Home of the Melocchi Method

Study a historic Italian school of singing preserved and transmitted through generations of distinguished opera singers and teachers

Who This is For

You’ve studied operatic singing at a conservatory, university, or with private teachers — yet your training still hasn’t resolved the technical issues at the core of your voice. Or perhaps you’re an established professional who senses that deeper technical clarity is still missing.

If You Recognize Yourself In This:

The passaggio feels like a fight every time.
High notes are unreliable, thin, or strained.
You’ve received conflicting advice, and technique feels vague.
Your tone lacks color and depth.
You feel your voice has potential, but it still lacks core and ring.
Your voice isn’t consistent across all registers, making repertoire difficult to perform.
Teachers told you "the high notes will come" or "it’s your voice type".

The following approach addresses these issues at their technical foundation.

Many singers experience increased stability, clarity, and coordination within a short period of focused work.

The Method

The Arturo Melocchi Academy® preserves and teaches the Melocchi Method, a historic vocal technique pioneered by Arturo Melocchi (1879–1960) and transmitted directly through his student Marcello del Monaco (1919–1984), brother of the legendary tenor Mario del Monaco.

Historically known as the Melocchi Method, this approach represents one of the most influential vocal techniques in Italian operatic singing and forms a cornerstone of the old-school tradition.

Arturo Melocchi developed a vocal training system grounded in physiological principles, enabling singers to develop the full potential of the voice.

The method focuses on expanding the pharyngeal space by raising the soft palate and lowering the larynx, creating an ideal resonating cavity that naturally amplifies the voice and allows it to project with clarity and richness.

This results in a more stable, consistent, and resonant voice across the entire range.

Carefully structured exercises strengthen and coordinate the laryngeal muscles, resulting in a voice that is powerful, rounded, and flexible — the hallmark of the great operatic singers of the twentieth century.

The success of this approach is evident in the remarkable artists it shaped:

Mario del Monaco
Franco Corelli
Gianfranco Cecchele
Gastone Limarilli
Giuseppe Giacomini
Nicola Martinucci
Silvano Carroli

and many others.

Through this direct and unbroken lineage — from Arturo Melocchi to Marcello del Monaco and their students — the method has been preserved with extraordinary fidelity across generations.

The mission of the Arturo Melocchi Academy is to preserve, study, and transmit the historic Melocchi School of singing while making its principles accessible to today's opera singers.

For further details on how the Melocchi Method functions:
Visit the full FAQ page

“The Melocchi method is the only method that gives a beautiful and strong voice”

— FRANCO CORELLI, 1993, NICE

Before and After: Structured Melocchi Training

Vocal Transformations

“Ignas completely transformed my vocal technique. Before studying with him, I was very constricted and even singing in the wrong vocal category. Through his clear, hands-on teaching and deep understanding of vocal function, I learned to build real strength, projection, and ease in the upper range. That progress ultimately allowed me to sing confidently on one of the world’s greatest stages — the Vienna State Opera.”

Simonas, bass, Austria
“The Melocchi Method has been a game changer for me. It has helped my voice reach places I always wanted it to go and given me a new sense of control and confidence. Ignas is a great pedagogue who focuses on detail and ensures a clear understanding and precise execution of this ‘old-school’ method, which continues to reveal new possibilities in my singing.”

Ruben, tenor, USA
“Lessons with Ignas have been the definitive finishing touch I was looking for. My voice has gained clarity, color, and power, and I’ve developed greater technical confidence and stage composure. I’m truly grateful that he crossed my path on my vocal development journey.”

Damian, bass-baritone, Poland
“After studying with Ignas for about a year, I’ve made tremendous progress in my vocal technique. Despite eight years of prior vocal training, I still felt technically limited until working with him. Ignas provided a concrete, logical approach that completely transformed my voice and allowed me to sing repertoire I’d never imagined possible. He helped me discover my true voice.”

Louis, tenor, USA
“Ignas is helping me build a truly essential foundation in my voice. When I started, I struggled to sing an F, and now I can reach A-flats with ease. After a year of training with him, I continue to trust his guidance as he helped me discover my full range while keeping my voice healthy and sustainable for the future. This technical work also supported my acceptance to The Julliard School in New York.”

Francis, baritone, Norway

Your Teacher

Ignas Melnikas

Bass-Baritone · Vocal Pedagogue

I am Ignas Melnikas, a professional opera singer and vocal pedagogue dedicated to preserving and transmitting the traditional operatic singing method developed by Arturo Melocchi and Marcello del Monaco.

My work with the Melocchi Method began over a decade ago. I studied in Italy with direct students of Mario del Monaco and Marcello del Monaco, gaining practical insight into the method's principles and application.

With more than ten years of professional teaching and performance experience, I have appeared on stages including Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Teatro Donizetti di Bergamo, Auditorio de Tenerife, and Ankara Opera House.

Learn More About Your Teacher →

Discover exactly what is limiting your voice and how the Melocchi Method can help you achieve greater resonance, stability, and freedom.

Schedule A Vocal Consultation

Arturo Melocchi

Arturo Melocchi was born in 1879 in Milan. At a young age, he was accepted into the Milan Conservatory, where he studied piano from 1893 to 1898. Gifted with a strong baritone voice, he later enrolled in the conservatory's singing program under the direction of Giuseppe Gallignani.

In 1912, Melocchi began teaching at the Conservatory of Pesaro, where he trained many renowned singers, including his most famous student, Mario del Monaco, whom he met in 1932.

Melocchi developed a distinctive vocal training system grounded in physiological principles. His teaching influenced generations of singers and became an important part of the old Italian school of singing.

Read the Full History of Arturo Melocchi →