Caroline S  
Instruments: Piano, Voice
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Blues, Folk, Musical Theater, Showtunes, Soul

Although my experience working with students goes back to high school, I began teaching at professional studios while completing my BA in Music. I also taught private lessons out of my own studio and even gave some pro bono lessons so I could put what I was learning at university into action. I started teaching Disney and Pop music to kids and teens and decided to expand my teaching to anything a student has to offer in Vocal Performance. This is because in my seven years of teaching I have observed that much of what students struggle with is habitual tension, whether physical or psychological. Therefore, it doesn't matter what kind of music a student wants to sing as long as they approach the material from a relaxed and grounded place physically and mentally. My students will not only take consistent lessons (properly customized to what they need to learn that month, week, or session) but they will actively seek out opportunities to perform what they have learned in a public setting. I also encourage community service, and have extensive experience setting up opportunities for students to perform in nursing homes, homeless shelters, religious environments, and schools.

For children who are beginning Piano students, I start with Piano Adventures - The Basic Piano Method: Primer Level. If the opportunity arises for a performance or a recital, we will either choose material from the book or from music that is appropriate for their learning level. I also teach different methods of piano playing, such as reading chord charts, so that students can play their favorite tunes and sing along.

For children, teens, and adults who are Voice students at any level, their first lesson will consist of getting to know each other, what the student wants to learn, and gauging the student's vocal ability. After that, I will ask the student to make a list of songs they have always wanted to sing and show them how to acquire the sheet music. I may supplement their choices with some of my own at my discretion. Lessons will always start with a full body warmup followed by a vocal warmup.