About
I am a professional musician who has been performing and studying for over 10 years. I received my BM in Vocal Performance and Spanish from St. Norbert College in 2014 and my MM in Musicology from Florida State University in 2016. I am currently working on my PhD in Musicology where I am focusing my research on Cuban music.
Though my graduate education was centered primarily on research, I continued studying voice and began focusing on world music styles. I learned Portuguese, in addition to Spanish, and picked up several other world music instruments as well. During this time, I also began to focus more on teaching and pedagogy. I discovered that I had a passion for teaching and mentoring aside from my own performing and music making.
Since I have a degree in voice performance, I primarily teach voice to all levels of students. However, I also studied classical piano and can teach beginner-intermediate piano as well. I teach these in my home studio and online. I also have a passion for education and music education in general and can teach/tutor/mentor in music theory, musicology, general education, and languages including English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
My teaching philosophy is based on a student-centered approach. I tailor each lesson to the individual student, taking into account their needs, experience, skill levels, and personal goals. My aim is to help you improve and have a good and fun experience doing so!
Teaching music is my passion in life! I love seeing my students succeed, and I get elated when they figure out a concept or have an "ah-ha" moment. Helping students reach their goals is one of the things that brings me the greatest sense of fulfillment in life.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
When I start working with a new student, I like to ensure that I clearly understand the student's goals so that I can tailor my lessons to their individual needs and learning styles. During the initial lesson, I usually spend the first 10 minutes talking with the student. I ask about their background and musical knowledge/skills, and I ask what they most want to gain by taking lessons. I then have the student start singing or playing some simple exercises so that I can get familiar with their voice or playing style. By the end of the first lesson, we will pick some repertoire to work on, and I will develop a plan to help students get everything that they can out of lessons with me!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have extensive musical knowledge and training in various areas of musical ability. I have been taking my own voice and piano lessons since I was a child, and all of my post-secondary and graduate studies have been in music. I earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance in 2014 under Dr. Michael Rosewall at St. Norbert College, and afterward I went on to pursue my graduate studies in musicology at Florida State University. I earned a Master's in Music in 2016 and have since been working on my PhD in musicology. During graduate school, I continued studying voice under Dr. Chuck Chandler, and I also learned about numerous world music styles. I taught undergraduate students privately and in lecture classes and have since incorporated the skills that I learned about teaching into my own private studio. These diverse areas of education and training have helped me become a more well-rounded and adaptable teacher, which only benefits my students.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
For singing/voice lessons, I charge the following:
$30 / 30 mins
$45 / 45 mins
$60 / 60 mins
For piano lessons and music theory lessons, I charge the following:
$28 / 30 mins
$42/ 45 mins
$56 / 60 mins
How did you get started teaching?
I got started teaching officially during graduate school. I was a private tutor for several years while I worked on my masters and doctoral degrees. At the same time, I taught lecture classes in music for undergraduate students. I have experience teaching music one-on-one and in large groups, and during the past year I have begun building up my private studio, an endeavor which I absolutely love.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students of all types. While most of my experience is with high school and undergraduate-aged students, I have also taught lessons to young children and adults. I am happy to work with people of all types and have no preference on age or gender!