Teaching Philosophy

“My holistic, positive teaching style focuses on the joy of singing and offers students keys to vocal development that affirm the vocal fundamentals of healthy singing. I help students discover and safely produce their beautiful sound while tapping into the full potential of their individual voice and mastering appropriate vocal repertoire for their unique vocal talents and musical interests. Vocal and performance goals and challenges are addressed through individually tailored exercises and a supportive environment. All ages, proficiency levels, and styles of music are welcome in my voice studio.

As a committed educator with extensive performing and teaching experience, I seek to encourage and challenge singers in developing their vocal and musical artistry while holding fast to their initial inspiration and love of singing. Singing offers a powerful channel for personal and artistic expression. One of my primary goals is to empower each vocalist with the resources to experience the tremendous joy of discovering and fully expressing their true singing voice - the beautiful, unique sonic expression of the depths of who they are.

The foundation of my teaching philosophy is built on the following principles:

• Effective learning flourishes in a dynamic of collaboration, where teacher and student are grounded in mutual respect and trust.
• Acceptance and appreciation for each singer as a distinct individual, coupled with their unique voice, musical skills, and artistic goals.
• Establishment of a safe, positive, and welcoming studio environment where vocalists can learn and grow, where vocal exploration and experimentation are fostered, and self-expression and questioning are nurtured.

I believe in a student-centric approach to teaching, where singers are empowered to take ownership of their vocal and artistic development and hone critical thinking and listening skills. As a master voice teacher-mentor, I encourage a highly collaborative, participatory learning process, where the teacher and student are fully engaged in exploring and developing the full potential of the student’s unique voice while serving the music and their musical goals.

I customize instruction to directly support each student’s individual voice and musical goals. Based on my assessment of the student’s natural learning style(s), I customize my presentation of concepts and content to best connect with each singer. In this collaborative process, it is important for the teacher to receive the vocalist’s feedback regarding how concepts feel and sound when implemented.

Most people thrive in a positive learning environment. Singing is an extremely personal and vulnerable expression. My teaching experience has shown me that singers respond extremely well to positive feedback and constructive critique from a trusted and respected teacher as they develop and share their voice and musical artistry. I believe it is important to offer my students generous praise and encouragement. Positive reinforcement is of primary importance for students to gain the confidence to trust and believe in their own ability to grow.”