Teaching Philosophy

As an opera singer and vocal instructor, my teaching philosophy is rooted in the principles of the Belcanto technique, which emphasizes beauty of sound, seamless vocal production, a solid breath support systen, pure Italian vowels, and expressive phrasing in every language. I have spent the last 25 years honing that technique with Master teachers like Maria Spacagna, Elizabeth Hynes, Ruth Falcon, Diana Soviero, and world famous Italian sopranos Mirella Freni, Renata Scotto, and Mariella Devia.

I believe that with proper guidance and dedication, every singer can express themselves musically and dramatically with freedom and ease, achieving their fullest vocal potential without force or strain and sharing their unique voice with the world. My mission is to equip artists with the skills and confidence to project their voices effortlessly and expressively. I guide singers toward healthy and natural vocal production, enabling them to use their voice, breath, vowels, and "squillante" resonance in the most efficient way possible to carry over an orchestra in a large theater without amplification, and without listening to themselves.

At the core of my teaching is my commitment to healthy, clean vocal pedagogy. I prioritize the well-being of my students' voices, ensuring that they develop techniques that promote longevity and resilience. This involves a strong emphasis on breath control, vocal support, intonation, emotional and artistic intelligence, and above all, relaxation. By focusing on these fundamental elements, students learn to produce a free and active sound that is both powerful and sustainable.

The Belcanto technique, with its rich history and proven efficacy, forms the cornerstone of my instruction. This method teaches students to blend their vocal registers seamlessly, achieve consistent, homogeneous, tone quality across their range, and develop agility for intricate passages. I encourage my students to explore the full range of their voices with confidence, emphasizing the importance of a balanced and coordinated approach to singing through daily vocalises whilst always aiming for a chiaroscuro, global, round sound.

A key aspect of my philosophy is the belief that the most natural way of singing is the most effective. I strive to help students find their own authentic voice, free from unnecessary tension and artificial manipulation or falsified overdarkening. By fostering an environment where students feel safe to experiment and discover their own sound, I help them build a solid technical foundation that allows for artistic freedom and personal expression. I am also encouraging of students' physical awareness and their ability to communicate and verbalize what they are doing so that they are also equipped to teach.

In addition to technical proficiency, I emphasize the importance of musicality, language, and interpretive skills. Opera is a deeply expressive art form, and I encourage my students to connect emotionally with the music and text, regardless of language. Through detailed study of the score, character analysis, and dramatic interpretation, I guide students in bringing their performances to life with authenticity and passion.

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As a language instructor of Italian, English, and German, I firmly believe that every human has the potential to learn one or more foreign languages. My teaching philosophy is centered on the conviction that personalized and student-focused instruction is key to unlocking this potential. Each student brings a unique set of experiences, learning styles, and motivations to the classroom, and it is not only my duty but my strength to identify and cater to these individual needs, ensuring that every learner finds their own path to fluency.

My approach to teaching Italian is informed by my diverse experiences with the language and with foreign languages in general. Having learned Italian both in an academic setting and at home (I spoke a Southern dialect as a child), I possess a deep understanding of the challenges and joys that come with language acquisition. This dual perspective allows me to connect with students on multiple levels, providing insights that are both scholarly and practical. Additionally, my proficiency in multiple languages enables me to draw comparisons and make explanations in the students' native tongues, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention.

One of my key strengths is my ability to assist students with pronunciation and diction. As an opera singer, I have honed my ear and voice to achieve precise and authentic Italian pronunciation. This expertise allows me to guide students in mastering the sounds and rhythms of the language, which is crucial for effective communication and cultural immersion. I incorporate singing techniques and both kinesthetic and phonetic exercises into my language teaching, making the learning process both enjoyable and effective.

My classes are dynamic and interactive, fostering an environment where students feel comfortable experimenting with the language and making mistakes. I employ a variety of teaching methods, including conversational practice, multimedia resources, and cultural immersion activities, to engage students and accommodate different learning styles and levels. By creating a supportive and stimulating classroom atmosphere, I encourage students to take risks and develop their confidence in using Italian or any other target language in their everyday lives.

