Gwen Bainier Or Cape Cod Kids On Broadway

I like to find out what the student's goals and aspirations are first.  If a student has never had lessons, we start with the basics first and build on that.  It's important that we establish basic technique first.  I usually get a sense of a student's temperment and natural ability early on.  I do not have a 'one size fits all' approach.  Every student is different so therefore my approach varies depending on who I'm teaching.

Please see bio:Gwen Bainier’s professional career encompasses many aspects of the performing arts from performing in operas, musicals, film, TV and theater to directing, producing and teaching.  Originally from Winchester, Massachusetts her performing career started at the age of 15, and by 17 she had given her first professional recital and been the soloist with the All New England Chorus. As a member of “The Greater Bostonians”, a group of teenage singers and musicians, she had also toured extensively in the northeast, given a concert at Boston’s Symphony Hall, produced a TV special and recorded an album.  She studied at the Royal College of Music in London while in High School, and had her first professional opera experience at 18 with the internationally known opera director Boris Goldovsky.  She did her undergraduate work in music at Smith College and graduate studies at UT Austin, USC and UCLA.  She has worked with many renowned teachers and coaches in New York, Los Angeles and the Aspen Music Festival.  In addition to regional opera and music theater, while in New York she was contracted by the New York Rangers to sing the National Anthem in Madison Square Garden, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Acting training included study at the Herbert Berghoff Studios in New York, and on the west coast with Roy London, Ivana Chubbuck and Darryl Hickman. As a professional actor she was a member of SAG, AFTRA and Equity. While the Head of the Music Department at the Theater of Arts, a professional performing arts school in Los Angeles, she produced showcases, taught voice, music theory and diction for stage and film.  She also created an adjunct program which focused on training younger performers in dance, music theater, and contemporary pop and R&B genres as well. The students were given the opportunity to perform and to be critiqued by music and entertainment industry professionals and agents.  After moving to Cape Cod, she created a musical theater program for kids, Cape Cod Kids on Broadway (www.capecodkidsonbroadway.com), which offers workshops and full length productions throughout the year.  To date, CCKOB has produced You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Honk!, Shrek the Musical, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Willy Wonka and Matilda the Musical.  Gwen has also directed productions at The Barnstable Comedy Club, The Cotuit Center for the Arts and The Harwich Jr. Theater.  She teaches voice and piano privately, most recently online due to Covid.

As I sequed out of performing, I discovered I enjoyed teaching.  I was hired to form a music department at a performing arts school in Hollywood, CA and at that point started doing a lot of teaching while building up the program there.

I have worked with adults, teens and children.  In Los Angeles I worked with professional actors on singing technique as well as diction.  I've also worked with rock singers, aspiring musical theater performers and opera singers.  I've taught students as young as 5 (piano).

I would look for someone who has a performing as well as a teaching background.  I would also look for someone who has taught for a substantial number of years and has a broad range of students.

Why do I want lessons in piano or voice?  Am I willing to put the necessary time into practicing?  Do I have personal or professional goals?