WelcomeMusic . . . a family affair.I was blessed to grow up in a large family that viewed music and education as essential components of our lives. My Mom was a business education teacher and classically-trained pianist, and I can still hear her beautiful voice singing throughout our home. My Dad was an English teacher and Big Band Jazz drummer. At age 98, he still spends his afternoons wailing away on his garage drum kit, playing to the public radio swing jazz station. My siblings and I were influenced by everything from coffee house folk, to Miles Davis, to Chopin, and our ears were filled with every imaginable genre of music.
I ultimately followed a classical voice career, but the eclectic influences of my childhood continue to shape my teaching style and the broad approach that I use when selecting repertoire and tailoring a musical program for my students. The variety of music that I use in my teaching studio is carefully chosen to ensure that healthy technique and musically artistic habits are developed, while opening the door for students to experience multiple musical styles. Artistic integrity and value can be found in all genres of music, sometimes from a direction you may least expect. I love providing for my students a vast arena of musical repertoire, with which they can play and explore . . . maybe take the road less traveled, as I did in pursuing classical music and opera. This exploration is one of the most inspiring and motivational aspects of studying music privately--finding your own personal song, taking a chance on something new, and opening up to the musical possibilities that are all around you if you learn to listen, trust, and play. Teaching Philosophy I am passionate about helping all students, from true beginners to advanced musicians, realize their musical potential. I frequently run into people who say that they "are not musical." I believe that ALL individuals have the potential to make and enjoy music - it's just a matter of unlocking the right doors. The key is in finding the just-right approach, and that's a challenge that I welcome. Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing students' eyes light up when they discover something new and unexpected in a lesson. When students experience those breakthroughs there's simply no stopping the progress! I offer both voice and piano lessons to my students, as well as coaching for singer-songwriters. I specialize in lessons for true beginners to advanced, professional musicians. My piano students experience music through a well-rounded mixture of exploring repertoire, duets, technique, composition, improvisation, sight-reading, theory, and artistry. Lessons are tailored to the individual needs of each student, with special programs for young pianists, college-bound high school students, and adults. I love teaching piano students of all levels, and I use a layered approach to teaching that helps each student gain confidence and musicianship. Together, we assemble specific tools and skills that build a love for music. As singers, our skills develop when we feel confident and uninhibited, and this only happens when we have the perfect mix of solid, reliable technique and the ability to freely communicate through our music. Compelling performances and outstanding musicianship are skills that come from a well-rounded approach to singing. Private and group lessons provide the playground for improving vocal skills and creating a network of peers who support one another in the process. Lessons and group classes should be a place where students feel safe and inspired. In my studio, we focus on just that--a combination of specific skills framed in a supportive learning environment that helps students take performance risks and grow with confidence. Students who rely on healthy technique, creative and varied repertoire, and attention to detail, become confident musicians who excel in textual, dramatic, and musical interpretation. Singing techniques must vary, depending upon the student's development, age, and of course, musical style. This is one of my most important jobs as a private music instructor and coach. The common thread between all styles of singing - from Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) to Classical - is my careful attention to detail and tweaking technique and musical interpretation, as appropriate to each style. In-Person Lessons or Virtual Lessons Our world was upended in the winter of 2020, as we all acclimated to the new normal of a world in quarantine and the necessary modifications to daily life that followed. As professional music instructors, we were thrust into a world of unfamiliar technology to assure that lessons with our dear students would continue. My students continued to study music virtually, and showed tremendous growth over that period. I'm excited to now be able to welcome students back to in-person lessons. I will always continue to offer the option of virtual lessons for those who prefer it and for those occasions when students or instructor are sick. There are benefits to both, and students may also opt for a combination of both virtual and in-person lessons. In for those occasions when virtual lessons are necessary, due to illness, inclement weather, etc. . . . here are some surprising benefits:
So, whichever you choose--virtual lessons, in-person lessons, or a combination of both--I look forward to helping you develop your skills, craft your musicianship, and find your voice! |