In conclusion, my teaching philosophies, regardless of subject, are rooted in the belief that personalized, empathetic, and culturally rich instruction can transform learning into a deeply rewarding experience. I am committed to helping each student discover their own unique path to mastering their voices and/or language skills confidently so they can communication freely with the world.

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 FEEDBACK FROM CURRENT & FORMER STUDENTS:

"Jessica è allegra, gentile e disponibile con i miei problemi. Le sue lezioni portano a una vocalizzazione sana e libera. Non mi sento mai in difficoltà anche online e mi sento sempre felice dopo le nostre lezioni. Vorrei studiare con lei sempre di più!" - Sakura Yamahara, Soprano, Japan

"Le lezioni con Jessica sono super dinamiche e divertenti, ho scoperto caratteristiche della mia voce che non conoscevo. Ho imparato molto in poco tempo, non vedo l'ora di programmare altre lezioni con lei. ¡Muchas gracias Jessica!" - Marilyn Viloria, Mezzo-Soprano, Venezuela

"Jessica is a great listener and really takes individuals' needs and focus as direction in her lessons. She is detail-oriented and takes time to really understand the work. She opened my eyes to a new method, singing a phrase backwards, and that really gave me a new bar of how well I can understand my scores." - Snæfríður Björnsdóttir, Soprano, Iceland

“I had been speaking basic Italian for years, but Jessica helped me take my language skills to the next level through a mix of conversation, grammar study, and reading interesting articles. She’s very organized, professional, and effective. I can’t recommend her teaching highly enough!” - Corinne Winters, Soprano, USA

"¡Las clases con Jessica son maravillosas! Es una excelente maestra, no sólo enseña la gramática que es algo fundamental, sino también el uso de ella en la vida real. El saber varios idiomas también es de una gran ayuda, ya que comprende cómo funciona el proceso de aprender otro idioma."

"Jessica is an amazing teacher, I love her classes! The way she teaches a new language is very helpful, she just doesn't teach grammar, which is very important, she teaches the use of it in real life. Moreover, it is very helpful that she speaks more languages because she understands how it works the process of learning a new language. I learned a lot of Italian, but also I practiced English in her classes." - Diana Carolina Rios, Soprano, Colombia

"I came to Jessica with very basic Italian and she really helped me improve in a short time. She quickly adapted a learning plan to fit my needs and schedule, which included a great mix of grammar study, speaking, writing, listening to native speakers, and reading articles. I highly recommend her if you’re looking for an Italian teacher and want to improve your skills!" - Emily Lorini, Mezzo-Soprano, USA

"Jessica took her time to explain the material and made sure all the students understood everything before proceeding. Great lesson!"

"Una buona lezione! Ho praticato molto."

"Wie immer bis jetzt, alles super. Die Stunde hat viel Spaß gemacht und ich habe viel gelernt. Es gab viele Möglichkeiten Konversationen zu üben."

"Wir konnten ausgiebig sprechen üben und Jessica kann sehr gut erklären."

"Loved the lesson. Good pace and I learned a lot. Fantastic teacher, who teaches with passion! Very well prepared and motivated. Also kind and funny."

"Lehrkraft voll in Ordnung, Lehrerin sehr nett und lustig."

"Tres bel echange. C'est ma 2ème leçon avec cette prof et bien sùr j'espère encore en suivre beaucoup sous sa direction."

"Come sempre, tutto bene. Grazie mille!"

"Great class. Very friendly and patient teacher."

"Wie immer, ausgezeichnet, eine der besten Lehrerinnen von Babbel. PERFETTA!"

"Sehr sympathische, kompetente, einfühlsame Frau. Vielen Dank für die wunderbare Unterrichtsstunde! Tolle Lehrkraft."

"Jessica is fantastic! She had us all speaking Italian from the first moment, and made everyone feel comfortable."

