I have been teaching privately and at the college level and privately for over 20 years. I love what I do, and believe there’s nothing more gratifying than collaborating with a singer to create more technical and artistic freedom. In addition to maintaining an active private studio, I have taught at the following institutions:

• NYU Steinhardt (2020 – Present)
• Wagner College (2019 – 2020)
• NYU Steinhardt Summer Contemporary Vocal & Musical Theatre Workshops
  (Summer, 2018 – Present)
• Wagner College Summer Musical Theatre Institute (Summer, 2011 – 2019)
• Marymount Manhattan College (Fall, 2007 – 2017)
• Suffolk University (Spring, 2000)
• Northeastern University (1999-2000)

My job is to help singers more organically express themselves. I enable my clients to do this by balancing technical and dramatic approaches to a song. Having a solid technique is very important, but if you’re not telling a story when you sing, no one will be moved. The same is true of those who are great actors but don’t have the technique to support their storytelling. I make small adjustments to a singer’s breath, placement, and resonance while also talking about phrasing and the song’s emotional journey. The combination of these elements helps the singer find their own healthy and unique approach to a song.

Here are three elements I bring to every lesson I teach:

• Curiosity. A couple years ago, I came across a fantastic quote by Michael Smithson, a Social Scientist at Australia National University: “The larger the island of knowledge grows, the longer the shoreline – where knowledge meets ignorance – extends. The more we know, the more we can ask. Questions don’t give way to
  answers as much as they proliferate together. Answers breed questions. Curiosity isn’t merely a static disposition but rather a passion of the mind that is ceaselessly earned and nurtured.” You deserve a voice teacher who continues to grow in knowledge with you. I strive to be that kind of teacher.
• Vulnerability. Singing is challenging and, at times, painfully vulnerable. Research professor and best-selling author Dr. Brené Brown states: “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” As someone who continues to wrestle with his own issues as a performer, I seek to be a wounded healer, talking to clients about what’s standing in their way. Sometimes technical issues are rooted in a belief system that is deeply woven into our minds and bodies (e.g. “I’m not worthy of being heard”). I in no way attempt to act as an armchair psychologist but, through my own vulnerability, am able to ask you what’s holding you back.
• Mindfulness. If you want to be vulnerable, you must be mindful. It is my job to stay present with you as you work to overcome technical hurdles. I regularly practice mindfulness meditation and use those skills to strengthen my teaching. I have seen incredibly positive outcomes as a result.

I always suggest my clients come warmed up to their lessons, if possible. Having said that, we will always take time to work on what I’ve come to call “vocal conditioning.”

There are always technical exercises we can work on to strengthen our voice and find more release for consistency. I normally spend 20-25 minutes simply working on technical elements of singing. Then, we move into the material the client would like to look at. I always put the client in the driver’s seat, asking them what they hope to accomplish. My aim is to help them achieve those goals in the least amount of time possible. If clients don’t have repertoire in mind, I’m happy to suggest some after I’ve heard them sing. We then bring the work of the first half of the lesson to life in the song, helping the singer tell the story with more clarity. I will then be clear about how to move forward in practice to find consistency with the approaches we find work.

I also do repertoire coachings, which focus more on finding a wide variety of repertoire based on the client’s needs. My digital library is vast and I love finding songs that fit a client’s style and essence. There’s so much great (under-sung) repertoire out there that it’s a wonderful challenge to find just the right thing for a particular singer!

• Experienced pianist, vocal coach, and music director
• Balanced approach to finding and maintaining a healthy belt/mix
• Wide breadth of knowledge of musical theatre and pop/rock repertoire with a specialty in contemporary musical theatre
• Skilled audition coach
• Completed Rock the Audition Teacher Training (Summer, 2019)

I want you to know the work I am daily working to educate myself and find ways to be a better ally to my students and colleagues. Our current social climate demands a swift migration from reflection to action. Please click here to read my statement of inclusion.

“I have been working with David for the last 3 years and he has totally transformed both my voice and my relationship to singing. As a self proclaimed “dancer first”, singing used to be an incredibly nerve racking thing for me, but Daivd’s lessons have shown me how singing can be fun, artistic and creative. David’s kindness and love for vocal technique shines through in all of our lessons. He creates an environment where I always feel safe to try new things, explore, and fail forward. Whether you are just starting your vocal journey or a vet looking to learn a few new tricks, I truly can’t recommend David enough.” —Carina Avila

“David is a kind and deeply honest teacher. Learning from him has taught me not to fear mistakes, but to see them as opportunities for growth and as part of the body’s natural process of recalibrating and learning. Most importantly, he has taught me how to truly listen to my own body and voice. Having someone like David by my side throughout my journey in singing and acting is such a gift. I genuinely cherish every opportunity to work with him.” —Tiffany Ho

So much can be said about David that it is difficult to put it all in just a paragraph. David and I have had a strong and long working relationship; having started voice lessons with him when I was a freshman in college. Through our work together, I believe that I have become a stronger and more confident singer. I’m very grateful to have such an outstanding teacher and mentor on my side. With his vast intelligence, kindness  and his willingness to understand each of his students, anyone who works with him leaves feeling more inspired and confident in their gift. My continued work with David is fulfilling in which I’m always learning new things, continuously progressing my vocal technique and having the confidence to walk into an audition and or a professional space knowing that I have acquired the proper tools to hold my own.” —Tony Russo

“David came into my life by Divine Intervention and I am so grateful! He is a wealth of knowledge and his teaching style is warm, practical, and so approachable. Since I began working with David, I’m singing healthier and feeling much more confident about my voice, especially in the audition room. I literally booked a Broadway show after my first session with him!” —Kelli Youngman

“David brings a calming and grounded presence to  teaching. He creates a vibrant holding environment that promotes safety, health, and sustainability as a vocalist, while also encouraging play, curiosity, and open sharing. What I especially value is that our sessions feel collaborative rather than prescriptive. They genuinely make me want to bring in my own perspectives from wellness, mindfulness, and other areas of personal development. I’m very happy to be working with him.” —Amer Khosla