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Dennis M. for tutoring lessons in Lake Forest IL Over 100 tutoring hours WyzAnt Tutoring Tutor Tutor United States

Dennis M.

Professor of Speech, Voice, Acting, Musical Theater and Opera

Lake Forest, IL (60045)

Travel Radius 35 miles
Hourly Fee $75.00
Discount $63.75 - $71.25 Save up to 15% (i)
  86 ratings

Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable!

Hi, I'm Dennis, and I've taught Speech and Theater for over 30 years at High School, College, Conservatory, and even Summer Camp classes! Students from 16 to 86 have benefited from my training and have enjoyed working with me. I'm friendly and funny but I take work very seriously. I love to teach and to have students enjoy what we do together. I am a college professor and also a professional director and designer and have worked in theaters ranging in size from a small storefront theater to the Auditorium Theater in the Loop. I specialize in musical theater and voice production, working from the most basic level to the most advanced. I've also worked in theater, opera, stage, film and television commercials.

If you need help preparing an audition or delivering an important business presentation I'm the tutor for you! If you'd like to lose an accent or to develop one for a stage role I can help you. I can help you with stage fright, communication apprehension, and to improve your breath control and relaxation techniques. I can help you with your resume or your school work - professional or student - age and level of experience does not matter.

Dennis's Subjects

Music:
Art:
English:
Test Preparation:
  • SAT reading,
  • SAT writing,
  • TOEFL
Language:
History:
Special Needs:
Elementary Education:
Business:
Corporate Training:
Homeschool:

Vocabulary

Words are power. The more words you know the more powerful you become. Having a rich, wide-ranging vocabulary gives you confidence and credibility. In our fast-paced information age we hear more than we read and we feel we know more than we can actually do. We are comfortable using words we've heard others use many times and we "understand" the meaning of the word but when pressed to offer the exact definition of the word we panic and often fail.

Making words our friends and the dictionary... Read More

Grammar

I am a communication and theater scholar. It's important for my students to know that I am certified in English grammar. While grammar is not the primary subject I teach, students who study, ESL/ESOL, English, Public Speaking, and Theater with me can have the confidence to know that the changes I request and the corrections I give them are coming from a solid knowledge base.

I'm certain there are other scholars who know more about grammar than I do but what I can guarantee is that my... Read More

Reading

Reading is the core of almost all learning. I have been an avid reader from a very early age and still enjoy all types of reading, whether for pleasure, business or to learn.

My goal is to pass on the joy of reading to others by making it become easy and effortless, which of course takes time and effort to master.

As a teacher and college professor for more than 20 years, I have worked to enable adults and children including friends, students, and family members.
Read More

Music Theory

To understand the theories of music one must grasp simple mathematics and some concepts of structure. Through creative study of historical works and original projects the student learns how to both understand music that one hears and how to successfully create one's own works. The cornerstones of notation, counterpoint and harmony serve as the guideposts trough an almost never-ending study of musical works or great significance or works that just bring simple enjoyment.

Once the concepts... Read More

Writing

Creative projects and compelling arguments are my favorite forms of writing to tutor. Whether your writing goal is dramatic or humorous, poetic or suspenseful, I can help you find the right word, rhyme, quotation, or turn of phrase to make your writing stand out from the rest.

My work experience teaching Rhetoric at the college level provides a solid platform to help you with persuasive arguments, compelling cause-and-effect prose, and other kinds of logical appeal styles.
Read More

English

Teaching English has become part of every class I teach because good communication skills are dependent upon using language as a tool.

That's the approach I use whether I am teaching basic English skills to a middle schooler, important review work in writing or literature for high school and college students, or for adults who are adding a language or seeking to improve their native language skills to be more effective in speaking and writing.

I tailor each lesson to the... Read More

World History

History is about learning lessons from what others have experienced in the past. Things that we, as humans, experience and often repeat in our search for power, prestige, and wealth. An intricate balance of power has been in place for centuries and when that balance is upset the result is war, destruction, death, famine, and injustice.

