VOICE AND MOVEMENT
Marita received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Oklahoma City University, studying with incredible teachers, the most influential being Florence Birdwell. She has continued to study voice technique and pedagogy, being heavily influenced by the Estill technique and her work with Tom Burke in his Holistic Vocology Teacher Training. She is an NCVS-trained vocologist, having studied with some of the most reputable voice scientists in the world.
She is also a certified yoga instructor, and completed her 200hr training, many specialty trainings in children's yoga and prenatal yoga, as well continued study at The Breathing Project NY in Embodied Anatomy and Kinesiology with Amy Matthews and Leslie Kaminoff. She facilitates workshops in the Human Art of Play, and has been known to incorporate play into every aspect of her teaching. One of her favorite parts of the year is teaching voice and movement at the Texas Art Project residential camp in Austin. She served as an adjunct voice professor and vocal coach for the American Spirit Dance Company at Oklahoma City University. Currently, she is working with the musical theatre school at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan, as Associate Professor of Music.
She is also a certified yoga instructor, and completed her 200hr training, many specialty trainings in children's yoga and prenatal yoga, as well continued study at The Breathing Project NY in Embodied Anatomy and Kinesiology with Amy Matthews and Leslie Kaminoff. She facilitates workshops in the Human Art of Play, and has been known to incorporate play into every aspect of her teaching. One of her favorite parts of the year is teaching voice and movement at the Texas Art Project residential camp in Austin. She served as an adjunct voice professor and vocal coach for the American Spirit Dance Company at Oklahoma City University. Currently, she is working with the musical theatre school at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan, as Associate Professor of Music.
CURRENTLY TEACHING |
Marita is an Associate Professor of Music in the Musical Theatre Course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Kawasaki, Japan.
She also travels to teach workshops and teaches at home and online. To see the latest studio news, please visit the Body Mind Voice Studio Facebook page. |
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY |
A director of mine once said that “songs happen when emotions get so high that words, alone, are no longer enough.” I believe this serves us as singers, experiencing voice production through the honesty of what we are saying.
My teaching philosophy is three fold. I strive to increase physical awareness for my students, through movement practices and breath work. The body feels emotions more strongly than the mind, and in finding full awareness, we can realize and support the voice in a healthy and honest way. For example, when you yearn for something, where do you feel it? How does that feeling affect your breath? What impulses do you feel in your limbs and joints? If you were singing a phrase about a strong desire for something or someone, “thinking” a feeling is not enough. If you allow your body to do what it naturally does in that state, your voice will react in an organic and supported way. Secondly, it is important to observe ourselves emotionally, bringing what we are experiencing that day into our art, and forgiving ourselves for not necessarily being the same person we were yesterday, for better or worse. As a teacher, I try to meet you where you are in that moment; beginner, intermediate, or old pro (even an old pro can have a beginner day); elated, run down, or frustrated. You may find new possibilities within the piece that you are working on, if you allow your day to flavor your approach to the song. Every day will be different, giving you a full range of choices for your performance. The studio is a safe place to explore these emotions, finding what is serving you and what you can let go. Finally, to the voice: I aim to guide you on the journey to find your sound. Your voice is yours, not Idina Menzel’s, Mandy Patinkin’s, or Maria Callas’. Words like soprano, tenor, belter, low or high voice do not have to define your talent. I am here to help you understand how the voice works, and what tools you have in order to play and grow in your art. We will explore some of the basic anatomy and principles of vocology (the science of singing). I was driven to the continued study of anatomy and kinesiology as a certified Yoga Therapist and movement instructor, and I find the understanding of the body’s “machinery” to be very useful in singing, as well as acting. We will focus on creating a technique that you can embody, and then forget when it’s time to devote yourself completely to your performance moment. Singing is a natural body function, and like anything in life, with practice and care, it will develop into the goals that you have carefully groomed. My goal is to nudge you along until you have no choice but to break into song, as only you can do. |
TESTIMONIALS
"I have truly been amazed at how much I have grown in understanding my voice through gaining awareness of my breath and body. As someone who considers themselves primarily a dancer, Marita has encouraged me to grow and develop the confidence I need to sing comfortably in front of others. I can't wait to continue studying with her and progressing on the journey to develop my own unique voice!" ~ Morgan White
"Ms. Stryker is my vocal and 'life' saver! She welcomed me into her studio and worked upon what my past teacher taught me. She has given me so much as a vocalist and I have grown as a person through her teaching. She's more then just teacher, she's a friend and confidant. She brings out notes and emotions I never knew I even possessed." - Gabe Crawford
"Marita has been fabulous to work with! She learned about me and wanted to know my likes and dislikes to pick great songs for me to work on. She also helped me bring a stronger and more confident person into my voice auditions!" - Alexis McPhail
"Ms. Stryker is my vocal and 'life' saver! She welcomed me into her studio and worked upon what my past teacher taught me. She has given me so much as a vocalist and I have grown as a person through her teaching. She's more then just teacher, she's a friend and confidant. She brings out notes and emotions I never knew I even possessed." - Gabe Crawford
"Marita has been fabulous to work with! She learned about me and wanted to know my likes and dislikes to pick great songs for me to work on. She also helped me bring a stronger and more confident person into my voice auditions!" - Alexis McPhail