As an active performer as well as pedagogue, I love teaching students who are as passionate about music as I am. I not only train vocalists, but performers who create beautiful sound through healthy and efficient vocal production, while also developing the tools necessary to expand upon their innate artistry and story-telling abilities. I believe that technique and artistry should go hand in hand, and competitive, versatile, and well-rounded vocalists need to be equipped with strong foundations in both. In addition, I emphasize the importance of establishing presentational skills as a key component of voice studies. I seek to provide numerous hands-on opportunities for my students to sing for each other, as well as others, allowing them to build confidence, gain comfortability, and achieve prowess in the art of performance.
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My main focus as a voice teacher is always on improvement and progress within my singers. Every voice is unique and comes with its own set of natural strengths and challenges. As a proponent of evidence-based studies and functional training, I tailor every lesson based upon the individual needs of the singer and guide my students in exploring repertoire appropriate to their goals and experience levels. Together, my students and I explore each week, as we search to discover and hone the specific tools best suited to maximize growth in their unique vocal transformative journeys.
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I regularly engage my students in examining and developing technical vocal skills such as breathing, posture, alignment, diction, placement, resonance, and tone. I believe that a solid foundation in healthy technique is imperative in order to successfully sing an array of styles and genres, and to achieve repeatable and reproducible results. Good technique not only supports the longevity of the voice, but allows each singer to be in control of their stylistic choices. Healthy practicing is equally stressed in my studio. In working vocal technique, it is of utmost importance that my students understand exactly what I am asking them to do. Too often, singing students are given vague or potentially confusing instructions such as to “use breath support” and “sing from your diaphragm” without any further explanation of what these phrases mean or how to actually accomplish them. I pride myself in my specificity of teaching, and strive to make sure all presented concepts are as transparent as possible. I utilize anatomical explanations, visual and oral demonstration, and guided trial and error frequently within my studio, so that my students are able to discover and fully understand the needs of their vocal instrument.
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I encourage my students to work with me on the side of performance, presentation, musicality, and artistry just as much as vocal technique. I believe that my unique background in acting and performance has equipped me with an invaluable skill set to guide my students in developing into comprehensive performers - whether they be working on classical, musical theatre, or pop/commercial music. I introduce my students to techniques such as those by Stanislavsky, Hagen, and Laban, providing them with a toolbox of methodologies that they can pull from in creating motivated and thoughtful performances. I also present them with appropriate evidence-based tools for combating performance anxiety and addressing nerves, as well as insider tips on audition and competition preparation.
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Teaching brings about boundless satisfaction and a great sense of self-growth for me. My students challenge me and I thrive off of their hard-work, dedication, and diversity of viewpoints. They inspire me to explore new and creative approaches to teaching, and through a positive, supportive and nurturing atmosphere, I aim to help them discover the full potential of their unique artistic voice.