"Angenehmes Tempo und geht auf persönliche Bedürfnisse ein. Es war eine Freude, mit Jessica zu lernen. Sie war nicht nur als Lehrkraft großartig, sie war auch eine sympathische und aufmerksame Person."

"Jessica hat mich sehr gut unterstützen können und mir geholfen, meine Probleme zu lösen. Ausgezeichnet."

"Fantastic teacher! Jessica was creative in finding opportunities for students to speak only Italian."

"Sehr guter Unterricht, sehr freundlich!"

"Die Grammatik wurde super erklärt und wir haben viel sprechen geübt. Es war meine erste Babbel Live Stunde und Spass gemacht. Jessica ist eine sympathische und kompetente Lehrerin."

"Jessica was creative and supportive in presenting the difficult and poorly designed material in this lesson. She is a good teacher who really wants her students to learn well."

"Jessica hat alles gut erklärt, mir immer genügend Zeit gelassen und sich stets rückversichert, ob ich Fragen habe Es hat Spaß gemacht."

"Prof très intéressante et charmante."

"She was great! Good time management, involved everyone in the class, we all talked a lot, very friendly."

"Ich hatte die Möglichkeit sehr viele Weg Beschreibungen zu üben und das hat mir sehr geholfen meine Kenntnisse dahingehend zu verbessern. Jessica hat das großartig gemacht!"

"Jessica is simply a wonderful instructor. I very much enjoy her lessons and look forward to many more."

"Jessica was great and fun…the material was difficult but she did a great job explaining the concept."  

"Class with Jessica was great! She offers an interesting perspective being fluent in English and Italian. I enjoyed class with her, learned a lot, and look forward to my next class!"

"Der Unterricht war sehr toll und lehrreich. Jessica kann sehr gut erklären und einen motivieren."

"Exelente profesora, explica muy claro siempre y hace interactúar a los alumnos. Super!"

"Angenehm und kompetent. Ausgezeichnet."

"Es war ein lebhafter, redeaktiver Unterricht. Jessica hat sich viel Zeit genommen für Erklärungen."

"So good! Jessica was great and kept the class very interactive, which I enjoyed a lot! She's calm and encouraging. Thank you!!!"

"Excellent professeur."

"Era un piacere, grazie! 5 stelle!"

"Jessica was very nice and adapted really well to the pace, level, and interests of the students in the class. I look forward to taking more classes with her in the future."

"Very friendly, supportive class. She was very clear and encouraging. She corrected us nicely and clearly. She did a good job of getting us talking to each other."

"Très courtoise et professionnelle."

"Clear helpful guidance including how best to prepare for lessons. She explained things very clearly throughout the whole lesson."

"Muy amable, muy paciente y respondió amablemente todas las preguntas :) Buena profesora! Perfecta!"

"Perfetto! Penso che la lezione sia stata molto piacevole e tranquilla. Jessica è stata organizzata nel spiegare tutto, il che ha aiutato a comprendere bene la lezione durante l’ora."

"Toller Unterricht. Wir reden viel und Jessica erklärt die Grammatik sehr gut. Sie ist sehr freundlich, sehr nett, interessiert sich für ihre Schüler. Erklärt gut."

"Jessica is one of my favorite teachers. Very creative in going over the grammar and in facilitating conversation."

"Bravissima insegnante. Ha spiegato il materiale in modo chiaro e ci ha dato absastanza tempo di esercitarci."

"5 stars! She gave valuable feedback and worked hard to cover most important material."

"Jessica is warm and welcoming and invites lots of discussion, participation. She takes every opportunity to teach new vocabulary and clarify grammar rules. Wonderful teacher!"

"Fantastic instructor! Die Beste!"

"Fantastica! La lezione è stata piacevole, organizzata e tranquilla. Abbiamo parlato molto delle nostre idee per migliorare e Jessica ha aiutato molto con gentilezza, pazienza e chiarezza."

"Jessica is an excellent language teacher and one of my favorite tutors."

"Kompetent und motvierend."

