Teaching Philosophy

I often think of the incredible teachers and mentors who have made a difference in my life, and how my experiences with them have helped shape the teacher that I am today. I have been fortunate to study with some amazing teachers who have inspired my love for the history and theory in my field, but also challenged me to perform at levels I never imagined. I wholeheartedly feel that the human voice is a miraculous instrument. The physical nature of singing is closely tied with the emotional nature of being human. Because our instrument lies within the confines of our body, the voice is often connected to a student’s sense of self, their health, and their wellbeing. Singing is an incredibly personal journey. The voice teacher has to consider the responsibility of this medium. My goal is always to launch the singer’s spirit and love of the craft while paying attention to the fragility that defines our early development as musicians. I expect a great deal from my students, and myself as their teacher. I believe it is important to strive to keep the learning environment positive through honesty tempered with kindness, optimism, support, as well as mutual respect and trust. It is in this trust that students can unearth their true voice.

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My job as an educator is to guide my students in the discovery of their vocal potential through a process of technical, artistic, musical and personal development. Each student is an individual and has different abilities, levels of technical experience and learning styles. Although each lesson has a common framework, each student requires attention to shape their experience according to what will be most successful for them. Together, the student and I create a partnership. We establish both short-term and long-term goals, and I support them with technique and method; while encouraging self exploration and discovery to reach the goals that we set together. As their technique develops and strengthens, I help them to develop their innate ability to communicate their stories to an audience. Reaching that goal requires a deep commitment to practice, productive reflection on the performance experience and the development of our work together.

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I embrace teaching as an opportunity to inspire students in their growth, and to empower them to take initiative in their vocal journey. Because knowledge is power, students are encouraged to seek out new and exciting singers and to explore repertoire, which intrigues them and challenges them. They are also encouraged to take the time to begin to understand their physical body, intellectual motivation and emotional tensions. By doing this, they are gaining an understanding of what is needed to create a beautiful, free and healthy tone.