Alyssa
VoicePiano
About Alyssa
Alyssa Cass is an accomplished music instructor with nearly a decade of experience teaching private lessons in voice, piano, songwriting/composition, and music production. She holds a B.A. in Music in the Liberal Arts and a B.S. in Music Production & Recording Arts from Elon University.
Alyssa's diverse teaching background includes roles at Angeles Academy of Music, Los Angeles Music Teachers, and Elon University, where she worked with programs like Music in the Village and the Music Technology Lab, and her own company Alyssa Cass Entertainment. She also gained invaluable experience as an assistant to renowned vocal coach Nick Cooper, who has worked with global superstars such as Beyoncé and Katy Perry.
Alyssa’s excellence in music has been recognized with accolades such as 1st Place in Elon University’s Songwriting Competition and the prestigious Ernst L. Wakefield Prize for Excellence in Music. As a recording artist, her work has been featured in international and local publications, and she has performed at high-profile events, including as the guest artist at Miss Filipina International. She has also held residencies at notable venues like Lounge 51.
Combining artistic expression with technical precision, Alyssa empowers her students to achieve musical excellence while fostering a genuine love for music.
Q&A with Alyssa
Which musician would you like to play with?
H.E.R.
Which musician has influenced you the most?
Rihanna
What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?
I am very well versed in music theory and incorporating this into lessons. For piano, I teach my students scales including Major, natural mirror, harmonic minor, and melodic minor as well as chord progressions including I IV I V I and I IV I V7 I in different keys. We also go over different types of chords and how they are connected to moods, for instance how a sus 4 chord gives a "hanging" feeling as it wants to resolve. For voice, I do ear training with my student using different harmonic and melodic intervals and give them tips to recognize each one such as the tune "Twinkle Twinkle" beginning with a P5. I also make sure they are well versed in solfège and sight singing. For voice, I'm also able to really focus technique-wise on the genre they are interested. For instance, to go for a more "pop" sound is generally going to have more of a chest-dominant resonance, use less vibrato and more straight tone, and have a conversational tone compared to musical theatre which tends to be more bright and have more vibrato and a more forward placement.
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I began taking piano lessons at five and voice soon after. I grew up performing in choir, a cappella, and band and different vocal groups performing at the collegiate level in vocal jazz ensemble, singer/songwriter group, camerata (advanced choir), and a top 40 group. I've had over 10 years of training in piano and completed piano proficiency at Elon University. For voice, I trained for over 15 years studying both classical and commercial music.
What equipment do you play on today?
Yamaha Keyboard, U87 microphone (for recording), Sennheiser microphone and PA system (for performing)
Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?
Discipline!
What does your instrument have that others don't?
Vocally - my voice is very unique by its tone, I'm well adept with switching between registers and a have a strong vocal agility, soulful sound, and I have a large range
How do you handle children?
I am very comfortable with children and have many years of experience teaching all ages. With children, I find it's important to incorporate games and make learning fun.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
Performing my own original music and hearing people sing back the words
What was the biggest stage you played on?
Miss Filipina International as the guest artist
Which record would you take with you to the desert island?
Souled Out by Jhene Aiko
Besides music, what else is important in your life?
Being creative in general, self-expression through fashion, visual art, dance
Music style(s)
PopR&B (personally) Teaching wise I teach commercial music (poprockr&betc)musical theaterand jazz
Level(s) Comfortable Teaching
Beginner to Advanced
What languages can you teach in?
English
Videos
Bands, Projects, Notable Performances, Collaborations
Have worked in the studio as a vocal coach with platinum selling producer MT Streets
Other Music-related work / goals
As a recording artist, I have my own label and production company where I sing, write, produce, and release original music
Accolades
Ernest L. Wakefield Prize for Excellence in Music, 1st Place in Elon University's Songwriting Competition, Alumni Panelist Speaker at Elon University, music featured in Fresh Hip Hop & R&B, Roadie Music, and Voyage LA
Personal Interests
Music, dance, fashion design, film, creative arts, etc.