Piano Lessons in Ashburn, VA

Instruments: Voice

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Ten minutes a day. No matter what. It doesn’t have to be moving mountains, or anything crazy. But it does have to be completely focused. And just be aware of what happens in those ten minutes, and you will, over time, notice progress. Also, recording your lessons can be extremely helpful! If you go back and listen to an adjustment you’re given by your teacher and begin to notice the quality to your sound adjusting, you can be reminded of what your teacher instructed you to do to arrive at that point and put it into practice.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
They have demonstrated intense interest, and responsiveness to music. They appear to be at an age where they have the focus and drive to really work at something that could take a while to gain a grasp of. And if they show that they genuinely love it, and are passionate about growing and learning more about singing. So, have a conversation and just ask “is this something you could see yourself having a lot of fun doing and that would make you excited?” Because that’s what makes a disciplined musician in my eyes, someone who practices because it’s fun and exciting.

When will I start to see results?
You will start to see results when you stop looking for them. There’s something pyschological about singing that although you have to be diligent in lessons and apply the corrections and learn proper technique, all that changes once you have an audience in front of you or you just start singing more often and to more people. Once you have practiced pretty steadily and begin to trust that you are understanding the concepts, you can begin to really see how your foundation has become solid and your practice has paid off!

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes; every voice teacher I have had has given me an incredible gift of using my voice. Not only to sing, but to express what I felt and to communicate. Singing is an amazing way to tell stories, express emotion, and connect with an audience. My voice teachers made sure that as much time we spent on technique, we spent on understanding the lyrics I was singing and why I was singing. Making sure it was important enough to have people see and listen to. Also, all my teachers were also performers and I got to watch them practice what they preached.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I chose my primary instrument because I came from a household that loved vocalists. Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley, Luciano Pavoratti, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Celine Deon, The Beatles were all in the background playing as I grew up. I really started to sing a long at an early age. I began doing theatre as well and learned they could be done together and tell really important stories through song and fell in love with it. I joined choir in 3rd grade and have been singing ever since and began voice lessons when I was 13 years old and began to grow and expand my technique.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of becoming a finalist in the Hal Leonard College Musical Theatre Competition. To have made it to the finals in a nation wide voice competition singing music I loved was a wonderful experience, and I also got to watch the other contestants and see their love for this material as well. I felt so seen and like I was on the right track in my vocal practice and making sure I was still expressing myself clearly and truthfully in singing. It is work I love doing and continuing to learn and grow into.

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