Common Principles of Teaching
For both the study of voice and piano, I create a warm, caring, safe environment where my students can ask questions, be fully expressive, make mistakes without judgement, and learn to their fullest potential!
Every student is unique, and I tailor my approach to each individual's needs and goals, as well as their assets and current problem areas. No two students are taught the same way, and while there are certain books and publishers I like to use, there are no default songs that I broadly apply to all students.
Piano
My success as a teacher has been not in repertoire-based teaching, which is a system of teaching I do not follow, but in reading-based teaching, which encourages trust and stability. All my piano students are taught the fundamentals of reading from the very beginning, and areas such as rhythm, notation, and tempo are investigated immediately and continuously. Sight-reading is a skill that every piano student is encouraged to work on at every lesson, and it is my goal as a teacher to get all my students to sight-read comfortably and with confidence.
All piano students will learn music theory. The purpose is to encourage understanding of the way music is written and expressed mathematically; in other words, to gain insight into the patterns inherent to Western music. These patterns will facilitate the learning of piano music of all genres. Topics for music theory include major and minor scale patterns, chord theory, interval training, voice leading, and rhythm analysis.
In addition, all piano students will be asked to work on material written for the grand staff. The purpose of this is to build independence and fluidity of the fingers, and to encourage natural, quick reading. The only exceptions to this requirement are singers who wish to learn basic chords and theory in order to accompany themselves, and advanced pianists who have already trained on the grand staff and wish to learn popular piano styles.
Hand technique, wrist motion, and posture at the bench are crucial topics which will be discussed and worked on extensively, as excellent piano playing is impossible without freedom of movement. Students will be asked to relax and breath at the piano and will be shown stretching and breathing exercises in order to release tension.
Voice
At every voice lesson, the greatest emphasis is placed on the acquisition of healthy vocal technique. Students will be given exercises tailored specifically to their needs and will be shown both through demonstration and application the approaches to achieving healthy resonance. Students will be shown ways to do the exercises outside the lessons and will be asked to perform these exercises at home.
Students will also be shown breathing and relaxation techniques to free-up their posture, gain core stability, and dissipate tension from the head and neck. A free and relaxed posture is vital to achieving healthy resonance. As with vocal exercises, students will be asked to do these breathing and relaxation exercises outside of lessons.
Finally, vocal students will be asked to reflect on their resonance at the macro and micro level - this is to say, not just from month to month, but from lesson to lesson, and, in fact, note to note within an exercise or phrase. Students will be asked to note the position of their tongue, teeth, and lips, as well as their vocal placement, during moments of failure and success, and will be expected to integrate these somatic cues as part of their broader vocal technique.
Final Thoughts
* For both voice and piano study, a student may work on any genre of music he wishes; no genre is dismissed as not being "important"
* Students will only be asked to play music they enjoy and connect with, in both piano and voice study. Having an emotional connection to the music one plays is one of the best ways to achieve success in music.
For both the study of voice and piano, I create a warm, caring, safe environment where my students can ask questions, be fully expressive, make mistakes without judgement, and learn to their fullest potential!
Every student is unique, and I tailor my approach to each individual's needs and goals, as well as their assets and current problem areas. No two students are taught the same way, and while there are certain books and publishers I like to use, there are no default songs that I broadly apply to all students.
Piano
My success as a teacher has been not in repertoire-based teaching, which is a system of teaching I do not follow, but in reading-based teaching, which encourages trust and stability. All my piano students are taught the fundamentals of reading from the very beginning, and areas such as rhythm, notation, and tempo are investigated immediately and continuously. Sight-reading is a skill that every piano student is encouraged to work on at every lesson, and it is my goal as a teacher to get all my students to sight-read comfortably and with confidence.
All piano students will learn music theory. The purpose is to encourage understanding of the way music is written and expressed mathematically; in other words, to gain insight into the patterns inherent to Western music. These patterns will facilitate the learning of piano music of all genres. Topics for music theory include major and minor scale patterns, chord theory, interval training, voice leading, and rhythm analysis.
In addition, all piano students will be asked to work on material written for the grand staff. The purpose of this is to build independence and fluidity of the fingers, and to encourage natural, quick reading. The only exceptions to this requirement are singers who wish to learn basic chords and theory in order to accompany themselves, and advanced pianists who have already trained on the grand staff and wish to learn popular piano styles.
Hand technique, wrist motion, and posture at the bench are crucial topics which will be discussed and worked on extensively, as excellent piano playing is impossible without freedom of movement. Students will be asked to relax and breath at the piano and will be shown stretching and breathing exercises in order to release tension.
Voice
At every voice lesson, the greatest emphasis is placed on the acquisition of healthy vocal technique. Students will be given exercises tailored specifically to their needs and will be shown both through demonstration and application the approaches to achieving healthy resonance. Students will be shown ways to do the exercises outside the lessons and will be asked to perform these exercises at home.
Students will also be shown breathing and relaxation techniques to free-up their posture, gain core stability, and dissipate tension from the head and neck. A free and relaxed posture is vital to achieving healthy resonance. As with vocal exercises, students will be asked to do these breathing and relaxation exercises outside of lessons.
Finally, vocal students will be asked to reflect on their resonance at the macro and micro level - this is to say, not just from month to month, but from lesson to lesson, and, in fact, note to note within an exercise or phrase. Students will be asked to note the position of their tongue, teeth, and lips, as well as their vocal placement, during moments of failure and success, and will be expected to integrate these somatic cues as part of their broader vocal technique.
Final Thoughts
* For both voice and piano study, a student may work on any genre of music he wishes; no genre is dismissed as not being "important"
* Students will only be asked to play music they enjoy and connect with, in both piano and voice study. Having an emotional connection to the music one plays is one of the best ways to achieve success in music.