WEBSITE: www.Manhattanvocalcoach.com
EMAIL: NYVOCALCOACH@gmail.com
SKYPE sessions are available for clients outside of the New York Area
Clients of Stephen Purdy at the New York Vocal Coaching Studio, specializing in vocal and audition technique coaching for musical theatre performers, have been cast in the Broadway and touring companies of virtually every major Broadway musical of the last decade including WICKED, MAMMA MIA, BILLY ELLIOT, SPIDERMAN, HAIRSPRAY, LEGALLY BLONDE, PHANTOM, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, MEMPHIS, JERSEY BOYS and many others. His clients are also performing in regional theatres and on concert stages across the globe.
Stephen is on private voice faculty of Marymount Manhattan College and holds undergraduate degrees in voice and piano and a Masters in Vocal Pedagogy and coaching from Westminster. Recently he was artist-in-residence of musical theatre in Shanghai, China and for the American Musical Theatre Academy of London and regularly presents master classes at notable universities and colleges throughout the United States and abroad. He is also a teacher and coach for MTCA: Musical Theatre College Auditions. His ebook entitled "The Alchemy Of Theatre Song (or: Does This Song Make Me Look Fat?), a song preparation and presentation guide for performers is being readied for publication and will be available online later this year.
AREAS OF EMPHASIS and BENEFITS of Voice Lessons and Vocal and Audition Coaching:
VOICE LESSONS:
Breath support, control, air management, endurance of breath
Providing a succinct understanding of the rib cage, tongue, jaw, spine, head, torso, larynx, pharynx, and muscle groups of the abdomen and upper body as they apply to healthy and liberated singing
Providing understanding and application of resonance to sound (high, frontal mask, the heavier chest, torso)
Understanding, nurturing, strengthening and expansion of the "Belt" or "Chest" voice
Overall expansion of range and creating optimum clarity of pitch
Overall flexibility, durability and command of the Voice
The "Seaming" of the "Chest" and the "Head" registers
Fostering an understanding of the Passagio
Liberating vocal fatigue and stress
Teaching and understanding the traits and styling of singing "Contemporary" musical theatre and the application of these to your instrument while doing so in a natural and healthy manner
Developing a personalized regimen for the singer that addresses and corrects undesirable and/or unhealthy vocal habits (which come in many forms)
Developing a personalized regimen for the singer that expands range and helps to "focus" the sound properly for maximum control and elasticity
VOCAL COACHING:
Finding/Refining Material of diverse styles and tailoring those songs to you as a singular and unique performer
Investing new presentational and technical perspectives into your current material
The comprehensive understanding of "Song is Scene" (Extensive attention given to "Acting the song")
The implementation of vocal technique in general and vocal choices informed by the dramatic text and compositional elements of the song
Guiding the performer out of the "Neutral" state and the relationship of body movement and song (How to physicalize your song performances)
Finding logical and fluid cuts of songs and placing them in the proper keys (and marking them for the pianist correctly)
A thorough understanding of casting directors and creative personnel expectations of what you need to show them (and with which material) in order for you to be placed in the "YES" pile, and the habits of actors that often make them silently wince
As a musical director and conductor for the musical theatre stage, Stephen's Broadway, off- Broadway and National touring credits include TARZAN, SPELLING BEE, PETER PAN (Cathy Rigby-both in New York and on tour), THE FULL MONTY, THE FANTASTICKS, and FRANKENSTEIN (Original cast recording). Stephen spent nearly five years touring Europe with GREASE (Paris and European tours), A CHORUS LINE and 42nd STREET and MY FAIR LADY in Hong Kong. Major regional theatre credits include Atlanta Alliance, Washington Arena, Joseph Papp Public Theatre and the York. Television includes work for A and E, PBS and the BRAVO channel.
