Working with Mike has helped me truly understand my voice. Simply put, singing has gotten easier. I leave each lesson with the tools I need to tackle challenging material with confidence and ease. He is extremely knowledgeable, intuitive, and attentive, and working with him has been a real game changer for me.
Read MoreMost of my career has been in film and television, so when I booked a play at the Roundabout Theatre Company, I immediately called Mike. I wanted to make sure I was using my voice properly for the three month run without amplification. It only took two sessions before I started noticing a serious difference in the quality and richness of my voice. With a new understanding of placement and breath support (rather than a strained throat!), it seemed to me that my vocal presence doubled. Mike’s methodology and exercises for vocal warm-ups were incredibly helpful. I was so impressed with my progress that I continued to see Mike during the run of the show and began to focus on singing – something I hadn’t attempted since I was a teenager. I’d highly recommend Mike to any singer looking to refine and strengthen their voice, any actor lacking confidence in their voice, and anyone looking to build the proper vocal skills to ensure a healthy vocal career.
Read MoreMike Ruckles has single-handedly changed how I feel about my voice. He has a truly unique approach and a way of pushing you beyond what you thought you were capable of. Maintaining vocal health and stamina is something all singers deal with, especially when performing 8 shows a week. Mike’s commitment to his students truly goes above and beyond and he has kept me healthy through rigorous schedules. Mike’s approach is one of whole voice, body, and mind. He works through the actor’s instincts to find a strong, healthy sound, instead of bombarding the student with techniques or theory. It is a completely organic and collaborative process, and one that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Read MoreI cannot say enough about Mike Ruckles. Mike’s infinite knowledge and understanding of the voice and body make for a truly personalized lesson, unlike teachers who just push one technique. I leave every lesson with a ‘smarter’, stronger voice. I recommend Mike to all my friends and colleagues and will continue to do so!
Read MoreI moved to NYC only knowing a few people and Mike was recommended to me immediately. I cannot speak highly enough of the warmth and commitment he showed me. Not only does he have the knowledge, clarity, and experience to back up his work, he has all of the passion as well. Mike is so wonderful at explaining a concept or its mechanics that you understand it immediately and can continue to grow from it on your own. He wants you to be your best self. He wants you to find your own healthy, vibrant, joyous voice. I cannot thank him enough for giving me the confidence to trust my technique and sing freely. Mike is also pretty cool, just in case you were wondering.
Read MoreMike has completely transformed my relationship with my voice. I spent years believing in limitations that Mike has evaporated in no time at all. He has made it possible for me to sustain 8 shows a week AND have a social life - something I had given up on. Studying with Mike has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, in both my professional and personal lives.
Read MoreMike Ruckles was the third voice teacher I met with after moving to NYC from LA two years ago. What set Mike apart was not only his brilliant technical approach, but his use of storytelling to produce sound. This approach, along with building trust in my voice and its abilities, has allowed me so much growth and progression in my career. Mike is not only who I run to with every important audition, but he actually checks in on me and my voice during long runs when I can’t be in the studio consistently. It’s a relationship I didn’t think I could find in the city, and I’m so grateful!
Read MoreI had just undergone a massive transitional period, not only in life, but in my career and voice. I was searching for the right voice teacher. One that understood the background of opera that I had come from, but also one that adapted to who I am as a singer. Enter Mike Ruckles. He has been not only a great teacher, but a great friend. I feel like the relationship between student and teacher should be a close one because you have to trust them with your instrument (and you only get one). He will help you find the sustainable, safe, and exciting way to sing without pushing or hurting yourself. I have all the confidence in the world in him!
Read MoreMike Ruckles is a tremendous vocal technician. The tools he’s offered have allowed me to maximize my vocal ability and enter into the professional world with success and confidence. His knowledge is vast, he provides an environment that is fun and stress-free, and he communicates his insight in a style that is very accessible to the student. Above all else, he does not settle for mediocre singing; once he unlocks your potential, the level of expectation rises and this only motivates you to achieve further growth and excellence.
Read MoreMike is a godsend to me and the Broadway community! After a few lessons, I was going into auditions with a new-found power and understanding of my singing. He teaches with an eye and ‘ear’ to my unique voice using only the specific tools necessary to help me. Whether it’s a new audition song or finding new ways to approach an old one, Mike continues to help me discover my individual vocal potential and, more importantly, he shows me how to use it with consistency. I hesitate to praise him too much, because now I’ll have to fight other students for a time slot!
Read MoreHaving Mike guide me has been an absolute godsend. He knows exactly how to break things down and his way of tailoring technique that is specific to me and my needs, leaves me feeling confidant and striving to work that much harder. His knowledge is infinite and makes each lesson invigorating and exciting!
Read MoreEvery time I leave a lesson with Mike, I have new nuggets of information to chew on and apply to my instrument. He is a master technician, a cheerleader, and an intuitive teacher. Having him in my life has been a wonderful and grounding asset to my career!
Read MoreMike is a true rarity - he combines incredible (and I mean INCREDIBLE) technical expertise with a real gift for communication and artistic expression. Simply put, he knows his stuff and is TERRIFIC at teaching it. He loves and supports his students, and is always there for them. He saved my voice. What more could you ask? Work with him!!! You won’t regret it.
Read MoreMike Ruckles is a gem of a human being and a guru of the voice. He’s made my singing effortless and open in ways that I’ve not experienced in years. I trust him immensely and he’s the only vocal technician I recommend to my peers. Go. Study with him now.
Read MoreWhen I get to his studio and see ‘Mike Ruckles’ on the door, I’m always excited to see him. Mike has coached me through the scores of my most challenging roles and I don’t know if I could’ve navigated them healthily without his help. His calm manner puts me at ease immediately, and the environment he creates in his lessons is one that I always look forward to entering. He is such a bright light of a human being!
Read MoreMike offers an exceptional level of technical skill and artistry to his singers. His approach is grounded in a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the voice, but his ability to tailor his teaching to the individual needs of each singer comes from having a great ear and vast experience. I admire his work so much that I even trust him with my own voice. As a speech-language pathologist, I consider Mike to be an important member of the rehabilitative team, and it’s a joy to collaborate with him to help singers return to the stage.
Read MoreI have had the honor of working with Mike on several Broadway musicals, and I’ve had the pleasure of auditioning numerous students of his over the years. His grasp of the technique that is needed to create first-rate singers is superb. Anyone studying with him is getting the best possible vocal training. His students interpret material with intelligence, as well as vocal prowess and excellent storytelling.
Read MoreMike is the best! Whether I’m prepping for an audition, working on a role, or just improving my chops, I always leave his studio feeling stronger, healthier, and more prepared.
Read MoreMike is a rock star. Truly. I was going on tour, singing a solid two-hour set nonstop in multiple cities, and needed someone to help me keep my voice in shape. Mike not only helped me stay vocally fit, but he also taught me things about my voice I never even knew. On top of all that, he’s an incredible, KIND person and genuinely cares about the artists he works with. So many coaches are just in it for the ‘band-aid quick fix’, but Mike is about longevity and empowering performers. He’s one of a kind.
Read MoreI recommend Mike Ruckles to other singers all the time. Mike has the rare ability to transform a singer’s technical approach without altering the uniqueness of that singer’s sound. He’s done it for me and for countless other singers. He eliminates the mystique of singing and illuminates the things that must occur in the instrument to produce the desired sound, consistently, and in a healthy and safe way. I swear by Mike Ruckles!
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