Voice Lessons in Lawnside, PA

Instruments: Piano Voice

For a beginner vocalist, I will always begin with standard bel canto vocalises. These promote, first and foremost, the health of the voice. They also build flexibility, agility, and suppleness within the vocal cords. As students advance, these vocalises become more and more advanced. The technique built in the vocalises eventually infiltrates a singers' repertoire, and appropriate repertoire choices are extremely important and made thoughtfully. Pianists begin with an introduction through scales and music theory. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For young beginners, I like to use the Faber and Faber series. They do a wonderful job incorporating reading, listening, and writing into the curriculum. I also think creativity is a huge part of music. I love asking students to write their own songs. When I play their compositions on the piano, their reactions are priceless! For older beginners, advanced students, and voice students I use a similar approach but with supplemental materials. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Violin Flute Piccolo Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

Upon graduation from college, I worked with autistic support students within Pittsburgh Public schools. I secured my music teaching position working in the same district shortly there after. I taught grades kindergarten through eighth. I taught general music along with instrumental music and choir. I also coached middle school cross country runners for several seasons. Ive recently left the physical classroom but cannot wait for private students to begin teaching within a home studio or virtually of course! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Saxophone

For beginner students, I like to start with general music understanding before jumping into the specifics. I will make sure the students can read and understand music so that when we start with harder materials it will be easier and more fun. I will make sure that the students have songs and music books that they will enjoy learning and performing. I will leave it up to the students if they wish to do a recital. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Music

For all beginning students who are children, but also adult beginners, I like to focus on vocal warm-ups and exercises to ensure that they develop the fundamentals of healthy singing. After getting to know the student's voice a bit, I believe that coaching solo vocal repertoire is essential to building vocal technique and confidence in performing ability for many different situations. When assigning vocal repertoire, I first like to find out what sort of music the student is interested in and also what their goals are in taking voice lessons and assign repertoire accordingly, but I also like to begin with songs from Schirmer's 24 Italian Songs and Arias book to strengthen basic breath support and a vocal line that is connected to good breath support. Read More

Instruments: Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Euphonium Tuba

I would define my teaching style as being both caring and encouraging while providing the proper amount of structure for improvement. Enjoyment is imperative to this process. The student will be assigned specific method books and I as the instructor, will review their progress outside of the studio space when we meet. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer

My teaching experience started the last year of attending Heidelberg University when I was required to instruct a high school student drum lessons as part of my internship. After graduation in 1991 I had my first vocal student in my home. In 1995 is when I had my first experience teaching in a music store environment. The store was known as Howland's Music World and was there until 1997. In 1997 during my last few months at Howland's Music World, I was hired at Hubbard Music as voice instructor and piano instructor and worked there till 2000. Read More