From Shy Singer to Confident Performer

How Teaching Artist Luis Mora helped NYC students find their voices this summer.

Chrismeyris has passion and talent for music. She is a member of the vocal club and the poetry classes at Bronx Academy of Letters, and she was also the lead in her school's production of High School Musical last year. However, she had never had a proper voice lesson before.

That all changed this summer! Our Teaching Artist, Luis Mora set out to achieve two goals: to get a better understanding of Chrismeyris's voice and to teacher her a new song.

One of the most important things that Luis did was to help Chrismeyris identify where she held tension in her body. This tension was preventing her from singing her best, so they worked with her to release it using breathing, singing, and joyful techniques.

After only four lessons, Chrismeyris was able to expand her range and work on her self-confidence. She successfully learned the song "All I've Ever Known" from the musical Hadestown, and she was thrilled with her progress.

Chrismeyris's story is a reminder of the power of voice lessons. With the right guidance, anyone can learn to sing their best. If you're passionate about music, don't hesitate to take voice lessons. You might be surprised at how much you can achieve.

Chrismeyris reflected on her voice lessons and said, “To be honest these vocal classes helped a lot, not just with my voice but with myself. I realize how I closed myself to do things that I know I could do but I was just too scared to do it because of my insecurities.

It was kind of like my therapy of the week because I was being myself in those moments, signing and letting everything go out. Luis helped me a lot with my breathing control and how to let myself open my voice more, he is the sweetest person ever! I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to have those classes because they really changed my summer.”