History is not just remembering the dates, names, and places of past events. History is about understanding how each action affects others across time... Read More

Proofreading

I can proofread your manuscript for grammar, syntax, clarity, character development, logic, argument, structure, vocabulary, humor, irony, persuasiveness, or any other purpose and present options for possible revisions.

Whether a creative writing project, a sales or business document, a class assignment, or a church bulletin, my years as a teacher, and my experience in the advertising and publishing industries can help you improve your writing.

TOEFL

As a college professor I work with international students every day and I know and understand the language difficulties and issues that occur in both work and academic settings.

Because I have studied and taught communication and theater performance courses I understand how language is used and perceived by native and non-native speakers including certain elements of delivery such as non-verbal communication, body language and facial expression that can provide important clues to decipher... Read More

Music History

I have studied music since childhood and my masters thesis included the composition of an opera. I have staged opera and musical theater works as well as revues and cabaret acts. All the genres of music have interest for me but I compose in a modern abstract classical style.

I have also arranged vocal and instrumental music for stage performers ranging form soloists to large a cappella groups.

I teach the history of musical theater which includes much of the history of world... Read More

Phonics

My work as a communication professor has ranged from teaching reading and phonics to middle school students to teaching the International Phonetic alphabet to college students.

The English language is one of the most difficult to learn due to the influence and incorporation of words from many other languages. The spelling and pronunciation of English varies greatly due to these foreign influences. In my tutorials we work step by step through each phoneme to increase reading comprehension... Read More

Theatre

I have taught theater and speech for over 30 years at all levels from high school to college to conservatory to even summer music camps.

Voice (Music)

I teach basic voice production beginning with posture, breathing and relaxation exercises. This is followed by ear training for pitch and rhythm and music notation through exercises, drills, and sight reading.

Once a basic methodology is established we then explore how to communicate with the voice, through music, song, and extended forms. We explore dynamics and articulation for meaning and musical precision.

Students who have already mastered the basic methodology may begin... Read More

ESL/ESOL

Advanced ESOL for students who already have a good knowledge and comprehension of the English language and are ready to bring their language skills to the next level. If you wish to reduce a foreign accent, gain a better vocabulary, understand technical or idiomatic expressions or just become more easily understood in everyday conversations, I can help you.

As a college teacher of communication and theater for over 20 years my expertise in voice and language is especially relevant... Read More

Public Speaking

I have studied communication from my undergraduate days and have a degree in Communication Science. I have taught classes at the high school and college level in Public Speaking, Voice and Diction, History of Communication, Rhetoric, Interpersonal Communication, Group Communication and Problem Solving.

My specialty is coaching speakers in their presentations for clarity and effectiveness. I coach commencement speakers, radio and television announcers, religious and motivational speakers,... Read More

Art History

As a teacher of theater design and the history of design I couple traditional art history with theater practices. Since there is little or no information available on early scenic design and because fine artists often created scenic design the two practices go hand-in-hand. Scenic art as a discipline only came into existence in the middle part of the 20th century. My basic field of study has always been art and I began my studies at the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1970s.

Art history... Read More

Speech

My undergraduate degree from UIC is in Speech and Communication. I have also won distinctions at the regional and national level for speech in college.

Currently, I teach voice and diction courses at Lake Forest College, which include diagnosing speech pathologies in students and devising a therapeutic plan for correction of these pathologies. Typical problems for me to diagnose include breathing issues which range from insufficient support of the vocal process, excessive or uncontrolled... Read More

Architecture

My expertise in this area is in Drafting and History. I have taught drafting at both the high school and college level for 35 years. I also teach the history of architecture as part of my work as a stage designer. As a professional set designer I have designed every kind of structure from rural shacks to grand palaces from America to Asia to Europe in plays, operas and musicals, so a thorough knowledge of the styles and history of world architecture has been a requisite part of my career for decades... Read More

Read all subject qualifications »

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Dennis's Hourly Rate

Hourly Fee: $75.00

Save up to 15% with a discount package

Cancellation: 8 hours notice required

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Background Check Status for Dennis M.

Passed

Dennis M. passed a background check on 4/13/2012. You may run an updated background check on Dennis once you send an email.

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