Teaching + Nondual Coaching
I’ve been privileged to teach voice to a wide range of people, from music majors in an academic setting (some seriously forging careers in music) to non-majors to those who love to sing for singing’s sake. Some read music and some do not. The styles in which they sing stretch across the musical spectrum that includes classical, jazz, rock (incl. hardcore), and pop. And the common threads between all these people are desire, enthusiasm, love of music, and a sense of adventure. Since my students and I share these common threads, I have, in turn, learned a great deal from them.
My teaching is based on the traditional, bel canto technique, because I find that it ultimately gives singers the tools to achieve vocal freedom. Vocal freedom, to me, means immediate and flexible access to the full range and color palette of the any given voice. Time and time again, I have been thrilled to see a student’s face light up when they’ve sung something that had previously seemed impossible to them. And while I love those moments, I also love traveling the road that brings a student to that moment. For some, it can be a long road. But we travel it together, because that very particular love of music spurs us onward. Ultimately, teaching is about relationship.
Maria Tegzes
Not Just for Singers! A Heart-centered Approach to Making Music for All Musicians
What happens when we invite all the parts of ourselves into our heart, including—and even especially—those which we’ve deemed less-than-desirable (or utterly undesirable)?'
Here’s a little story.
Early on in my singing career, I enjoyed significant success. Then, a life-changing event precipitated emotional issues, which blocked access to my musical talent, skill, and knowledge. For decades (no exaggeration), I had sought help down many avenues, only to end up in the same stuck place over and over again. Through a series of seemingly unrelated events, I came to the study and practice of a therapeutic modality called Nondual Kabbalistic Healing®, as founded and developed by modern Kabbalist and Buddhist, Jason Shulman. Initially, I took the four-year intensive course to help myself. I wasn’t even sure if I would complete it. But there I was, in 2020, graduating as a certified Nondual Kabbalistic Healer.
The remarkable thing is that all along the way, the NKH practices and lessons resonated deeply with my love of, and experience with, music. No surprise really, since Jason Shulman is, himself, an extremely gifted musician.
At this point, you may be wondering: what is nondualism? Simply, it is the recognition that opposites exist as two parts of a larger whole. Without “up,” there is no “down.” Without “inside,” there is no “outside,” etc. And these opposites, while remaining intact within themselves, comprise something more than their individual properties.
As I’ve worked with the tenets of NKH (one of which is to heal into greater wholeness by embracing all of ourselves as we are), I have seen more and more clearly how much they can support and enrich creativity and artistry. My approaches to performing and teaching are transforming, as the limitations of old constructs relax.
Even more exciting--my musical-nondual healing combo approach offers a transformative method to not only singers, but musicians of any discipline, who know their capabilities, yet find access to those capabilities blocked at times by various issues that are not of a technical nature or due to physical injury.
If you experience any kind of anxiety or nervousness that impedes what you know is your natural ability, access to your skill level, or your enjoyment of making music, my adaptation of this modality (for musicians) directly addresses and offers tools that can help.
If you would like to know more about this nondual approach to working with music or if you would like a private coaching, please contact me.
Visit the Nondual Kabbalistic Healing® website for more information about this practice and modality.
Teaching Experience
Voice Faculty
InterHarmony International Music Festival (Acqui Terme, Italy)
College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
Great Neck Music Conservatory (Great Neck, NY)
Brookline Music Center for Adult Education (Brookline, MA)
Artist Residencies + Lectures
Music of the Weimar Cabaret
Great Neck Public Library (Great Neck, NY)
Artist Residency
Universidad de las Americas (Cholula, Mexico)
Artist Residency
Institute for Contemporary Music Performance (SUNY at Buffalo)
Exploring Verismo Opera
Great Neck Public Library (Great Neck, NY)
Cabaret Traditions and Idioms with Geoffrey Burleson, Pianist
Oxford University Continuing Education (Oxford, England)
20th Century vs. Standard Repertoire: Closing the Rift
Conservatory of Music (La Coruña, Spain)
Babbitt’s Philomel: text setting and manipulation/performing in the electro-acoustic genre
New England Conservatory (Boston, MA)
Student Testimonials
Studying with Maria was so much more than voice lessons. I learned about how my breath and my body could support my vocal sound, how to approach and navigate different styles of music, and how to be present in the process of making music. Maria brings an incredible depth of feeling and experience to her vocal coaching and that had a big impact on my learning experience.
