Music Lessons
Voice
Jordan Costa (He/Him)
Voice
Works with
Ages 10+
Shines with
High school & college age learners
Neurodivergent learners
What is your musical background?
I am an alumnus of the Juilliard, Eastman, and Yale Schools of Music. I am a professional opera singer. I fell in love with music through musical theater acting and playing the bassoon, before falling in love with opera. Recent performance credits include working with Arizona Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Nashville Opera, and San Francisco Opera's Merola program. I also love to dance. Tap, especially!
How long have you been teaching? Why do you teach music?
I taught taekwondo for 5 years, and I taught secondary voice for 2 semesters. I have about a year of teaching experience at a fantastic community music school in New Jersey. I also will be helping mostly non-verbal neurodivergent children acquire vocabulary at a local speech language pathology (SLP) clinic in February 2026.
I teach music because I was helped by fantastic educators. I want others to feel as empowered as I always felt coming out of lessons. Whether you decide a career in music is for you, or not, is irrelevant. You will have music with you as a lifelong companion. Watching an emerging artist discover their voice, literally and artistically, is beyond special. I'm so excited to be a small part in aiding that journey.
How would you describe your teaching style and methods?
From Taylor Swift songs, to Frank Sinatra's big band hits, to arias Pavarotti would sing, the base is the same! The principles of bel canto vocal training (excellent breathing, registration balance, clean vowels, agility, and dynamic control) will serve you in any style! Each lesson begins with a check-in to review goals and talk about any discoveries while practicing during the previous week! Then a full warm up targeting kinesthetic awareness and each of the aforementioned principles. And then off to repertoire (Shake it Off, Fly Me to the Moon, Caro mio ben... etc.) assigned based on the passion and ability of the student. In the final minutes, I like the students to summarize what they accomplished. A breakthrough is exciting. But, understanding how they got there will make them unstoppable!
What are your students like? Who do you work best with?
I've taught singers as young as 10, and as old as 68! Neurodivergent and neurotypical! I most prefer working with singers in high school or college. But, I am generally comfortable teaching anyone 10 and older. While I'm most at home teaching those with interests in classical music and musical theater, I am open and exited to work with those interested in any genre! Pop, rock, country... you name it!
What do you want your students to take away from their time with you?
I hope that they love to sing more than when they began. I want them to be excited! I hope they find what they want to say artistically. And, I hope that they leave with the technical means to express it! I hope that they will leave knowing that no matter which path they choose in life, they will always be a musician.
What is a favorite musical memory?
My best friend's senior voice recital might be the top of my list. At its best, if we are brave enough, music can reveal who we are to an audience. My best friend showed exactly who she was without apologies. She delivered a thoroughly thought out program that invited the whole audience in. Knowing her for the previous four years, it was thrilling to see how she had grown. She sang her face off too!
What can students and parents expect during the first few lessons?
Parents are always welcome to sit in and observe lessons, but are not ever required to do so! It was actually a special thing my mom and I shared when I was a beginner. Regardless, students can expect to gain confidence in their vocal production, start tackling songs they love, set long term goals, and have lots of fun! I will always update parents that do not choose to sit in on their child's progress.
Nelly Hawley-Hayes
Piano, Voice
Works with
All ages & stages
Shines with
12 - Adult
Teens
What is your musical background?
I have a foundation in classical piano, having studied for 18 years, and I’m also trained in vocal jazz performance. I attended Berklee College of Music and am currently pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies and Vocal performance at the University of Arizona. Over the years, I’ve performed in a wide range of settings—bands, choirs, musical theater, and solo engagements. Recently, I sang with the University of Arizona Jazz Orchestra at the Century Room, and I’m currently performing in Dreams and Rumors, a Fleetwood Mac tribute show at the Gaslight.
How long have you been teaching? Why do you teach music?
I’ve taught private lessons in the past and have been with the Fretboard for the past year. Teaching is deeply rewarding for me because I get to watch people transform—both musically and personally—through the same art form that has shaped my own life. It also keeps my skills sharp and challenges me to grow alongside my students.
How would you describe your teaching style and methods?
My style is intuitive yet disciplined, and always tailored to the individual. Lessons are heart-centered, with a strong technical foundation. For piano, I take a primarily classical approach, though I can incorporate contemporary pop-rock styles as desired. For voice, my teaching is blended: every student gets a classical foundation, but we also explore jazz, pop, rock, R&B, and blues—styles that keep things fresh, fun, and expressive.
What are your students like? Who do you work best with?
Right now, my students range from ages 5 to 16, from complete beginners to advanced players. I work especially well with teens, as I enjoy helping them develop both technical skills and artistic confidence.
What do you want your students to take away from their time with you?
I want my students to leave lessons knowing they can achieve anything they set their mind to. Music is a microcosm of life—it teaches perseverance, builds confidence, and opens the door to self-expression.
What is a favorite musical memory?
One of my most cherished memories is working with my longtime piano mentor. He was patient, dedicated, and incredibly intuitive to my needs as a student. Studying with him from age 5 to 19 shaped not only my musicianship, but also the way I now teach and connect with my own students.
What can students and parents expect during the first few lessons?
We’ll start with an introduction to the instrument and an open conversation about goals and skill level. I like to get a sense of what inspires the student and build a plan that balances structure with creativity.