 |
Kudisan Kai, Associate Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"Vocal technique is my specialty, not only because of my classical training, but because of my experience in performing other styles of music. I know how to utilize standard classical technique in these styles and still maintain integrity. I tell my students, 'I want you to marry yourself to your technique, and know it so well that, like breathing, you don't have to think about it; you just do it. Which requires you to be disciplined and to commit to practicing it until it becomes muscle memory.'"
Read More |
Christiane Karam, Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"Sound is vibration, and the human voice in particular, when sung from a place of truth, has an incredibly intimate and healing ability to communicate emotion, tell a story, and transform lives. It is a joy and a privilege to assist students in their musical journey, and help them awaken to the beauty and potential of their unique gifts. By nurturing these gifts, they find and develop their unique voice and can then sing their truth. And by sharing their truth, they can bring love and healing to the world."
 |
Jerome Kyles, Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"God-given gifts are wonderful, but without the drive to get better, it will just be that—a great talent sitting on the shelf. I see, in every student that I have right now, the ability to achieve. So if I see a student underachieving, then that student is going to get the hammer. But I believe students come to Berklee because they want the hard stuff—they want to be challenged."
Read More |
Carolyn Leonhart, Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"I want my students to be able to make any artistic choices they want, and not have their instrument limit them. It's very easy to develop bad habits without knowing it, so we need to take our instruments in to be tuned up, just as other musicians do, to check in with someone who can hear what's going on and guide you. I want my students to have an awareness of their instrument and the relationship between the voice, mind, body, and heart—but it needs to be a healthy balance. Be compassionate with yourself, but do the work and push yourself so that you're not afraid to let go in the moment."
Read More |
Donna McElroy, Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"The students . . . love the fact that I can still have fun and that I love the music. The music comes first, and then I still have a lot of attention, space, and joy left to share with them. That's what they love. And that's a gift. I don't claim that; I just accept it, maintain it, and manage it because I know that it's a gift from God."
Read More |
Nichelle Mungo, Instructor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"I teach lessons for the Voice Department where I focus on vocal technique, assuring that students are singing in a healthy manner. The students are aware of my philosophy for warm ups: the more relaxed and flexible your vocal mechanisms are inwardly, the better your voice will produce outwardly. If you maintain your voice, keeping it warmed up using proper technique, your voice will be one of great longevity. I tell the students to treat their voices just as an athlete would treat their bodies before a game or a race. You wouldn't just wake up one day and say, 'I want to run a 26-mile marathon!' You have to properly prepare for it."
Read More |
Paul Pampinella, Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"I see my job as being a tour guide to the student's own voice, rather than coaching them in any particular style of singing. It's often the case that students simply don't know how to fully operate this instrument that they carry with them."
Read More |
Janice Pendarvis, Associate Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"My professional experience has been very eclectic. I've worked as a soloist, a background vocalist, and a voice announcer. When it comes to genre, I've done everything from the avant garde classical with Philip Glass to rock with Sting to singing duets with the reggae great Peter Tosh. I've sung in different languages, from the South African click language Xhosa to Japanese. And I think having an eclectic background allows me to easily relate to a range of students who have different interests. There really isn't any type of music I don't like; I find something to like in just about every genre. So I'm interested in seeing where everybody's at and where we can go within the confines of the subject I have to teach."
Read More |
Dale Pfeiffer, Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"You need to nail your technique, but also understand how to immerse yourself in a song and let it work its way through you and out to the audience. I had an international student once who was having a hard time with 'Smile' by Charlie Chaplin. I wanted her to feel that she was singing to someone. We talked about who she was close to, and it turned out she was missing her mother. We talked about the meaning of the words, and she sang it again. It was spine-tingling. She really got the emotion. And that to me—that sense of space you get when someone really opens up—is just so moving."
Read More |
Rene Pfister, Instructor
DEPARTMENT : Voice Department"I'm big on repertoire. The song is the medium through which singers express their talent. I encourage my students to listen to vocalists of all genres, analyze what is happening vocally, both technically and stylistically. It's critical that a singer learn to choose the right songs. All of my students create a book of songs in the proper keys so that they are prepared when someone says, 'Can you do this gig?' Yes, and I'm ready to sing 50 songs to prove it."
Read More