Marisa has, in my opinion, been the only teacher I've ever had that has given me the freedom to sing the way my body wants to sing. She does not tear you down to build you back up. She does not tell you that everything you know is wrong. She constantly asks, "what was the feeling?" and proceeds from there. Each student is valuable to Marisa and I've even heard her refer to each lesson as a unique lifetime. As a student, you can feel that care and compassion and know that you are uniquely being cared for and tended to. I would recommend Marisa as a teacher to anyone who wants to learn how to enjoy singing -- either again or for the first time.
- Tripp Pettigrew

To truly sing one must cultivate authenticity, emotional availability, technical prowess, musicianship, artistic and personal integrity.

I approach the singer/actor as whole and integrated human being. In lessons, we will play with different exercises that develop physical, emotional, and psychological freedom and flexibility. We will explore how to express a full range of emotions without causing harm to the body.

A singer´s musicality must develop alongside the singing itself; through practicing deep listening, we ask the music itself to be the singer´s stylistic guide. While working on expanding vocal range, using breath correctly and developing muscular strength and efficiency, I attempt to teach in a way that empowers the singer to have his or her own insights and discoveries.

I believe that only by first getting to know one´s self as a singer, can one take on other characters, sing in different styles, and learn techniques such as belting, with health, intelligence, and heart.

My teaching style is most deeply influenced by my teacher Deborah Carmichael, and the Szamosi technique (www.liberocanto.org). I also draw from what I learned as a student of musical theatre at NYU´s Tisch School of the Arts, from my time living in India and studying Indian Hindustani singing daily, and from my experience as a yoga teacher and music director.

I don't know how well I communicated it to you, but the lessons that we had really transformed my way of singing...I have come to understand my body in a way that I really didn't before and that has really, I think, exponentially freed my singing voice, style, and way of life.
- Liz, 19 year old theatre major and competitive rock climber!

Marisa is an especially gifted teacher who is helping me to sing with greater freedom and breath. I became involved with music only after I was diagnosed with cancer and am singing my way through my illness. I find that she is especially sensitive to my needs and is able to intuit what would work best in a specific situation. She involves me in a collaborative process in our lessons with thoughts coming from both of us. The result is that each lesson is unique and a lot of fun. The relaxation exercises she uses allow a very precious feeling of well being and creativity to emerge. The feeling of self judgment lifts; I become less inhibited and am able to experiment. For example, we work on listening and suddenly I find that I can sing something that seemed very difficult before. How did I learn that, I wonder. And my singing feels freer and easier than ever.
- Maria, student, Con-Ed consultant