Piano Lessons in Madison, WI

Instruments: Piano Voice

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I've pretty much always wanted to perform in one capacity or another. As a child, I wanted to perform on television and that never really went away. I tried other things in college, but my heart always went back to music. It's what made me the happiness.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My mom used to perform in area theater productions quite a bit. She loved being involved in shows. My brothers sang in choir in high school and college as well.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I love opera. I just love everything about it. The beauty of music. The drama. The text. The list goes on and on. I love how the music has transcended time.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Either a travel agent or working as a liturgist in a church. I love to travel and I owe find comfort in my faith. Maybe a traveling liturgist? Who knows, really?

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Oh, so many beautiful roles. I would LOVE to sing Sister Helen from Dead Man Walking. It's based on a real person, and the opera is truly one of beauty. I'd also love to sing Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. I've sung Zerlina in that opera and would love to sing Elvira someday as well.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Accepting your own limitations. We all have our moments where we want to be "the best" and the reality of that is that we all have limitations. That is one of the hardest things to accept.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Singing in Austria! Singing overseas was such a huge part of my growth as a musician and something I want to do again. I feel that it's important for students to experience other cultures, which is what I also encourage my students to do if they have the opportunity to.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I think it chose me. I dabbled in flute and piccolo in high school in addition to voice, but I was never really taken by it. I'm glad that I studied it, but I was ok to let it go when I went to college.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had a couple that really helped encourage me, but I owe a lot to my first voice teacher, Mr. Mattsen. I had voice lessons with him for four years in high school, and he did a lot for me. He introduced me to art songs as well as to my first opera aria. He was a kind man, and I'm grateful for everything I learned from him.

When will I start to see results?
Each student is different. Some students will show practice within a few weeks and for others, it might take a few months. There are a lot of factors that go into play when students begin lessons. Some take time to become comfortable playing or singing with a teacher while others are eager to "jump right in." Don't think of looking to "see results" but rather helping your child to enjoy the process.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Can your child sit for 30 minutes? Are they willing to take on the extra work that practicing requires? Those are questions I ask parents when I get inquiries for very young students. Everyone is different, and while one five year old might be ready to start piano, his classmate may not be. I remind families that there are other opportunities that they can consider if their child is not quite ready for lessons.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Don't make it a goal to accomplish everything in one practice session. For instance, if your goal for the whole week is to learn the notes for a new piece, focus on a small section at each time. When you work in small sections, this allows you to work more efficiently and effectively. Playing through the piece over and over allows mistakes to be worked into your practice, which makes it harder to unlearn later on.

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