AMStudios
About
I am a Classically trained Opera Singer with a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German. I have 3 years of experience teaching a variety of different age and skill levels from age 5 to 40+. My speciality is building voices, building confidence, and teaching music preparation and performance. I specialize in German language, however, I teach Italian, French, and English diction. I also dive into text study and interpretation, memorization, and singing-acting. While I can cover a wide array of abilities and studies, my approach always comes down to the individual’s needs, wants, and goals. Whether you’re preparing for an audition, considering a career in singing, or just want to feel better about singing in the shower, I will help you with these goals!
I enjoy seeing the overarching progress and relishing in the small triumphs along the way. In my experience, I’ve seen how hard-working students make the most progress and change in their voice. As their voice strengthens and they’re able to navigate music better with it, their confidence rises. There’s a unique connection between one’s vocal identity and one’s individual identity. It’s personal and special. While there are inevitable struggles along the way, the overarching theme is that each student seems more confident as the connection between his or her own vocal- and self-identity is strengthened.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I conduct a 15min interview and trial lesson to access the student’s voice building needs and inquire about the student’s experience and goals. If the student is a good fit, then we schedule our first month of lessons, in order to get the best assessment possible. After 4-6 lessons, if the student is dissatisfied with our lessons, then the student may discontinue lessons. While I wish to please every student, I understand that not every teacher is a great fit for every student. This is why I include this clause for new students.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Current: Voice Faculity at the Music Institute of North Texas (Frisco, TX) since Jan. 2018. Age range: 5-16. Median Age: 10-13. Mostly female but some male students. Lesson duration: 30-45mins per week
3 years experience with private studio. Age range: 20-40. Mostly female, some male. Lesson duration: 45-60mins per week or 60mins every other week.
Degrees: MM (Master of Music) in Voice Performance, University of North Texas (Denton, TX) 2016
BM (Bachelor of Music) in Voice Performance, Simpson College (Indianola, IA) 2013
BA (Bachelor of Arts) in German, Simpson College (Indianola, IA) 2013
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I offer prices based on my experience, education level, and local market.
How did you get started teaching?
Substitute teaching since 2013, then online through Thumbtack in 2016.
What types of students have you worked with?
Students of all ages and skill-sets. From tone deaf to ear-trained, no singing background to collegiate-level background, from age 5 to 45! I’ve got the skills, if you’ve got the passion!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I had a fantastic lesson with a student the other day, who, from the start, complained of flat intonation. I’ve told her all along that intonation is one of those things that the more you think about it and let it get to you, the worse it gets. Her flat intonation is a result of a lazy soft palate—a common problem among singers. I do soft palate exercises with all my students, but this student has an extreme case in that basically all of her speech and vocal production is nasal. Another factor in flat intonation is trying to bring the chest up too high and basically muscling the sound into an uncomfortable area in the female voice. I’ve also been priming her along the way, bringing her attention to the different areas of the female voice: the chest voice, the mixed (or middle voice), and the head voice. At the moment she is preparing a piece for an upcoming recital. She came into her last lesson concerned about her intonation. We started the song, which sits in her chest range, and it was perfectly in tune! Then we got to a section that sits in the middle voice right after just having sung all in the chest voice. As I predicted, her intonation was flat and suffering from bringing the chest voice up too high and a lazy soft palate. You can tell a student to lift their soft palate all you want, but it won’t always work if they don’t know what you’re talking about! But, since we had talked about switching to the mixed voice before, she knew what I meant. We started over and this time when she approached the section in question, she anticipated the switch and the intonation was perfect without sacrificing a significant amount of volume. And it wasn’t a fluck either! We repeated the process and few more times, and she had it down. I was excited, she was excited, and she left that Friday night saying I just made her week! That was AWESOME!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
The most important thing for your success as a vocalist is the teacher. One teacher is never sufficient for a well-rounded education, so you will have multiple teachers that each teach you something important about yourself and your technique. My advice is that you find the teacher you connect with best, and I will admit, that may not be me, but it is most important that you feel comfortable, confident, and productive in your lessons. So go with your gut!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What are your immediate and long-term goals for your voice and your experience?
How much time do you realistically have to practice? 2-3 times between lessons for 5-20mins or no time at all? Prepare to make time to practice in addition to your lesson time.
What is your level of commitment? Are you all-in and determined to make noticeable progress? Or are you just doing it for fun and don’t care to make significant changes?
What genre of music inspires you to sing? Look at your favorite playlists and most-played songs and decide from there. That’s always a great starting point. If you don’t love the music you’re singing, chances are you won’t practice.