Piano Lessons in Garland, TX

Instruments: Piano Voice

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I love singing Opera and the classical style of music because I feel like it is the "Olympics" of singing. It takes the voice to the very extremes, not only of range and difficulty, but also of emotion. You have to have full control of your instrument to make this genre of music come alive and have any sort of meaning. I also love the variety of the genre. There are so many operas from so many different centuries that are all different and come with their own challenges. I love exploring the characters and trying to put my own spin upon any that I am assigned to perform.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a very unique BA in Church Music. This seems to stir up questions every time it is brought up. I have a very religious background and I totally attribute any success I have had to my church upbringing and to God who guides me every day. I went to a Christian university for my BA and this major was all about how we use music in church and the different avenues that can take. I interned at a local church that had a choir, an orchestra, and a praise band all working together. I would help bring the music together, sing on the praise band, help direct the choir, and lead all of the many branches of this group when the main leader was away. Now I lead worship at my own church, while I also teach music and perform around the island of Hawaii.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Establish 3 small goals you want to accomplish during your given practice time that day. Know what you want to get done before you go into that room. That really helps you stay focused and gives shape to your practice time. Keep track of your practice with a recording device. Listen back to yourself frequently so you can hear your progress. This is also handy for when you go to our voice lessons. Record what I say during your lesson so that during the week you can recall it much easier and you can hear the changes we make in your voice, and easily recreate it again and again in your practice time.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
I think this is more up to the child, especailly when it comes to singing. If the child asks you for voice lessons, that would be a good indicator that they are willing to put work into. If there is no indication of desire, it will be very hard for them to put in the effort to accomplish the goals they will have for their voice lessons. If your child is already singing and maybe doing a show or something at school (or outside even) and they feel frustrated or like they could be doing more, maybe this is a good indication that lessons could really help them, not only with their music, but feeling more confident in the role they have to play.

When will I start to see results?
This is totally dependent on the person themselves. If you are dedicated and keep up with your practice, you could see results very soon. But if you don't practice and don't really take time out of your day to focus on getting better, then you won't get better. Every person is different, so everyone will have a different time period in which results will be evident. Some people need more time to master the basics of singing than others since it is a very physical thing. Just like some people are more gifted in a certain sport than others at first, but that doesn't mean that with a little practice, you can't catch up or even surpass others' skill.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My mother was my first music teacher. She was my music teacher in Kindergarten and has been a musical influence throughout my whole life. She began my love for music and my father was also a great influence. He plays guitar and gave me my first guitar at age 13. I began playing in or worship band and began to sing harmonies as well and then when I went to college, I had the same vocal teacher that my mother had, as we went to the same college only 30 years apart. Her name was Virginia Cameron and she helped my technique in so many ways to develop me into the singer I wanted to me. My teacher now, Dr. Maya Hoover, has also really helped me to develop a more mature sound and helped me to feel more confident in my singing and like I have full control over my voice.

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