My teaching philosophy 

I believe that listening - both to our inner voice and to other musicians- deepens our ability to connect with one another, and to think creatively about all of life's challenges. Regardless of how young we are, music provides a framework for self-discipline, playfulness, communication, and mindfulness - tools that set us free to be authentic and joyful in the world. 

Suzuki Method 

The Suzuki Method of teaching music is based on the idea that children can learn music in much the same way that they learn to speak a language- through listening, repetition, and small, gradual steps.  Suzuki teaching is founded on the idea that EVERY child can learn to play music, when provided with the right ingredients for success. Parental involvement significantly aids progress, and repeated listening to repertoire helps students to internalize what good tone and musical techniques should sound like. 

I use this approach with my younger students, but the Suzuki philosophy guides my teaching of students of any age. 

The Voice

Our most primal instrument, the sound that comes from our body and soul, is uniquely our own to enjoy and to share with the world. I believe the world needs ALL of our voices, and that singing can heal each of us in so many ways. The physical experience of singing in a healthy way allows the body to take in more oxygen and our posture to align, bringing more freedom to our experience of being in the body. The vibrations that we create can soothe and calm an overactive mind, and the ability to sing our emotions in an authentic way can free us from blocked feelings and give us a sense of having a voice in the world in a broader sense. 

Suzuki Voice treats the voice as a musical instrument, with the awareness that it carries some unique qualities: it is in the body, it relies on lyrics and languages, no two voices will sound alike, etc. In the same way that we learn the mechanics of playing an instrument through repetition, we can only learn effective singing techniques through singing. Suzuki repertoire lays a groundwork for healthy practicing, and we expand repertoire to include styles that the student feels called to sing. 

My hope is that the repertoire we sing is delicious and interesting to students, as well as challenging. I love teaching jazz and improvisation, but my goal is to help YOU to find YOUR own voice. I may suggest a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, folksongs, classical art song, and musical theater. 

Piano

Piano training lays the foundation for understanding the theory and application of music for any future instrument. I see the piano as the most versatile tool for beginning to play and compose music, as the collection of white and black keys lays out all the pitches in the Western scale, giving us access to nearly any written music that we may wish to play. Whether your interest is in accompanying your voice for singing, composing with DAW (digital audio workstation) software, or more advanced classical piano playing, my goal is to give students the tools to play the piano with correct technique for a lifelong musical practice.  

We will use a combination of Suzuki piano repertoire, Faber Piano collections, and outside repertoire as the student's interest may lead us.