LESSONS FOR KIDS & TEENS

My Approach to Teaching

My teaching style has been deeply shaped by my own experiences as a young classical music student who yearned for more creativity and playfulness in my own lessons. My favorite thing is to help students learn to sing and play the music they're most excited about. Reading music, improvisation, songwriting, and musical skill-building games are all a regular part of lessons.
My lessons put the students’ interests, joy, and embodiment at the center. I focus on providing positive feedback and cultivate a sense of playfulness as we work. My students demonstrate increased confidence, more consistent practice habits, and a sense of creative agency as they learn.
For voice students, I am trained in the Lovetri Somatic Voicework™, which helps students develop an increased awareness and understanding of their vocal instrument in order to freely and skillfully express themselves. For piano, I use a combination of traditional notation (reading music), chord-based songs (tabs), and improvisation, which enables students to confidently approach new pieces with multiple levels of understanding.
If I can’t find a score for something, I’ll use my composition chops to create original arrangements of songs that will fit students’ skill level: from Billie Eilish to Pachelbel’s Canon to Pixar theme songs, nothing is out of bounds!

Twice yearly recitals (online and in person!) give students a chance to move through the fear of performing into a place of excitement and anticipation.
Younger students have learned to ‘make friends’ with the nervous butterflies’ that arise with performing (and in many other walks of life). More experienced students enjoy recitals as a chance to show off original songs or treat them as practice runs for vocal competitions or musical exams.
Students often feel validated and inspired by the positive, welcoming and supportive recital environment. They’ve worked hard to prepare and are proud to share the results.

Lessons typically follow the following format:

Warm-ups that help students relax and ground, while teaching foundational aspects of proper somatic vocal or instrumental technique.
Depending on what a student needs, targeted exercises specifically designed to improve stability, control, range and coordination, with reinforcement and reminders of the initial techniques.
Short exercises of rhythm, sight-reading, musical dictation or exploration of a music theory concept.
The rest of the time is spent putting their hard-earned technique into practice with a song the student enjoys!
Students will leave lessons with specific assignments, including:
- Technical assignments: warmups, drills, reading exercises
- Song based assignments: clear and specific instructions about what to focus on and/or accomplish within their piece or song
- Recordings, videos, and resources to guide them through warm-ups and practice on their own