Voice Lessons in St Paul, MN

Instruments: Voice

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
While I have always loved Music, I have also enjoyed working with children. Before becoming a Voice teacher, I worked as a teacher’s assistant in a Montessori. There, I would play with the children everyday, as well as play music with them, help them with art projects, teach them how to spell their name, etc. I then became a head teacher as well as a music teacher in an academy. I worked in the preschool room, where I absolutely loved working with the children. Had I not become a musician, my goal would have been to have my own daycare and eventually my own preschool.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I enjoy a wide variety of music genres. Growing up, I favored the punk rock style. I still enjoy this style from time to time, as it makes me feel nostalgic. When it comes to singing, my favorite genre to perform is operatic. I have always been inspired by Leontyne Price and Ebe Stignani as opera singers. Performing arias and becoming that character from the opera is an incredible feeling. Another genre I enjoying playing is indie rock. I love to play my guitar and my piano along to indie music, as well as create my own indie-styled songs.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I first learned to play the piano when I was 8 years old. I took lessons for two years, then came back to playing in high school. I continued with my studies in college for the first two years. Once I graduated, I began playing piano more as a hobby, as well as playing it in the Montessori and Academy. The second instrument I learned was the guitar. I began taking lessons when I was 11, and after a few years of playing began to write my own songs in high school. I played the guitar as well with the children in the schools and would teach them how to play. The third instrument I learned was the ukulele. I taught myself how to play, which makes it extra special for me.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When I was younger, my dream was to become a famous musician. I did not know all it entailed, but I pursued my goal by taking voice and instrument lessons. Once I was older, I realized I could become a professional musician by becoming an opera singer. For my first year of college I trained in the way of becoming a professional singer. I realized towards the end of the year that I enjoyed the idea of teaching someone how to sing, rather than having myself be the singer. I continued my studies as a vocal performance major and worked towards my objective to become a professional musician. After graduating college and two years of working with children, I discovered New Windsor Music Academy, where I began my dream of being a vocal instructor.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music has always been a part of my family. Both my mother and my grandmother played piano. My mother would help me practice at home during my time of taking piano lessons. My uncle on my father's side played guitar and sang in a band for many years. My cousin currently plays guitar in a band and has played since he was a teenager. My parents were thrilled each time I learned a new instrument, and it even motivated my father to play guitar. I would help him learn easy chords, that way we could play songs together.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor's Degree in Music. My major was in Voice Performance. When I began college, I studied and trained to become an opera singer. Within my first year, I felt less like I wanted to perform and more than I wanted to teach others how to perform. I continued with my major, as I learned the pedagogy, science, and performance aspect in order to further educate myself. I am grateful for majoring in performance. It bettered my knowledge in teaching, as well as showed me how to prepare for auditions and performances.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
i usually will begin the lesson with asking how the student's day was. I feel it is important to make the student feel comfortable and let them know that you care about them. Once I do that, I will ask them how their voice feels. I like to know if they have practiced prior to the lesson. That way, I can judge how little or how much I need to warm them up. I will usually have the student stand for warm ups, unless the person has any medical conditions or is feeling overly fatigued before the lesson starts. I will have the student drink water in between warm ups in order to keep the larynx lubricated. I will usually take 10-15 minutes to warm up the student. Once they feel each segment in the voice is ready, I will work on songs with them. I will usually have them sing the song in its entirety, then work on the song phrase by phrase.

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