Jaime McAllister-Grande
Ed.M, Harvard Arts in Education
Maria was a phenomenal voice teacher. I studied under her for 4 years at the College of the Holy Cross and she improved my technique immensely. One thing I loved was that her teaching and methods were different for each student, depending on their specific needs. She was able to troubleshoot my area of difficulty with an inventive and personalized technique that led to an awesome breakthrough . I loved my time with her and was honored to have had the opportunity to work with such a skilled and talented artist.
Meaghan Cussen, MA, EdD
Program Director, External Education & International Collaborations, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians
I have studied and coached with Maria on and off, for many years. Maria (to borrow from Corinthians a bit) is like love; she is patient and kind. She is a master performer and teacher but she is not arrogant or proud and she does not insist on her own way. Maria leads you to see and hear and experience your own voice and your own song. Maria protects, has hope, trusts and perseveres in helping you sing your best. She is a warm and generous teacher and person!
Patricia Gallagher
Bachelor of Music, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University
Holistic voice coaching. That's what I would call what Maria does, how she works. If one plays an instrument, there are many things to consider: hand and finger actions, mouthpiece or bow, the condition of the strings, the reed, the tightness of the drum head. But all those things are outside the body and can be adjusted as needed. In Maria's world, the body is the instrument and the voice is how the sound is shared with the universe.
I have sung in public for a long time, usually to positive response because I stayed on pitch and I could be heard. But I wasn't satisfied. Lucky me, someone recommended Maria to me. At first, it was going to be just "help me learn to pronounce this German text", but it quickly became voice lessons as well. We have been working together for almost two decades, friends as well as teacher and student. Do I sing perfectly now? No. But I sing with a more authentic voice, a stronger, more flexible, more useful voice, one that expresses me.
Go back to the holistic idea. How can a person sing with any other than their own voice? Sadly, it's far too easy to do. Maria has helped me to find my voice. Whether I want to sing rock, gospel, American standards, or classical arias, this voice can do it. And I'm still studying with her. This stuff works!
Jean S.
Vocalist, Church Music Director, Composer
I had the extreme privilege of working with Maria. I am an amateur but love to sing and at some point (a little late in the day) I thought why don’t I? My daughter, who has a great voice and sang at school and at camp and at various karaoke venues (which led to meeting and marrying her life love) inspired me to go for it. So I started lessons with Maria and I found my voice. She was wonderful in every way and as a result I have became involved with three choruses - the last really the one for me. Maria was the inspiration, starting point and music goddess that got me on my way. I catch her whenever she performs. From her I learned the essentials: hard work, dedication, practice and a love of the art of music which expresses, more than anything, our mortal and spiritual souls.
Rita Hall
Artist, Activist, Music Lover
I remember several rehearsals where Maria was trying to get me to sing from my center. And I honestly couldn’t feel what that meant. And she just kept rowing me by the same island over and over. Different paths. Different ways. Until one day I was like, “Hey! An island!” I can say with sincerity that each time I worked with Maria, her approach and her patience helped both my voice and my confidence to evolve. I remember hearing and feeling the difference in real time, which helped me to greatly trust in her process. I was also moved by Maria’s belief in me — and when Maria believes in you, you are inspired to let your guard down and WORK.”
Amy Brogna Baione,
Photographer
Maria taught me so many great songs and was such a great part of my college experience. Every time I hesitate before doing some kind of crazy activity with my own students, I think of the wonderful opportunity of the Opera scenes that Maria put on every year at the College of Holy Cross, where I was a student. It was such a fun thing to be a part of that; and then I think I should just go for it with my students and let them have more experiences.
Jeanine O’Brien Waldron
High School English and Theater Teacher