Expert Voice Lessons in Philly
Our overarching mission is to help individuals find confidence and enjoyment in music, and our voice lessons are structured with that goal in mind. We help pre-college students and adults improve their singing, and regardless of your skills or experience, we would enjoy working with you.
Studio A at the Philadelphia Piano Institute
Our Singing Program Details
We offer weekly lessons with acclaimed singer and AVA graduate Eric Delgrange or Voces8 Scholar Elisa Chodan (biographies below). You can choose 30, 45, or 60 minute lessons, and if you ever find that you need longer lessons that what you initially signed up for, just let us know.
We also hold informal studio hours and rehearsals - this allows you to meet other students, practice singing in front of others, perform with a pianist, and have fun with music. These are optional!
Meet Your Voice Teachers and Coaches
Eric, Opera Singer and Academy of Vocal Arts Graduate
Eric Delagrange, described by Parterre Box as a “truly excellent bass,” is a graduate of the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts on Spruce Street. He brings years of teaching experience, an international performance pedigree, and a wealth of vocal pedagogy knowledge to each lesson. His 2022 summer season includes roles at The Princeton Festival (Albert Herring), Music Academy of the West (Eugine Onegin), and the Philadelphia Sinfonia. He has performed numerous other roles and received awards from such competitions as the Orpheus Vocal Competition, XVI Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition, and others.
Elisa, MMus in Vocal Performance and Experienced Choral Director
Elisa Chodan, a vocal educator with six years of experience in southeastern PA, earned her bachelor’s degree in music education and her master’s degree in voice performance. In addition to her gradate conducting credits at Westminster Choir College, she has worked extensively as a US Scholar and intern with the acclaimed vocal ensemble Voces8 in Europe. She headed the music department at Veritas Academy for four years (with a focus on choral and general music classes), taught Women’s Chorus at Lancaster Bible College, and has taught voice lessons and led choral programs at numerous other institutions. She currently teaches at Drexel University while completing her master’s degree in music therapy.
John Drake, who has been coached by some of the world’s leading vocal pedagogues while enrolled at the American Institute of Music Studies in Graz, Austria, is an emerging vocalist currently pursuing his masters degree at Temple University. He has performed such roles as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Luka from William Walton’s The Bear, and Enrico from Enrico di Borgogna by Donizetti, among others, and he is excited to share his passion for technique, diction, and more with his students.
Why Choose Our Voice Lessons?
We will help you strive for excellence, teach you how to practice and improve on your own, and work with you to eliminate tension and unhealthy technique. The fundamentals of music are also included in our lessons; note reading, basic music theory and more.
Furthermore, we help you learn the music you want to learn. You don’t have to sing arias if you don’t want to, nor will you have to sing Adele if you would prefer to learn Schubert. Tell us about your goals, and we’ll structure a learning process that works for you.
Join a Musical Community
We want our students to meet their peers, be encouraged by each other’s progress, and gain confidence by singing with and for each other. Here are just a few benefits of our vocal program:
Enjoy studio class sessions - singing students gather to perform their music for each other in a fun, non-formal setting, receive feedback from teachers, and encourage each other.
Collaborate with other musicians - we offer a collaborative piano option, in which singers can work with one of the pianists at the Institute. We also facilitate vocal ensembles and duets, and you will have the opportunity to perform.
Your Goals Matter To Us
There is no judgment at the Philadelphia Piano Institute, and our only expectation for our students is for them to work towards their goals and find joy in music. We have professional singing experience, advanced degrees, and more, and because of that, we can use our knowledge to help you sing classical music, theatre tunes, opera, pop songs, and any other genre. The fundamentals of music and vocal production will always be taught at our studio, so we can use those fundamentals to help you improve on your specific goals.
You Will Never Be “Just Another Student”
We love helping our pre-college and adult students equally, and we treat each individual teaching session with the respect it deserves. We are thrilled when a student wants to work with us, and we take that relationship seriously. Our teaching materials, song choices, and curriculum will be specifically tailored to your needs.
Our Voice Studio Location
Our studio is conveniently located at 621 S 2nd Street in the beautiful Queen Village neighborhood. We are just steps away from Headhouse Square, and there is plenty of metered and free street parking surrounding our location. Just minutes away from I-95, we serve students from across the bridge in New Jersey, South Philly, Rittenhouse, Society Hill, Old City, and more. Address:
Philadelphia Piano Institute
621 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 428-2492
The Ages We Teach at the Institute
Singing Lessons For Adults + Teens in Philadelphia
Whether your high schooler is preparing for a theater production, college auditions, or something else, we would enjoy working with them. The teenage years are incredibly formative for singers, as their voices are in constant transition. Simply understanding and broadening the boundaries of one’s own voice is a project.
Adults often bring specific goals to lessons; they may wish to sing in a civic or church choir, or maybe they want to sing in a musical or band. We help our adult students learn technique, pick enjoyable and challenging repertoire, and create practice strategies that will lead to improvement.
Voice Lessons for Kids in Philadelphia
Voice lessons for children have a different focus - as a child’s voice has not yet changed, the goal is to create strong breathing habits, train their ear, and teach the fundamentals of note reading, music theory, and rhythm. It is often beneficial for a child to work with the same teacher as the student transitions into their “adult voice” during their early teen years.
