About David Jiles Jr.
David has been on faculty at Berklee College of Music since 2014, where he is an Assistant Professor in the Voice department. He also holds an adjunct faculty position in Performing Arts/Theatre at Emerson College. David has been teaching, singing, dancing, and acting since 2006. In that time, he managed international gospel choirs, performed in musicals and plays throughout the United States and abroad, managed performers on cruise ships, choreographed, and produced various shows in and out of the U.S.
David has a love for the art of teaching and is motivated by learning new and innovative strategies for teaching in the contemporary classroom.His love for music, performance, spirituality, and audience engagement practices began with his upbringing in the Pentecostal Church; where his dad was a preacher.
He believes in teaching to a student’s humanity. Due to an active performing lifestyle, he is able to show students examples of technique in action and examples of applied theatre and how theatre makes us, as we make theatre.
David is an avid yogi, a proud member of Actors Equity Association, the lead singer for Flipside Band (voted Boston’s best wedding band in 2016), Linklater Voice Method Trainee. He is thrilled to help guide and facilitate students through a journey of discovery in voice and theatre. He believes when the body, breath, and voice work together to produce a unified, clear, tension-free instrument: the True Voice sores!
“ I never imagined that after over 10 years of learning to sing, one professor could, in just a few classes, open an entirely new, life-changing door in music. When I started his acting class, I initially thought it would be all about pretending as a way to learn how to act. Instead, David focused on helping us find our most pure and authentic selves while standing on stage in front of people. He encouraged us to pour into ourselves, find real and personal connections to songs that initially felt distant from who we are, and identify where those emotions happen in our bodies”
“Through visualizing the anatomy of my voice, discussions about the mind-body connection, and helping me learn to listen to my voice with more than my ears, my first year with David allowed me to see ways that I was unhealthily singing—and a huge element to that was my mindset. David is encouraging, relatable, hands-on, and committed to seeing the human that is a messenger of the music and not just a statistic of his job.”
“David Jiles Jr. is a deeply caring and impactful teacher whose lessons will stay with me forever. His relaxed and supportive teaching style creates an environment where learning feels natural and personal. David focuses less on achieving a specific outcome and more on guiding each student through their unique journey of growth and discovery.”
“ His approach emphasizes self-discovery, guiding students to describe how their voice feels as they sing while also exploring the effectiveness of applying specific vocal techniques. David’s integration of an effective breath-work routine, combined with a clear and insightful explanation of the vocal system, establishes a vital foundation for the connection between our bodies and voice. I have found that David’s method of vocal instruction has allowed me to experience a tremendous shift in vocal clarity, breath support, and a balanced engagement of support muscles without unnecessary tension. His continued mentorship has been a transformative journey that resonates far beyond the classroom. David is a true gift!”
“He’s also been an incredible mentor and support to me, and deeply cares about his students. He takes time and care to get to know each of his students, and what would work best for their unique voice.”
“ In my time with him, he developed my voice by addressing old habits and beliefs that manifested either mentally or physically. In working toward undoing those habits in lessons, my voice felt freer than ever in and out of the practice room.”
“There’s something so powerful and so healing once you’re in the classroom with him, and it makes me so grateful to have had him as a teacher. I remember once, in a Survey of Vocal Styles class, David had been working with my classmate who had performed a Gospel song and the way he saw through her with the music was so inspiring and powerful. I was so moved by his presentation that I started to cry”