Christie R.

General Info

• Certified Music Teacher

  Certified Music Teacher

  Our rigorous hiring process requires a completed application; an interview with our professional recruiting specialists; personal and professional reference checks; and annual criminal background checks for the duration of each teacher's employment with us.

  
• Background Check Complete

  Criminal Background Check

  In order to ensure the safety of our students, all teachers undergo a thorough criminal background check, which includes: Social Security number trace, multi-state criminal search and a nationwide sex offender registry search.

  
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced

• In-Home Lessons: No
• In-Studio Lessons: Yes
• Ages: 5 & up

Subjects Taught

Piano, Singing, Acting

Education

Montclair State University - vocal music performance - 2000-2004
Asbury College - music education - 1994-1997
Overbrook Regional Senior High School - advanced placement - graduating junior - 1991-1994 (degree received)

Specialties

voice, piano, acting
Voice - classical and musical theater technique, incorporating classical technique into pop, rock and jazz singing, vocal performance techniques

Lesson Details

As a teacher, I feel it is my job to help each student
find his or her "voice". Each child (and adult) is
different and there is not one particular method suitable for everyone. I try to create an environment in my studio
that allows the student to feel comfortable enough to try new things. We have fun and we learn. We laugh quite a bit, too! I firmly believe that the only effective way to teach is to use an
individual approach; as individual and diverse as each of my students.

... For piano students, I want them to have a
well-rounded approach and I never want them to feel frustrated or bored. I try to not only use method books and theory
books, but to find additional music that each student enjoys to retain their
interest. My younger students and I play games and earn prizes for motivation.

For vocal students, I will do
anything I can to help them to understand the technique involved and how to use
their bodies to produce the best sound they can. This
process is not an easy one and sometimes
you will find me lying on the floor with my students doing breathing
exercises. They
all think I'm crazy, but it works every time! I have extensive
performing experience, and I use that to teach my vocal students not
only how to sound great, but also how to really engage an audience. We
don't just sing in lessons, we perform, too. I focus on a classical
and musical theater technique, but am able to translate that into
healthy rock, pop, funk, and jazz vocals as well. My students learn
how to use their own voice and sound the best that they can. They
learn how to sing without hurting themselves. They learn how to
appreciate music and performing and to become artists!

As
an acting coach, I will help find monologues, learn scenes and teach an
approach to acting that is exciting! I will also help you learn the
ins and outs of the business, ie. how to create a resume and find jobs.

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About

Christie and her family relocated Montclair in March 2010. She has been teaching for TakeLessons since 2008. Prior to that, she spent 4 years as the vocal and piano department head at Old Towne Music in Turnersville, NJ. With 13 years of teaching experience and 10 years of "Mom" experience (which really helps in the teaching department!), she is up for almost anything that comes through her studio. Christie is a warm and loving teacher that
can work well with almost any student. She has ... successfully taught several autistic children, some with ADD, a deaf vocal student, and children with other special needs. She has also taught an 80 year old
grandmother and a middle-aged father. She is patient, but firm; fun, but professional. Students are never bored and look forward to their lessons. She is passionate about what she does and hopes to instill a life-long love of music and performing in her students.

Along
with her teaching experience, Christie has an impressive performance resume, as
well. She spent 7 years as a working actor
and singer in New York City (under the stage name Christie Lynn Devoe).
During her time in New York,
Christie performed in many musicals, plays, several operas, on television
and in film. She has performed at Madison
Square Garden,
at the Original Improv Comedy Club, and was seen at the NJPAC performing "The
Lord of the Rings Symphony" with the New Jersey Symphony. She studied vocal
music performance at Montclair
State University
under world-famous counter tenor Jeffrey Gall and music education at Asbury
College. She also had the great
privilege to study acting in New York under the amazing Gene Frankel.

Christie offers voice lessons, piano lessons, and acting coaching at her Montclair studio.

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