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Bachelor Degree: Ottawa University
1996-Current: Accompanist for Regional Honor Choirs in AZ
1996-Current: Accompanist/Music Literacy Instructor with Phoenix Children's Chorus
1996-Current: Accompanied and directed choirs on International Tours with Phoenix Children's Choru
I am a passionate, young at heart educator who loves teaching all ages of students! If you have the will to learn, I would love to be your coach! I have a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Choral Education, and spend my days engulfed in choral music playing for numerous choirs at my high school. I have been a private voice/piano instructor for the past 31 consecutive years in my home studio. I have taught in the Mesa Public School District as an Accompanist/Vocal Coach since 1996. I currently work at Mountain View High School and teach Extensive Sight-reading, Vocal Training and Accompany all eight choirs on the piano/keyboard. I am also on staff as a Music Literacy Instructor/Accompanist for the Phoenix Children's Chorus since 1996 and have had the opportunity to direct and accompany our choirs on 21 tours to date within the US and Internationally. Two of my highlights were to perform on the stage at Carnegie Hall, NYC, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. I and am very conscientious of the health of the body and the voice. My areas of expertise are sight-reading using the Kodaly Method, Vocal Technique, Musical Theatre Audition training, and I teach all languages in classical music using the International Phonetic Alphabet.
I am a compassionate, fun and dedicated educator who loves teaching all ages! As a child, living on the island of Jamaica, in the West Indies, I trained extensively with the Royal Schools of Music and The Trinity College of Music within the British system for four years. When moving back to the U.S. I started playing professionally for musical theatre productions at the age of 14. At 16, I began teaching piano lessons. After graduating college, I began adding vocal training to my studio. I have directed numerous choirs over the years and love choral, musical theatre, and jazz music. I encourage healthy consistent practice for piano and/or voice. I also relish the student's input when choosing literature. If a student does not like the music, I have found they will not practice. Students love performing at our End of the year Vocal Recital for their friends and family. I have four children, three who have done music extensively in their lives. Welcome to my Home Studio, I can't wait to meet you!
For Piano students, I like using the Royal Conservatory Methods, some Faber books, and implement Jazz Studies, Classical Training, Scales, Arpeggios and Chord Progressions. As they become proficient in chords, then I teach improvisation skills, and Ear Training. For Vocal Students, I teach Extensive Sight-reading using the Kodaly Method, Vocal Technique, Ear training, and Genres which include, Musical Theatre, Classical, Folk Songs, Disney, Jazz, some Pop. There are weekly Lesson Assignments that a student is given as reference for practice and education.
I structure my lessons so that each student knows exactly what to expect each week. We begin with Warmups, Scales, Technique, Sight-reading in piano and/or voice. Then we move onto the literature, checking posture for both Voice and Piano. We recap, at the end of each lesson, so that any questions may be answered. We set goals for rehearsals, memorization, study requirements. I record vocal exercises, or accompaniment tracks for the student so that they are able to practice more efficiently. I have an open door policy at my home, literally, the students just walk in! I want them comfortable enough to discuss problems, or concerns with what I'm teaching, so that I may help them. I encourage weekly commitment and let them know that I will always be prepared and there to teach, because they are important and I want them to progress!