"Jessica is a fantastic teacher! So easy and comfortable to talk with and ask questions. Learning a new language isn't as difficult or boring when Jessica is available. Thank you for all your help!!"

"Jessica is a fantastic teacher! Patient, knowledgeable and has a personality that makes it easy to feel comfortable learning with her. Grazie!!"

"Jessica is one of my favorite teachers. I enjoy my classes with her. She is very congenial and creates lots of speaking opportunities for her students."

"She was very patient. The group members were of very mixed ability but she still tried to ensure that everyone learned something. Very good teacher."

"Sehr fröhlich, viele Fragen an uns Italienisch Lernenden, was den Dialog lebhaft machte. Prima!"

"Excellent teacher, 5 stars!"

"Come sempre, tutto bene, grazie mille :-)"

"Sehr motivierend, gute Gespräche, sehr individuell auf mich eingehend, eine super Begegnung."

"Una lezione dove abbiamo parlato di tutto un po’ e durante l’ora condividevamo insieme su questo argomento e diverse cose che pensavamo per raggiungere una buona partecipazione."

"Beantwortet alle Fragen, kompetent, erklärt gut, ist sehr freundlich, redet etwas zu schnell."

"Great teacher. Quello era la prima lezione per me. Scusa Jessica. Ero molto emozionata!"

"Super professionnelle."

"Die Lektionen mit Jessica sind sehr lehrreich und sie erklärt alles sehr gut."

"Very kind and thoughtful teacher."

"Sehr gut!!!! Danke!"

"Jessica es muy dinámica en su clase y explica todo con mucha claridad, siendo divertida."

"Absolutely great! She is a wonderful teacher who really connects with her students. I love her teaching style and the atmosphere she creates for the group."

"Sehr sympathische Lehrperson, die sehr gut auf meine persönlichen Bedürfnisse eingegangen ist. Es war eine tolle und lehrreiche Stunde."

"Mit Jessica zu lernen macht richtig Spaß und hilft mir sehr beim Italienisch lernen."

"Wie immer, macht der Unterricht mit Jessica viel Spaß und hilft mir sehr bei meinem Italienischlernen."

"Una de las mejores clases que he tenido."

"She is so nice. I'd definitely take her classes again. Excellent teacher."

"Die Stunden mit Jessica sind immer toll und lehrreich. Alles wird sehr gut erklärt."

"Excelente profesora! Siempre muy dispuesta ayudar. Muy bien."

"Very good. Jessica is an outstanding teacher - she creates a welcoming learning environment, keeps the class conversational, gently corrects mistakes. It's an absolute pleasure to learn from her!"

"La lezione con Jessica è stata divertente, dinamica, informativa e completa per imparare un po' di tutto e anche praticare le strutture più importanti. L'esperienza è stata piena di apprendimento."

"Jessica ist eine sehr gute Lehrerin. Die Stunden sind immer sehr lehrreich."

"Fantastic teacher - one of the best!"

"Excelente profesora, muy dedicada y paciente."

"Jessica ist eine sehr gute Lehrkraft, das Lernen mit ihr macht Spaß. Super!"

"She is an excellent teacher. Really enjoyed the lesson - good pace and my confusion around reflexive verbs was sorted out!"

"Jessica ist eine tolle Lehrkraft, hier macht Lernen Spaß."

"Ottima professionalità, 5 stelle!"

"SHE WAS CLEAR, and I could understand her. I should have taken screen shots! Great! Babbel should offer an option to tip the teachers!"

"Eine sehr interessante und angenehme Persönlichkeit, die auch direktes Feedback und positive Rückmeldungen gibt, würde ich gerne näher kennenlernen."

"Meravigliosissima!"

"Gute Lehrerin, strukturiert und unterhaltsam. Tolle Stunde. Grammatik sehr gut erklärt. viel diskutiert."

"Come sempre era una lezione bellisima! Grazie mille :-D"

"As I was the only student, we discussed many ideas, it was a very effective hour. She was very encouraging and gave me me insight into my learning style. Very thoughtful person."

"Der Unterricht hat mir sehr geholfen und hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen."

