LESSONS

THE HUMAN VOICE IS A MIRACLE. WITH ITS REMARKABLE VERSATILITY, IT UNIQUELY CAPTURES & COMMUNICATES THE FULL RANGE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE - FROM BASIC HOMEOSTASIS TO THE MOST MINUTE NUANCE OF AFFECT.

Maria Alejandra Quintanilla has dedicated over a decade to researching and applying techniques that promote exemplary vocal health, adaptability, and longevity. She emphasizes holistic well-being as the foundation of her teaching, with expressive freedom as a natural extension of this approach. Maria integrates a whole-body methodology into her vocal work, drawing from disciplines such as Somatic Voicework™ – The LoVetri Method, The Feldenkrais Method®, and the Alexander Technique, carefully tailoring lessons to meet the unique needs of each student. Her commitment is to demystify the act of singing, empowering vocalists to master their craft with a deeper understanding of the art of singing, rooted in scientifically sound principles.

Maria is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Jazz Performance at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where she teaches applied voice lessons to undergraduate students and directs a jazz vocal ensemble. She earned her Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the State University of New York at Purchase. Previously, she served as the Vocal Performance Teaching Artist for the Cultural Immersion Arts Abroad Program, where she led weekly masterclasses in vocal pedagogy. In addition to her academic work, Maria runs an established private voice studio in Miami, offering lessons to students of all ages and abilities, from amateur to professional, in any style or genre. She also maintains a growing online studio catering to international clients and Miami-based students who prefer remote learning.

Lessons are held online or in person. Please fill out the contact form to learn more.

 STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

“I have worked with Maria for over 4 years now. Before that, I had never taken any private voice coaching. Now, 4 years later, I cannot imagine working with anyone else who would provide the balance of freedom and structure her approach offers. Maria has the education, intellect, temperament, experience, and spirit to coach and offer lessons to a musician or vocalist at any level. It continues to be a privilege to have the opportunity to work with her.’”

– CHEIKU, NEW YORK

“I started taking lessons with Maria after observing the incredible progress my husband made after working with her for just a short time. I have had many voice lessons with several different teachers over the years but Maria is by far the best voice coach I have ever had. From the very beginning of my first lesson, Maria managed to not only teach proper technique, but also offered up the space to be free of tension and stress. She patiently taught me to be in the moment and just sing! Maria has found the perfect way to push me just enough so I continue to learn but she also reminds me to be patient with myself. As long I show up and do my best, the rest will come together. She's right! I am enjoying hearing the more grounded tones and soaring high notes that I never thought my voice was capable of producing. Yes, Maria makes me get in the WORK. But she also makes sure that there is a lightness to it. After every lesson I am left with a sense of excitement and anticipation to come back the next week to immerse myself in music and continue to learn more!’”

– NICOLE, NEW YORK

“I can't think of any vocal teacher who believes in a students’ musical potential like Maria. She helped me expand my vocal range, textures and expressions tremendously, all within a short period of time. With her knowledge and experiences, she helped me overcome my difficulties. She always suggested new ways of trying different vocal exercises. Her way of teaching was tailored towards my needs which included the recording of my first solo album. Maria is not only a genuine, nurturing, and authentic teacher, but is also an accomplished vocalist whose voice touches peoples’ hearts. Voice lessons with her are something that I look forward to and recommend strongly.’”

– KOTOE, JAPAN

“I’ve been taking classes with Maria for about 2 years and it was and is purely a pleasure. Maria helped me get rid of tension that I couldn’t overcome for many years. My sound is now free, grounded and confident. Maria is a very committed, supportive and involved teacher – you can be sure that you won’t be left unheard or misunderstood. She addresses each particular issue that you might personally have with great attention; she tailors every exercise to address your specific concerns/requests – not with a plain formal list of standard exercises. I admire her organizational skills – keeping track of student’s progress, planning the classes ahead, and choosing the songs that you might love. I have quite a vast experience of taking vocal classes here in US and back in Russia and I may say that Maria is one of the best teachers I have ever had (the second is in Russia ). I’m so grateful and happy that I met Maria and I would recommend her classes to everyone.’”

– LIDIA, NEW YORK

“The minute I met Maria we had an instant connection. She is patient, professional and helped me tremendously in the time I trained with her. Maria tailored vocal exercises to my strengths and weaknesses and worked with me on the repertoire I chose. Even when I wasn’t feeling especially motivated, she inspired me to be the best I could be. After just a few weeks, my voice and overall singing improved tremendously. All of my friends noticed the improvement. I would recommend Maria for all levels of singing. She brings her enthusiasm and experience to the lesson and it rubs off on everyone that meets her. She is loved by everyone. If you have the opportunity to have her as a vocal teacher, you are a very fortunate person!’”

– IRMA, CALIFORNIA

“It was a great honor for me to go to the United States for the 2018 Arts Abroad Program. I met Maria, an excellent teacher who is rigorous and careful in class and has greatly benefited me. In China, teachers meticulously follow the music score and the prescribed rhythm so as to avoid mistakes. Contrastingly, my experience with Maria went beyond the notes on the page. She was more cultivated and trained for music interpretation and expression. She would elevate the music, freely improvise on her inner feelings at that time! Maria would sing different melodies according to the accompaniment in class and urge the students to imitate and improvise; this is very rare in China! I truly believe that if you work with Maria, she can help you reach your full potential!’”

– LEILANI, CHINA