We make voice lessons for children fun and engaging, and we are happy to work with families on the music they wish their child to learn.
Genres, Voice Types, and More Voice Lesson Information
Traditional + Classical Voice Lessons in Philadelphia
Most commonly, we teach in a traditional style. That means the focus will be on sound production, relaxed singing, breathing, range expansion, and other fundamentals. These elements are necessary for any genre you wish to pursue, so unless you have genre-specific goals and previous experience, we suggest that you pursue this model with us.
If you want an opera-specific focus, we can help you there as well. Your teacher will guide the development of your range and volume, and we will help you select flattering, yet challenging repertoire that will set you up for success at the college and professional levels.
Musical Theatre Voice Lessons
If you’d like to sing Broadway tunes, join a local musical theatre company, or give your child or teen the opportunity to sing in a show, we’d love to help. We can help you learn to belt safely and beautifully, develop your head voice and chest voice, “mix” your voice between registers, and more. Learn songs from Into the Woods, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and so much more, and we can even coach you on stage presence and auditioning.
Jazz Voice Lessons
Do you want to sing like Kurt Elling or Ella Fitzgerald? We can help you focus on jazz singing, the Great American Songbook, and more. We can help you mix vocal timbres to create a unique jazz sound, choose vocal literature that will help you learn the genre, and discuss the various techniques required when improvising solos or singing in a vocal jazz ensemble.
Rock + Pop Voice Lessons
Work with our skilled instructors to develop advanced popular techniques like voice breaking, runs, breathy singing, inflections, and more. Contemporary genres require all of your fundamentals to be solid, of course, but once you are singing safely with good breath support, we will help you learn the intricacies of popular genres.
Sign Up Regardless of Your Voice Type
We place no restrictions on the voice types we work with. We can work with a bass, baritone, tenor, alto, or soprano, and if you are unsure of your voice type, please let us know. We will help you discover your range potential with exercises and practice methods.
We also help students who are in the middle of a voice change - this can be a tricky time of life, and you may not be sure where your voice will settle. We will teach you how to sing well as your voice matures, and the lessons you learn will apply to your life as a bass, baritone, tenor, or soprano.
Coming Next Semester: Our Full Vocal Program
Our full vocal program will include masterclasses, lessons, ensemble opportunities, and more. There is no audition, and we welcome beginners and experienced singers. The full vocal program includes:
14 private voice lessons, taught on a weekly schedule, between the first week of September and second week of December
2 studio studio classes per semester. In these, voice students convene for an hour-long “studio class,” in which they perform in a very casual setting, receive feedback from the teaching artist, meet each other, and discuss singing concepts
Opportunity to rehearse and perform with a collaborative pianist on one piece of repertoire
Rehearse and sing in a small vocal ensemble of your peers at the Institute, under our teaching artist’s guidance
Who Should Learn to Sing in Philadelphia?
Truthfully, everyone should learn how to sing! Voice lessons in Philadelphia will improve your speaking voice, your confidence, and your ability to participate in group music making or corporate worship. Voice lessons will also help you learn music in a holistic sense, so if you enjoy listening to music or attending shows, lessons will grow your appreciation of art.
Choirs, vocal jazz ensembles, theatre productions, bands, and even karaoke night are great outlets for singing, and if you think you might have an interest in learning how to sing, contact us for a one-time lesson.
What Can Singing Lessons in Philadelphia Do For You?
Our students use their voice lessons to make new friends, participate in worship, audition for musical theatre productions, pursue singing in college, join choruses, and more. Here are a few opportunities at your disposal.
Singing City Choir
This volunteer choir has seasonal auditions for competent vocalists. You must be able to sight read music and attend weekly rehearsals on Tuesday nights. If you are accepted, you’ll be able to sing with ensembles like the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philly Pops, and more. The Singing City Choir has also traveled and performed internationally.
More Information: www.singingcity.org/auditions
Philharmonia
If you enjoy contemporary choral music, consider auditioning for Philharmonia. They rehearse on Sunday evenings, and while you do have to audition for this ensemble, their website seems to indicate that they don’t have a hard cap on membership. They perform slightly more advanced music, so you will need to demonstrate good aural memory and sight reading ability in your audition.
More Information: philharmoniasings.com
The Philadelphia Chorus
This group is a soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass choir that rehearses and performs in Center City. Their upcoming repertoire includes things like Schubert and Brahms, so you can expect a traditional concert list. Auditions are open-ended, and they welcome new singers throughout the year.
Www.thephiladelphiachorus.org/auditions
CAPA - High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Many parents in the Greater Philadelphia region with arts-minded kids consider CAPA to be a great high school. Voice lessons will help your child learn how to sight-sing, understand theory, read notes, and understand other elements of music - these are critical skills for auditions at CAPA.
Too Many Opportunities To List Here!
Kids, teens, and adults have infinite opportunities to sing in Philadelphia. Choirs, rock bands, jazz ensembles, theatre production and more abound. Ask your teacher for recommendations!
Enroll in Singing Lessons in Philadelphia Today
We would love to hear from you. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and have a variety of goals, and we are confident that you’ll enjoy our welcoming environment. Get in touch today for more information about availability - we are looking forward to working with you.