FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am active with the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and was thrilled to participate in their Intern Program in 2012, which provides 10 days of intensive, hands-on guidance for young teachers. I regularly attend workshops and lectures through NATS and PPMTA, our local chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. I constantly read articles and books, as well as keeping up with online resources, so that my teaching never gets stagnant.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I grew up surrounded by music, with a mother who is a professional cellist. I began singing, cello, and piano as a young child, and always loved having music as an expressive outlet. I went off to college to study linguistics, only to discover that the music classes that I took just for fun were grabbing more and more of my interest. The more I studied singing, the more I loved how much science, history, and linguistics were all tied into the work of a singer. Soon I was helping my friends to get ready for auditions and performances, and I had found my calling as a voice teacher!
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Sit down and have a frank chat with anyone you are looking to hire as a teacher. There are many, many qualified voice teachers out there, but you want the one that is right for you. You need someone who has the skills you want to learn, but you also need someone with whom you can connect. Singing can feel very personal, so you need a teacher you can trust, someone who you know is always in your corner, even when they challenge you to try something new, which they will. After all, if you didn't want to learn something new, you probably wouldn't be looking for lessons!