Kathryn Z
5.0
(41)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice
Styles: Classical, Pop, Rock, Folk, Country, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Spirituals
Kathryn Z
5.0
(41)
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Rock, Folk, Country, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Spirituals
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 6-80
Outstanding Senior in Music, University of Nebraska
Graduated Honorable Mention
A member of the college Honors Program
I believe that variety is the spice of not only life, but also music. I grew up singing folk music with a musical family (think accordions, guitars and lots of vocal harmonies). I learned guitar and piano at an early age and began singing even earlier. My quest to give the world the best my vocal cords could offer led me to obtain an undergraduate degree in vocal performance from the University of Nebraska (where I graduated honorable mention, named with the vocal department’s Outstanding Senior in Music award, and also obtained a minor in theatre) and a master’s degree in music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Both of these degrees emphasized classical singing technique, and through this study I gained a solid foundation for my musical craft. Once out of school, I then sought to begin creating MY music and MY sound, a challenge which continues to manifest itself even today in a variety of ways. I am now a singer/songwriter and I perform often with my own band in which I sing, play guitar, write my own songs and arrange intricate backup harmonies and multiple instrumentation. A variety of influences are apparent in my music, including the musical genres of folk, pop, rock and, yes, even hip hop. I have recorded multiple albums of my music and I play in esteemed venues in NYC. I also sing as a professional cantor/ensemble member at Holy Cross/St. John the Baptist churches in Manhattan, and I teach private voice, guitar and piano lessons in the city. For a time I served as the general music teacher for St. Dominic’s School in the Bronx where I was responsible for Pre-K through 8th grade musical classes and, true to form, I am often called upon in a multitude of situations to perform in a variety of musical genres. I am always pleased with the ever-changing musical scenery around me!
I began teaching private lessons back in undergrad. I found that I really enjoy getting to know someone one-on-one, and I think I'm particularly effective at figuring out how to communicate knowledge, create art and inspire on that level! The experience of my students has run the gamut; I've taught 5-year old and 65-year old beginners, I've taught students who already have an undergrad degree in music. I have taught people who are actively performing, and expectant mothers who want to sing lullabies to their babies. I've taught people in rock bands, and I've taught people who aspire to sing classical music professionally. And, honestly--I love it all! I am invigorated by the variety of experiences and personalities brought into my studio, and I feel competent to match them where they are... not to mention, I appreciate the variety of music that THEY turn ME on to!
A lesson with me equals half of the allotted time being used to learn good technique (i.e., learning healthy vocal habits, singing vocalises, learning to read music, playing scales, etc.) and the other half of the time singing and playing repertoire. The repertoire includes both pieces chosen by Kathy (always approved by the student) which excite and inspire the student’s particular musical tastes while providing a new challenge in technique to be conquered, and also pieces brought in by the student; for example, if a student is working on music for a specific performance, etc., or if they just really like a piece and want to learn how to play or sing it, I am always ready and willing to lend a hand and an ear! Vocally, I believe good basic technique is the same for every genre of music. Therefore, great emphasis is placed on learning to breathe and support your sound correctly as well as maintain good posture, rid your body of unwanted tensions, etc.; musical styles beyond that basic technique change only in small stylistic ways, and I am knowledgeable in quite a variety of most musical styles. With guitar, I focus on learning to read and play musical notation and chords without using guitar tablature. Again, a variety of musical styles are used for instruction, including everything from classical to punk! And with piano, I focus on learning to read and play musical notations as well as mastering scales and chord progressions, inversions, etc. I love opportunities to combine voice lessons with guitar lessons, or voice lessons with piano lessons, as one instrument feeds into the other in interesting and helpful ways.
I think voice especially has always been viewed as a bit of a mystery... you can't see or touch your voice as you sing, unlike playing instruments, so there's a certain amount of imagination that has to be involved. I do my best to straddle making singing as tangible as I can, and approach things somewhat scientifically ("This muscle is used in this way," etc.) while also inspiring visualization ("Send your sound out into the distance," etc.) I also really think it's important for musicians to be diverse, so not only will we learn chord and strumming patterns on a guitar, we'll also learn how to read simple lead lines of solos, etc. Depth of knowledge is what makes a really quality musician.
Makar
Great lesson! My first ever singing lesson and I came out with knowledge and singing confidence I didn't have before. Just bought my second lesson with Kathryn, highly recommend.
Roni
Very knowledgeable and thorough, I learned a lot and am looking forward to my next lesson.
Lauren
This was such a lovely and informative lesson--Kathy made me feel super comfortable and was a pleasure to interact with. She answered every question (no matter how small or weird) and definitely made me want to continue on with it. Thank you so much!
Claire
Great teacher--loved her enthusiasm and supportiveness.
Sydney
I have been with Kathy a little over a month and it has been great so far. She is very encouraging and informative. She answers all my questions and really lets me go at my own pace.
Valerie
Warm, professional and very clear with her guidance during the lesson.
Natalie
Kathy is excellent! She has a special skill in making you feel comfortable even when you are a beginner. I appreciate that she takes a more "old-school" approach to singing lessons--learning sheet music accompanied by a piano. It's both nostalgic and an effective form of teaching. I'm looking forward to my future lessons with her!
Lingjie
Kathy is an excellent teacher! The moment you meet her, you feel an immediate sense of familiarity, as if you've known her for a long time. She has great singing skills, and the moment she starts singing, the entire room feels transformed. I have always believed that being a good singer doesn't necessarily mean being a good teacher, but Kathy is an exception. Not only does she sing brilliantly, but she also has the ability to quickly help you find techniques that make a noticeable difference in just a few minutes. I believe this is the most important aspect for students. Kathy is truly fantastic, and I highly recommend everyone to take her vocal lesson.
Michael
Kathy is an excellent vocal teacher, and I'm so glad to be her student. She has a great way of figuring out what works for the student's individual voice and needs, which is the most important thing in a teacher in my opinion. She takes your goals and desires into account to make you the best singer you can be. Highly recommend!
Claire
Kathryn is so kind, encouraging and knowledgeable. She is great at working at whatever level you're at. I'm excited to continue working with her!
Akira
I have been having such a great time working with Kathy! She is very knowledgeable and is receptive to my specific goals with singing. Thanks Kathy!
Heather
Kathryn has been teaching my 13 year old both voice and guitar. My daughter is just starting out in both and is learning a lot. Kathryn is friendly and has been so great at working with us when my daughter was sick or when we're needing to reschedule. She's been having lessons for a little over a month and her experience has been great. We're looking forward to continuing lessons.
Thiago
My experience with Kathy has been great. It's been roughly five months and I learned a lot and I'm also much more confident to sing. Learning the right techniques is crucial. Kathy is extremely patient and she adopts the classes to the students goals and aspirations. English is not my first language and she was also always very respectful and patient in explaining everything twice or maybe three times until I get it.
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