"Jessica was wonderful! I appreciate her patience."

"Ich bevorzuge die Stunden mit Jessica. Sie ist sehr nett und konnte mich mit meinen Bedürfnissen sehr gut auffangen."

"Very helpful teacher, the best!"

"Wir hatten tolle Diskussionen und alles wurde toll erklärt. Die Stunden mit Jessica sind immer toll und lehrreich. Sie kann sehr gut die Grammatik erklären."

"Sehr geduldig und erklärt sehr gut. Jessica ist eine sehr gute Lehrerin. Grammatik und die komplizierten Wörter wurden sehr gut erklärt."

"Jessica understands the struggles of learning a new language and meets the student at their level and helps them up. Thank you Jessica!"

"Sehr gut. Der Unterricht hat Spaß gemacht und die Zeit wurde gut genutzt, ich habe viel neues erfahren. Sie ist lustig, sympathisch, flexibel, intelligent."

"Die Stunden mit Jessica sind immer sehr lehrreich. Sie erklärt die Grammatik und neue Wörter sehr gut."

"Siempre es un gusto aprender con Jessica! Soy muy feliz en esta clase."

"Inviting, speaks clear and not too slow or fast. Able to explain clearly."

"Jessica hilft mir sehr italienisch zu sprechen. Das Üben mit ihr macht Spaß und die Stunde war wieder super. Grammatik sehr gut erklärt und geübt."

"Amazing. Just perfect. Excellent teacher."

"Jessica was excellent. She introduced us to some really useful verb usages I'd never come across before and was thorough in covering the exercises."

"Jessica è una buona insegnante. Grazie!"

"She was patient and non critical, gentle corrections and praise for everyone. Might be the best teacher on Babbel."

"The class was great! I learned and was able to ask questions. I also enjoyed the class size."

"Diese Stunde mit Jessica war großartig, sie hat den Unterricht super geleitet und im Laufe der Zeit alles erklärt. Ich empfehle sie und würde gerne wieder. Dankeschön!"  

"A fun class, she keeps conversation rolling."

"Jessica ist sehr wortgewandt und spricht viel. Sie versteht aber auch Spass und ist sehr freundlich."

"Fantastico, grazie mille!"

"Locker, fröhlich, lehrreich. Jessica ist eine meiner neuen Lieblingslehrerinnen! :)"

"Muy buena maestra. Come sempre, tutto bene :)"

"Empathische Lehrerin, die den Unterricht an die Teilnehmer anpasst. Daher war diese Stunde sehr lehrreich für mich. Grazie."

"Sehr sympatisch, wir haben viel gesprochen, der Unterricht hat Spaß gemacht. Jessica ist kompetent, geduldig, freundlich."

"Très bonne prof, souriante une qui donne envie de continuer la langue italienne."

"Exelente profesora!"

"Sehr engagiert, ganz reizend. Sehr guter Unterricht!"

"Sehr freundlich, gut auf die Teilnehmer eingegangen, so wie der Lernstand der Einzelnen war. Ausgezeichnet."

"What a great teacher. She got us all talking and the whole lesson was so enjoyable. I look forward to attending one of her classes again."

"Très attentive àchacun et engageante pour la conversation."

"Bravissima - era una classe molto divertente e interessante! Ho imparato molto! Grazie mille Jessica! :-)" |

"So incredibly helpful and patient with all learners of all levels. I learned a great deal. She's charming, friendly, understandable. Would love to take more classes with her."

"Mega!! Ganz tollte Persönlichkeit, viele Dinge gelernt und dabei noch viel Spaß gehabt. Gerne wieder :)"

"Jessica is a very kind and supportive teacher. I enjoyed class with her - she allows ample time for diagolue, conversation, and practice of the concepts in the lesson."

"Gute Anleitung der Gruppe, hilfreiche und verständliche Korrektur und Erklärungen. Es war eine sehr gute Stunde."

"Molto bene! Excelente maestra."

"My first class with Jessica and was very enjoyable and insightful. Look forward to joying her classes in the future."

