Melissa Dinwiddie, Teacher

I love to teach! One of my passions is sharing what I know. I’ve taught singing, dance, yoga, calligraphy, book arts and even Torah trope. I love to light a spark in a learner and help people get in touch with the areas where they really shine.

In-person Calligraphy Classes and Workshops

After a hiatus of several years, I’m delighted to be back teaching again. I’m available to teach for your guild, and I also teach private classes out of my home for very small, select groups. If you live in (or travel to) the SF Bay Area, send me an email to get on my class notification list.

Next 4-week session starts August 2 in my home studio:

Beginning/Continuing Uncials
Mondays, August 2, 9, 16, 23
6-8ish pm
Tuition: $150 for the 4-week session

Class size is limited to 6, max. First come, first served.
A few spots are still available; email me now to book yours.

Have Pen, Will Travel: Itinerant Workshops

I’d love to teach for your calligraphy group! I’ve been fortunate enough to teach for calligraphy guilds in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Chicago, Texas and up and down California from San Diego to Eureka. In 1999 I was on the faculty at Writing Beyond Words, an international calligraphy conference in Connecticut, and in 2008 I taught at Letters California Style, the Society for Calligraphy’s mini-conference in Pomona, California.

Whether your group is beginners, advanced pros, or anything in-between, I’ve got a class for you! Choose from the following workshops, or I’ll be happy to work with you to create a workshop that addresses your guild’s needs.

Calligraphy Workshops

  • From Formal to Funky: Italic Variations with a Twist
  • New World Neuland
  • Tips & Techniques from a Ketubah Artist’s Treasure Chest (how to make a ketubah or ketubah-like document)
  • All traditional lettering styles (Blackletter, Copperplate, Humanist Bookhand, Italic, Uncial, Hebrew)
  • The Cutting Edge: Papercutting Techniques
  • Gilding and Illumination for the Modern Scribe
  • Color for Calligraphers
  • Hebrew

Book Arts Workshops

  • Improv Book on Tapes
  • The Magical, Mystical Papercut Book (multi-layered star-tunnel book)
  • Tunnels, Stars & Magic (tunnel and star-tunnel books)

Private Voice Lessons

Learning to sing well is a lot like learning to play an instrument. An ear for pitch and a sense of rhythm are important, but daily practice is what really gets results. A good teacher can help you develop your technical and expressive skills, find your authentic voice and prevent bad habits.

You wouldn’t expect to be an instant whiz at guitar or piano, and becoming a good singer doesn’t happen overnight either. But with solid instruction and commitment to regular practice, your singing skills will develop over time.

Students also comment that learning to sing has powerful impact on the rest of their lives. I’d love to help guide you on your journey to develop your voice.

I work with singers on vocal technique, as well as performance skills, so you have optimal control over your instrument, and can use it to express yourself freely. We’ll cover:

  • breath control
  • proper mouth shape
  • blending the “chest” and “head” voices to create a unified sound
  • correct tone placement
  • how to use a microphone
  • how to engage with an audience
  • putting yourself into your songs
  • and much more

Email to arrange a complimentary initial lesson, either in person or via Skype.

Virtual Classes and Workshops

I’m also very excited about on a series of downloadable courses that I’m brewing up. In the works: instruction in calligraphy and illumination, plus how to create a sustainable living as an artist or creative type.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, sign up on my advance notification list and you’ll get first dibs, plus access to special pre-launch pricing.