Simona M  
Instruments: Voice
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk

My teaching experience dates back to my highschool days. I began teaching volunteer at the age of 16 in the girl's orphanage. I taught private guitar and vocal lessons. I started teaching professionally during my second year of college at the age 19. I worked as a part-time vocal coach for actors in a professional drama theater. At the same time I was teaching vocal and music theory in the teenager's theater studio. So, I have had teaching experience with students from 12 to 55 years old. I also had many private vocal students, who are successfully continuing to pursue their musical careers/education. After my graduation I moved to London and worked as a music teacher with K-5 grade students. I gained a lot of knowledge about little kids and and the best ways of teaching them. In 2012 I moved to the United States and started working as a vocal teacher at the Lithuanian Boston School, and I am still teaching there. My students are from 3 to 18 years old. I also teach private students online. I love working with different types of students with different musical background and passions and I am happy to see how big of the impact music brings to their lives.

For beginning students who are children (3-7 years old), I typically start with the nice songs, which involve dance, animal sounds, musical games, simple percussion instruments, clapping, funny- playful movements. With the older children (8-14) we start learning staff, keys, music notes, basic scales, more complex songs, but still keep the playfulness. If I teach in person - I usually play guitar, so I can move with the students. Teenagers (15-18) are abe to set their own goals, but they're still following the basic music theory approach. They learn scales, intervals, vocal warm-ups, basic improvisation, repertoire (based upon requested style), different vocal techniques, arpeggiation and articulation exercises. For vocal technique I mostly use Bob Stoloff and Michelle Weir books, but I am always adding new material following today's industry. I also incorporate bacic production and arranging techniques, so my students have an opportunity to produce their songs and creat online profiles with their songs. Adults (18+) are learning based upon their previous musical background: during our first lesson we set our goals and we directly work towards them. Every lesson includes PDF handouts, homework, separate e-mail with week's listening list, transcribing material.