"Die Lehrkraft hat sehr viel Wert auf die Aussprache gelegt. Das war für mich sehr hilfreich. Außerdem konnte ich das Sprechen sehr gut üben. Danke!"

"Great teacher. Todo muy bien!"

"Tolle Lehrerin. Jessica hat alles sehr verständlich erklärt und sehr viel vermittelt. Es wurde auch viel gelacht. Mit Jessica hat es sehr viel Spaß gemacht und es war eine tolle Unterrichtsstunde! Liebe Grüße!"

"Jessica è molto paziente con questo studiente lento. Mi sono divertito molto, anche se a volte mi sento uno stupido."

"Die Stunden mit Jessica sind immer sehr lehrreich. Sie erklärt die Grammatik sehr gut."

"5 star teacher! Eccellente!"

"Me ecantó la clase. Fue muy fluida y todos pudimos participar. La profesora muy atenta para que todos nos sintiésemos bien, y practicásemos nuestro italiano."

"Wie immer - sehr gut! The best teacher!"

"She was great. We talked a lot even though there was quite a bit of rather difficult grammar to get through. Very impressive teacher."

"Sehr guter Unterricht. Sie hat sehr viele Übungen gemacht, immer korrigiert und den Unterricht interessant gestaltet. Wie bisher immer - bestens!"

"Lovely energy and she really made everyone feel strong to try to speak more. Brava Jessica!"

"Great teacher. Ottima lezione! Grazie mille!"

"Sehr sympathisch und kompetent, ist auf die Schüler eingegangen. Sehr gut - wie bisher immer!"

"Very patient and took time to help us understand. Grazie mille!"

"Great practice speaking. SHE IS GOOD!! Best teacher"

"Jessica is great. Fantastic teacher. Such an enjoyable lesson! Jessica gave me a lot of hope to learn Italian. Thank you."

"Eine super Lehrerin!!! Jessica erklärt immer sehr gut."

"Jessica is my favorite teacher! She is always very helpful and engaging. Thank you! Great, excellent, perfect teacher!"

"Schwere Grammatik wurde toll erklärt. Sie war sehr geduldig, uns die italienische Sprache leichter zu machen. Man merkt, sie macht ihren Job gern. Weiter so!"

"This was the first time I had Jessica as a teacher. She is excellent! Makes it super fun!"

"Ottima e divertente. Lei è super partes."

"For some reason I hadn't had a class with Jessica for awhile. She's really good. Patient, speaks clearly, and with interesting insights into the Italian language and culture. Thank you Jessica!"

"Die Lektionen mit Jessica sind immer sehr unterhaltsam und lehrreich. Sie ist eine sehr kompetente Lehrerin."

"Excellent teacher. Molto bene. Top!"

"Grazie mille. È stato un piacere!"

"Jessica is great and very clear, great time distribution between students! Would definitely learn again with her."

"Jessica is a wonderful teacher who really connects with her students. I very much enjoy the lessons I attend with her as the professor. Great!"

"Very animated, got all to talk a lot. Great teacher."

"La migliore insegnante! The best!"

"Tolle lehrreiche Stunde. Jessica erklärt die Grammatik sehr gut."

"Jessica is fantastic. I only wish I was a better student! Grazie mille, la mia lezione più bella!!!"

"Tolle Stunde, wie immer. Jessica erklärt super."

"La lezione con Jessica è stata molto divertente e interattiva. Abbiamo parlato un po’ di tutto e abbiamo anche praticato su argomenti importanti, comunicando le nostre idee con energia positiva."

"Jessica is a very good teacher."

"Es ist unfassbar, dass ihr dieses großartige Programm einstellt. Tolle lehrreiche Stunde. Jessica erklärt die Grammatik super."

"La lezione era illuminante e interessante."

"Jessica is an excellent teacher. Very patient and instructive."

"Jessica ist eine kompetente und tolle Lehrerin. Super Unterricht!"

"Very helpful instruction. Excellent teacher. Jessica is the best!"