Vanessa Williams Gives Masterclass, Advice at NYU Steinhardt Contemporary Vocal Workshop

Broadway, television, and film actress and singer Vanessa Williams followed in the footsteps of her parents - both music teachers - this week as part of the faculty of NYU Steinhardt's Contemporary Vocal Workshop.

Williams, who currently stars in the new VH1 show Daytime Divas and will appear in the July 8 performance of Sondheim on Sondheim in Los Angeles, gave a masterclass and behind-the-scenes look at recording in NYU Steinhardt's Dolan recording studio.

In a Q&A with Phil Galdston, faculty songwriter-in-residence and director of Songwriting at NYU Steinhardt, Williams discussed how she navigates singing both pop songs and musical theatre, and gave tips on how to keep your voice healthy. She also shared how she handles criticism. "You really have to say, 'I know who I am' and really block out the negativity," said Williams.

The NYU Steinhardt Contemporary Vocal Workshop is a brand new, two-week workshop that focuses on vocal technique for singing contemporary music.

Universities have traditionally offered voice programs in classical voice and musical theatre, but few have tailored their programs to contemporary standards -- despite the fact that today's singers are often expected to sing in a variety of genres, including pop, jazz, and rock.

The new workshop, which runs July 10 through 21 and is led by Ana Flavia Zuim, director of vocal performance at NYU Steinhardt, gives students healthy, sustainable techniques for contemporary singing.

In addition to Williams, students in this year's workshop are learning from other industry greats, including Voltaire Wade-Greene (dance captain and original cast member of Hamilton), Leslie Becker (award-winning Broadway actress, songwriter and recording artist), and Lisa Fischer (Grammy-winning vocalist and songwriter known for her duets with Mick Jagger).