Under these circumstances the instructor will allow a make-up lesson to be rescheduled.

Refund Policy: No refunds are available for Group Classes, Single Lessons, 4+ Lesson Packages or 10+ Lesson Packages although the instructor will offer learning alternatives such as makeup lessons or online group classes. In the event of a cancellation made with at least 24-hours advanced notice or a true emergency, students will have the opportunity to reschedule to later date. 

Respect and Integrity: The students, parents and instructor all deserve the highest level of respect when working together. To all students who enter the house from the garage side: please close the door completely and take off your shoes by the staircase. Any student who arrives five minutes early is welcome to wait at the dining table with their parent(s) until the preceding student is finished. Lessons will begin promptly so please arrive on time.

Anti-Harassment: The instructor, parents and students are all responsible for creating a safe learning environment. Any form of discrimination is strictly prohibited. Failure to abide by this rule after several warnings by the instructor will result in the student being restricted from taking any further lessons. 

Students with Disabilities: It is the parents’ and students’ responsibility to notify the instructor of any physical or mental challenges that may need special attention. It is important for the instructor to know so that they can offer the best help for the student. Accommodations will surely be made for these situations so that the student feels comfortable and receives an optimal learning experience.

Courtesy of Equipment: All students must be mindful of the studio’s property including but not limited to the piano, furniture, walls, music stands, books and other studio equipment. Any equipment damaged by a student or parent must be paid for. 

Parking: It is encouraged for NJ students to park in front of the garage (located off the main road). Since only 2-3 cars can be within this space at a time, students finishing their lesson are asked to leave promptly so the following student will have a parking space. 

Student Expectations: All students are asked to keep a pencil, 3-ring binder where they will hole-punch their sheet music (double sided) and a folder to hold any loose leaf papers needed for their next lesson. The instructor will also recommend books or sheet music for the student to purchase on their own if it is not already in the studio’s music library. Online students are required to have at least one device that can run Zoom. They should also have another method for reading sheet music such as access to a printer or a secondary device (cell phone, tablet, computer, etc.). 

Holidays: Siri Voice Studio will be closed on New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and December 24-26. 

Summer Policy: As many students travel for vacation and participate in programs during the summer it is imperative for our studio to remain functioning at this time. Therefore it is asked for 

each student to take at least five lessons during the summer semester or pay a fee of five voice lessons under the 4+ Lesson Packages category to hold their place for the fall semester. (I.e. Five 60-minute lessons at $65 per lesson will have a $325 summer fee). Students who do not wish to pay the fee or take five lessons will not be guaranteed a slot for the fall semester or be able to perform in the fall recital.

Parents and Guardians: Parents and guardians for students aged 18 and under are welcome as long as the student is able to concentrate and communicate with the instructor. It is encouraged but not required for students 18+ to come independently in order to learn lessons since many younger students tend to feel self-conscious singing in front of others. In the event that a student requests a parent to leave, a parent is constantly interrupting the lesson, or speaking on behalf the student the instructor may ask the parent to wait in another room (or another location if it is online) until the lesson is finished. This is to ensure that the student does not become distracted and stays engaged for the entire duration. If the parent would like to speak with the instructor on an extensive subject, they have the option to email the instructor their questions or arrange a paid professional consultation. This is only necessary for elaborate concerns that require a longer analysis and discussion.

Additional Discounts: Students have the opportunity to receive a $30 hourly lesson with each friend they refer. Therefore, the student AND their friend will each receive a 60-minute lesson at this price. This offer has a limit of 3 times it can be used.