Teaching Philosophy
I love teaching people how to sing and find their own unique voices. Singing is so much more than the sounds coming from your mouth! It's posture, breathing, balance, coordination, self-confidence, freedom, release, endorphins, and joy. Your whole body is your instrument and I love helping singers to work at their easiest, most efficient, and most expressive level.
I have 25 years of teaching experience, including community music school faculty, graduate teaching assistant, and my own private studio. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I was also a collaborative pianist. In terms of teaching, that means that every week most singers in voice programs go to one lesson - their own. I went to 12 or 15 lessons every week for years: in all the voice studios on campus; for sopranos, mezzos, tenors, baritones, and basses; and I paid attention and asked questions. It's possible that I love learning more than teaching, but it's a close call. I continue to further my education by attending pedagogy (that's a fancy word for teaching) workshops and conferences, observing fabulous teachers at work, and studying with voice teachers and coaches of my own. Everything I learn gives me more tools to offer my students.
I have a home studio in Guilford, CT, where I teach private lessons. I take kids (starting in 5th grade), teens and adults. My students' ages currently range from 10-84 and include beginners, middle school kids who like to sing in junior musicals, high school music theater students, avocational adults and professional singers. Student goals are varied and include: matching pitch and learning to sing a harmony part in an a cappella group, preparing for entrance auditions to high school and college and summer programs, preparing for cabaret performances, solo recitals and scholarship competitions, preparing solos for church services, learning to sing and play the piano for themselves, wanting to sing more easily, regaining lost agility and range, recovering from and rehabilitating after injuries, and periodic tune-ups for professional singers. I also offer lessons via Zoom and Cleanfeed (distance learning). All lessons are currently in the online Zoom and Cleanfeed model only in accordance with guidance from medical professionals and my professional singing teachers organization.
In addition to weekly lessons, I offer students a performance class (to practice singing in front of each other in our studio) and a recital each semester (so they can sing for their families and friends). Lessons are tailored to each student individually and may include music theory and sight singing, keyboarding skills, personalized stretching and breathing exercises, performance practice mindfulness and confidence-building techniques, individually tailored vocalises for each student, and repertoire (folk, pop, rock, MT, art song, opera, etc.), based on students’ ability, needs and interest. Weekly lessons are recommended. If you have to choose between 45 minutes every other week or 30 minutes each week, choose the 30 minute weekly lesson.
I have 25 years of teaching experience, including community music school faculty, graduate teaching assistant, and my own private studio. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I was also a collaborative pianist. In terms of teaching, that means that every week most singers in voice programs go to one lesson - their own. I went to 12 or 15 lessons every week for years: in all the voice studios on campus; for sopranos, mezzos, tenors, baritones, and basses; and I paid attention and asked questions. It's possible that I love learning more than teaching, but it's a close call. I continue to further my education by attending pedagogy (that's a fancy word for teaching) workshops and conferences, observing fabulous teachers at work, and studying with voice teachers and coaches of my own. Everything I learn gives me more tools to offer my students.
I have a home studio in Guilford, CT, where I teach private lessons. I take kids (starting in 5th grade), teens and adults. My students' ages currently range from 10-84 and include beginners, middle school kids who like to sing in junior musicals, high school music theater students, avocational adults and professional singers. Student goals are varied and include: matching pitch and learning to sing a harmony part in an a cappella group, preparing for entrance auditions to high school and college and summer programs, preparing for cabaret performances, solo recitals and scholarship competitions, preparing solos for church services, learning to sing and play the piano for themselves, wanting to sing more easily, regaining lost agility and range, recovering from and rehabilitating after injuries, and periodic tune-ups for professional singers. I also offer lessons via Zoom and Cleanfeed (distance learning). All lessons are currently in the online Zoom and Cleanfeed model only in accordance with guidance from medical professionals and my professional singing teachers organization.
In addition to weekly lessons, I offer students a performance class (to practice singing in front of each other in our studio) and a recital each semester (so they can sing for their families and friends). Lessons are tailored to each student individually and may include music theory and sight singing, keyboarding skills, personalized stretching and breathing exercises, performance practice mindfulness and confidence-building techniques, individually tailored vocalises for each student, and repertoire (folk, pop, rock, MT, art song, opera, etc.), based on students’ ability, needs and interest. Weekly lessons are recommended. If you have to choose between 45 minutes every other week or 30 minutes each week, choose the 30 minute weekly lesson.