Violin Lessons in Jacksonville, FL

Instruments: Voice

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
The first thing we do is talk. We discuss any discoveries or abnormalities you have experienced since your previous lesson, and consider the implications. Then we will warm-up your voice. Different vocal exercises are used to achieve different results in training, and as such, will take up the majority of our time together. I will explain, in detail, what we are trying to accomplish, and will spend a lot of time modeling good and bad technique to help guide you towards the next step. Then I will assign certain vocal exercises and goals until our next time together, slowly building at your learning pace. Depending on what your needs are, we may spend the latter part of the lesson on learning how to pronounce in a different language, read music, music theory, music history, or practicing practical pieces of music. In the past, I have helped high school students prepare for state competitions, state festivals, and college auditions. I have also helped students prepare for recitals, community auditions for choir and musical theater, and for church and local community performances.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
When I was in college, I quickly decided that I loved teaching more than performing. However, I was frustrated by the number of teachers I met who didn't have the knowledge, experience, or skills of a performer. So I decided to double major in Music Education and Vocal Performance, mastering both worlds. Bringing a complete performer's perspective to my students is beyond valuable. And bringing the music education training into a private lesson helps me be an efficient planner. My biggest passion was teaching through choir, however. I have ten years of experience with school, church, college, and community choirs. And so, I also earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting, where I continued mastering my voice studies in the process.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Choir: I'm looking forward to the day where I can conduct the "Lux Aeterna" by Morten Lauridsen with a choir. It is a gorgeous, modern choral major work of five movements that is thirty minutes long. Voice: I'm working on a recital of all sacred music. The killer piece in it is a three movement African Spiritual work by John Carter called "Anthem". The tenor line loves to play with high Bb and B natural, which are some of the most difficult notes for sopranos and tenors to sing full voice. I'm taking my time learning this one.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I've gone "all in" with being a musician. It has been my life for the past fifteen years. I figured that the best way I could improve my chances of being a successful musician was to work at it hard enough to be better than most other people. And there are many avenues to being a successful musician. I'm a choral conductor first and foremost. I especially love teaching church and community choirs. I can sing and teach voice, of course. That's why we are here! I have spent five years as a teacher in public schools. I am also a composer and publisher of choral music. For me, I don't have an option not to be a musician because I don't really have any other skills. And that's basically what my first conducting teacher told me my sophomore year of college. "If you think you can be happy doing anything else in the world, walk out this door and go do that instead." I didn't walk out that door. And I know I couldn't be happier doing anything else.

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