NANCY KELLY VOCAL STUDIO
VOICE LESSONS
Central New York Jazz Educator of the year 2019
The Art of Popular Singing
Nancy teaches "The Art of Popular Singing and Vocal Jazz Techniques" privately and at several colleges in upstate New York, focusing on what she calls "conversational singing." In Nancy's words: "I do not teach how to sing particular songs or any particular style of music. While I have students that study Jazz singing with me, my classes are intensive study on how to use the voice in all forms of popular music."
She has combined techniques from the classical discipline with over 40 years experience singing everything from rock to jazz. By taking an in depth look at what she does when she sings, she's developed a pedagogy (style) for teaching popular voice. This is real singing for the 21st century. It is not classical study.
The student uses scales to gain control and learns to translate that knowledge into a piece of music, focusing on proper tone, body placement and use of vowels and consonants and proper breathing. "Then they learn to first read a lyric, then sing it as one would say it. My approach teaches you to be yourself and develop your own style," Nancy explains.
With 40 years of experience as a performer and recording artist, Nancy has a storehouse of knowledge to share with the aspiring singer and the working professional alike. Study with Nancy and learn how to be more yourself than you ever dreamed of being!
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Take control of your instrument
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Proper breathing techniques
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Finding your own voice
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Using your "Money Range" singing in speaking voice
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How ego can destroy your music
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How to use a microphone
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Learning how to phrase by reading the lyric first
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How to make a song swing
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The importance of turning your vibrato on and off
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Choosing your music and finding the right key
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click your location to inquire about private lessons
I see my students for an hour every two weeks @$75 per hour lesson.
Special rates if you pay by the month.
Please read the studio policy for student requirements.
call 315 559 2468
"Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best." -Henry Van Dyke
" If your not making mistakes, your not really trying " Colman Hawkins
Aaron Ruiz. Nancy Kelly Master Class 2021
So proud on my students Adam Kruschwitz and Becky Martin.They made it to the national finals in the 2015 Michael Feinstein American Songbook competition. Here they are just before going on!
"Talent is fairly common. The decision to do something with it is rare"
Micayla MacDougall
Audition for the Michael Feinstein American Songbook Competition
Student Gabriel Gorman recording her Berklee audition
TESTIMONIALS
"How do you thank someone who has not only changed your life, but enriched it beyond your wildest dreams? How do you thank a person who has made you embrace what you already have, and like it enough to want to make it even better? Who inspires you to not only do your best, but see your best? How do you thank a person who shares their music, their gift, their soul so openly with you, and teaches you that the best way to show your appreciation for such a gift is to share it? Who's voice can stop you from looking down at the ground and stare into the stars? How do you thank someone who has become an inspiring teacher, gentle philosopher, part-time psychologist, and treasured friend? ...I guess you just say "thank you"
Jazz singer Scott Dennis
March 23, 2015
I have been taking Skype lessons with Nancy for several months now. She can hear the potential in my voice and has given me the technique and confidence that I need to take my vocal abilities to the next level. In lessons, we develop and work on the essentials of technique, but there is always time to work on things from my own “wish list.” I am finding that through my lessons with Nancy, I am improving in three distinct ways: the quality of my sound, the development of my own style, and the ability to connect better with audiences. The applause from audiences is louder and longer than it was before I started working with Nancy. Musicians are noticing that I can be an asset to their ensembles. I encourage any singer who wants to improve in any of these areas to work with Nancy. She’s different, and even if you’ve been singing for many years, as I have, she will zero in on the things that will allow you to really bring out the best in your ability. And she’s fun, delightful, a truly gifted and wonderful person who has changed my life in the best possible way.
Lisa Monvignier Jazz singer New York City
Nancy Kelly has been the guest Vocal Jazz Clinician for the past 6 years at CNY Jazz Center in Syracuse, New York. I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with her while coordinating this annual Vocal Jazz Jam . Watching Nancy work with young Vocal Jazz musicians is a true educational as well as an exciting experience She is a wonderful coach to each student and her feedback and gentleness in improving their skills is a pleasure to watch. Observing the transformation of these young artists into a more self confident performer is a special teaching skill which Nancy so professionally articulates. She teaches each student how to stylize, work with a professional combo use a mic and lead the combo. It is a thrill to watch these Vocal Jazz musicians perform with a professional combo using the techniques that Nancy has so ably taught them.She is an expert at getting the students to sing in an appropriate range and is extremely encouraging to the students.
Nancy Kelly is an amazing performer and educator!
JoAnn Dinoff, Jazz Educator .Vocal Jazz Adjudicator for (NYSSMA) New York State School Music Association.
Nancy is incredible. I would choose her five times over! She was able to transform my light and airy sound into a full, rich sound. I am forever grateful for her lessons and have gone on to pursue a singing career! Thank you, Nancy!
Claudia Hoyser 5 star
What an exceptional experience! The Le Moyne College Jazzuits recently had the opportunity to work with Nancy Kelly. During their clinic, Nancy coached each student for 5-10 minutes on solos they had prepared for her introducing them to new ideas of preparing solos, stylizing them, and presenting them in performance. Nancy's experience as a world-class performer makes her a perfect clinician to bring students to another level of performance..... She communicated her skills as a performer to the students, making changes in their performance happen right on the spot. I hope that more students will have this opportunity. Kudos to a wonderful educator and performer. My impression of Nancy is.....she is the 21st century "Ella" !
Carol Jacobe Professor of Vocal Studies Le Moyne College
" Nancy Kelly is a talented vocal jazz teacher, working artist, as well as a formidable person. How lucky we are that she shares with us all of her multifaceted talents. In just a year and one half, Nancy has been able to teach this old dog new tricks! During this short period of time Nancy has patiently taught me to sing and speak with conviction. Her unique style of teaching vocal jazz lessons has helped me to find my voice, its benefits spilling out into my profession as well as my life. Thank you Nancy for your individualized lessons. Laughter and singing with you is the best medicine! "
Diane Mather MS,RN,
Diane teaches nursing in the classroom at St. Joseph's College of Nursing and cares for patients with her students on a cardiovascular floor at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, New York.
" What can one say about having a terrific talent and experienced performer to teach you how to use your voice like an artist uses a paint brush - manipulating notes like strokes on the canvas, coloring phrases to achieve just the right values, using unusual perspectives to make the audience hear the "picture" of a song and then finally, putting the finishing touches on it so that it can be presented to a delighted audience! I can sincerely say I am honored, excited and blessed to be Ms. Kelly's student! She and her craft are a work of vocal and musical art!"
Anna Vogel
Check our our Vocal Jazz Jam and Stars of Tomorrow Cabaret
Why do you sing?
“Someone once asked me why people sing. I answered that they sing for many of the same reasons the birds sing. They sing for a mate, to claim their territory, or simply to give voice to the delight of being alive in the midst of a beautiful day. Perhaps more than the birds do, humans hold a grudge. They sing to complain of how grievously they have been wronged, and how to avoid it in the future. They sing to help themselves execute a job of work. They sing so the subsequent generations won’t forget what the current generation endured, or dreamed, or delighted in.”
Linda Ronstadt