About
Caitlin Thomas is a singer/songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Leonia, New Jersey. She is an instructor/tutor for a wide variety of music sub-genres, including (but not limited to) cello, piano, guitar, and voice instruction; ear training & music theory; composition & songwriting; and music recording & production. She has tremendous devotion to teaching, and believes in goal oriented instruction with specific exercises tailored to the individual's learning style. Her passion for music, combined with her patience and organization skills, make for an inspiring and motivating lesson for all age groups.
She is a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music (’19), where she double-majored in Contemporary Writing & Production and Songwriting, with a minor in Musical Theater Writing. Caitlin is a CRLA-2 Certified music tutor, employed by the Berklee Core Music Department 2018-2019. After her graduation, Caitlin worked for the Boston Children's Theater as music director for children ages 7-12, working with groups as large as 30 kids to cultivate show-ready vocal performance in shows such as Annie, The Lion King, and Cinderella in two short weeks. She has also taught private cello, piano, and guitar lessons for over 5 years.
Most recently, Caitlin held the Cello/Guitar chair in the band of the 2nd National Tour of Waitress, before the tour was cancelled due to Covid-19. She is currently attending remote classes towards her Masters Degree at NYU's Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. You can learn more about her musical endeavors on her website: caitlinthomasmusic.com
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Typically, when working with a new student, I like to first learn about their relationship with music: how they got started, what artists/forms of music inspire them, what music means to them. I then ask if they have any specific goals/things they would like to get out of our lessons, and if necessary, we will work together to cultivate a list of goals. I like to know about any prior music training, formal or informal, and how they see their learning process; i.e., if they are a visual or auditory learner, how they respond to deadlines, if they have any specific triggers in the classroom I should be aware of, etc. I always communicate how grateful and excited I am to be working with them, and ensure I will do my best to create a positive and encouraging learning environment. Once I have all the information, I will create a lesson plan for the coming sessions, which I share with the student and ask for feedback. Then, we will dive in!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BM (Bachelor of Music) from Berklee College of Music, where I double-majored in Contemporary Writing & Production and Songwriting, and minored in Musical Theater Writing. I am working towards my BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from NYU's accredited Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. I also have seventeen years of training on the cello, which is my primary instrument, and graduated from the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Program in 2016 after 7 years of private instruction with Madeleine Golz. I have been informally trained by my parents, Cynthia Phelps (Principal Viola, NY Philharmonic) and Ronald Thomas (cellist & founder/former Artistic Director of Boston Chamber Music Society) since my childhood. I am CRLA-2 certified by the College Reading and Learning Association, and attended weekly training sessions during my time as a Core Music Tutor at Berklee.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My pricing system varies -- contact for details
How did you get started teaching?
I began teaching music when I was still a teenager. I was an avid babysitter in high school, and some families had a piano in the house. I would spend hours at the piano with the children who showed interest in music, and we would do everything from making up songs (I would play, they would sing; or they would play and we would sing/make up words together) to learning songs from a piano instruction book. Then, in college, I was approached by one of my songwriting classmates who was interested in learning the cello so he could write for it more competently, and we had weekly lessons for almost a year. From there, combined with my growing passion as a tutor, I began to teach more frequently.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with children between the ages of 4-11, college age students (17-22), and adults. I have some informal training with middle school/high school teenagers, and although I have not gotten a chance to work extensively with the age group, it has been one of my favorite and most comfortable age groups to work with.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
If I could give one piece of advice to a student looking for composing, instrumental, theory or recording instruction, it would be this: make sure you are passionate about the craft. We are all busy, and whether you're a full-time student, parent, juggling 3 jobs or anything else that may usurp your time and energy, you MUST be genuinely interested in music if you wish to see improvement. Even at the most basic level, excitement and passion towards the craft is the driving factor in musical growth.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Before talking to a teacher, it is good to whink about what you are looking for from lessons. You may have a six-year-old plunking on the piano and wish to steer them in a more focused, instructional direction. You may be a full-time employed adult who simply wishes to improve at the guitar. Or maybe you are a 17-year-old singer looking at applying to college musical theater programs. Whatever your situation, ask yourself where you ideally see yourself at the end of a month, or semester, or year of lessons. Also, think about your learning style-- which subjects/classes in school were your favorite, and what about the teacher made you passionate in the subject?