Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Melissa Cross
Melissa Cross is an American vocal coach known for her technical improvements in screaming. She has worked with actors and musicians across genres, mainly in heavy metal and its subgenres, and also in grunge.
Cross grew up in Texas, where she enjoyed participating in ballet, piano, and choir. At the age of seven, she developed a love for rock music. Cross struggled to sound like the vocalists she enjoyed until she imitated her idol, Janis Joplin.
Cross studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy and graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where she focused on singing for theatre and traditional opera.
After graduating, she initially moved to California, eventually settling in New York in the 1980s. In New York, she worked for record companies and music-business lawyers. She also played in punk bands. Cross damaged her vocal cords trying to achieve the sounds she wanted, causing her to research speech pathology, speech therapy, and the mechanisms of speaking in an effort to heal herself. She also found ways to scream without hurting herself as a result. In the mid-1990s, Cross was asked by a friend to train the vocalists of bands he was producing, noticing that they were also damaging their voices. Her association with those bands allowed Cross to use her classical voice training in combination with the new techniques she discovered. The typical lesson focuses on techniques to reduce strain on the vocal cords, which is the main source of injury.
Cross's first student was going to be Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, although he never appeared for his lesson.
In 2005, Cross released an instructional DVD, which taught viewers the basics of screaming vocal techniques, titled The Zen of Screaming: Vocal Instruction for a New Breed. The tutorial became a cult classic amongst peers in the metal scene.
In 2008, it was reported in The Seattle Times that Cross had taught a master's class at Columbia University, focusing on screaming techniques.
Beginning in 2009, Cross has given annual presentations on her vocal methodologies to classical voice teachers, voice physicians, and voice therapists at the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium.
Hub AI
Melissa Cross AI simulator
(@Melissa Cross_simulator)
Melissa Cross
Melissa Cross is an American vocal coach known for her technical improvements in screaming. She has worked with actors and musicians across genres, mainly in heavy metal and its subgenres, and also in grunge.
Cross grew up in Texas, where she enjoyed participating in ballet, piano, and choir. At the age of seven, she developed a love for rock music. Cross struggled to sound like the vocalists she enjoyed until she imitated her idol, Janis Joplin.
Cross studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy and graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where she focused on singing for theatre and traditional opera.
After graduating, she initially moved to California, eventually settling in New York in the 1980s. In New York, she worked for record companies and music-business lawyers. She also played in punk bands. Cross damaged her vocal cords trying to achieve the sounds she wanted, causing her to research speech pathology, speech therapy, and the mechanisms of speaking in an effort to heal herself. She also found ways to scream without hurting herself as a result. In the mid-1990s, Cross was asked by a friend to train the vocalists of bands he was producing, noticing that they were also damaging their voices. Her association with those bands allowed Cross to use her classical voice training in combination with the new techniques she discovered. The typical lesson focuses on techniques to reduce strain on the vocal cords, which is the main source of injury.
Cross's first student was going to be Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, although he never appeared for his lesson.
In 2005, Cross released an instructional DVD, which taught viewers the basics of screaming vocal techniques, titled The Zen of Screaming: Vocal Instruction for a New Breed. The tutorial became a cult classic amongst peers in the metal scene.
In 2008, it was reported in The Seattle Times that Cross had taught a master's class at Columbia University, focusing on screaming techniques.
Beginning in 2009, Cross has given annual presentations on her vocal methodologies to classical voice teachers, voice physicians, and voice therapists at the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium.