Every lesson starts with a conversation about where you want to go musically, what draws you to singing, and what's holding you back from feeling free in your sound. From there, I build something around you. A lot of my work centers on connecting breath and movement to the voice, because real freedom in sound doesn't come from tightening up, it comes from loosening whatever's in the way. I care most about the voice as a vehicle for empowerment, self-expression, and creativity, and I love helping students dig into repertoire that's genuinely theirs, then get it performance-ready when they're ready to take it further.
 

My own training runs across jazz, pop, musical theatre, R&B, rock, classical, and improvisatory/experimental styles, so wherever a student's ear is pointed, I can usually meet them there.
 

I credit my own vocal foundation to the generous mentorship I've received over the years; training that shaped a voice that's as technically grounded as it is creatively expansive. Growing up in India, I had access to world-class instruction in both Hindustani classical music and Western theory, including jazz and contemporary forms, and I became acutely aware of how rare that kind of access was. In 2015, driven by a desire to share it and give back, I co-founded The Mela Centre for Learning, a Bangalore-based music school built around cross-genre musical education. There, I taught jazz and contemporary vocals to students across age groups, developing a hybrid approach that drew on both Indian pedagogical frameworks and Western vocal technique.
 

Now based in California, I teach private voice lessons to students of all ages and experience levels from beginners discovering their voice for the first time to advanced artists refining their craft.
 

I think of the voice not just as a means of singing, but as a rich and versatile instrument. One that can be shaped, stretched, and played with to express the full range of human emotion. My teaching leans into that expressive potential, encouraging students to explore tone, timbre, and phrasing with curiosity and freedom. To me, the voice is a sculptural, improvisational tool with endless creative possibilities.

Every lesson is personalized to your vocal strengths, artistic goals, and learning style. 
 

I also teach microphone technique, helping students adapt their sound for amplified settings on stage or in the studio; breath control, dynamic range, mic placement, and the subtleties of live versus recorded vocal delivery.
 

Whether I'm mentoring a child learning their first scale or guiding a seasoned vocalist through advanced repertoire, I want to create a collaborative, inclusive space where every voice is welcome and empowered to grow.

 

I currently teach out of my home studio in Temescal, Oakland, and I'm also available for lessons over Zoom.
 

If you're interested in lessons, email me at manadhanraj@gmail.com.