Beginning Voice
Breath, posture, pitch & healthy tone
Start from the very beginning in a patient, encouraging setting. No musical or vocal experience is required.
Opera · Bel canto · Vocal foundations
Your voice.
Unhurried.
Private voice lessons for complete beginners through experienced singers, with a specialty in opera and the bel canto tradition.
Begin with the basics
✦Discover bel canto
✦Sing with confidence
01 Meet your teacher
A lifetime in music
Technique with care.
Music with meaning.
I'm Nicolai Mitakys, a private voice teacher in Placerville specializing in classical singing, opera, and the Italian school of bel canto.
My musical education includes study with Jan Popper at UCLA, at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and at the Liceo de Barcelona Opera School. I studied vocal technique with Hernan Pelayo, Martial Singher, and Gino Bechi. My training also included master classes and private coaching with bass Nicolai Ghiaurov.
At Nicolai Voice Studio, that classical foundation meets patient, individual instruction. Lessons explore breath, resonance, legato—the smooth connection between notes—and expressive phrasing.
You don't need any experience to begin. We can start with breathing, posture, pitch, and comfortable tone, then build toward the music that inspires you.
Nicolai Mitakys Private voice teacher · Placerville, California
A foundation in classical voice
- Specialty
- Italian school of bel canto
Classical singing & opera - Musical education
- UCLA — study with Jan Popper
Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara
Liceo de Barcelona Opera School - Vocal technique studies
- Hernan Pelayo
Martial Singher
Gino Bechi
PatientEncouragement without pressure
PersonalLessons shaped around you
PracticalTools you can use right away
02 Lesson offerings
From first notes
to bel canto.
Private 45- or 60-minute lessons, tailored to your experience—from the fundamentals of singing to operatic technique and repertoire.
Opera & Bel Canto
Legato, resonance, diction & expression
Develop a free, beautiful sound through the bel canto tradition and explore operatic repertoire suited to your voice.
Preparation
Auditions, recitals & special occasions
Focused coaching for a performance ahead—or a meaningful song you simply want to sing well.
Not sure where you fit? Let's have a relaxed conversation.
03 Kind words
From the studio
Illustrative testimonials for this draft—not actual student reviews.
“I arrived nervous and left each lesson feeling more capable. The studio is warm, patient, and full of joy.
“A rare teacher who listens closely and explains technique in a way that finally makes sense.
US–50 corridor
Sacramento
Rancho Cordova
Folsom
♪PlacervilleStudio
04 Service area
Worth the drive.
Close to home.
Lessons are offered in person from a comfortable private studio in Placerville. Students are welcome from throughout El Dorado County and the Sacramento region. The exact address is shared when a lesson is arranged.
Studio locationPlacerville, California
Welcoming students fromSacramento, Rancho Cordova, Folsom & nearby communities
01Do I need prior experience?+
Not at all. Complete beginners are warmly welcomed. Lessons can begin with the basics of breathing, posture, matching pitch, and producing a comfortable tone.
02Who do you teach?+
The studio welcomes adult beginners, returning singers, and singers interested in opera and bel canto technique. The introductory call helps us make sure it is a good fit.
03What happens in a first lesson?+
We talk about your goals, explore a few comfortable vocal exercises, and begin a song you enjoy. There is no pressure to perform.
04How far do students travel?+
Students may come from communities along the US–50 corridor, including Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and Placerville. Contact the studio to discuss travel time and scheduling.
Your next note starts here
Ready to find your voice?
Let's begin with a friendly, no-pressure conversation about what you'd like to sing.
Request an introductory call →Typically replies within 1–2 business days