Piano with Gina P.

I am a Philadelphia-area teacher, composer, workshop leader, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. In my teaching I focus on student-directed learning, and I try to provide the proper balance of support and challenge, structure and freedom. I help children and adults to develop into independent musical thinkers as well as expressive and compelling performers. From a young age I received the type of musical training that I think many people experience - well intentioned, but rendered toxic by the underlying assumption that there is one right way to do things, that lessons are a pass/fail endeavor and that most of the time, you’re failing. That is a damaging message that I avoid at all costs. I help young students to skip right over that particular source of stress and bad feelings, and I help adults to process and move beyond whatever negative messages they may have internalized about themselves as musical beings. I believe that to be human is to be musical: everyone has equal access to the joy and connection that music provides. I am currently teaching a private studio of around 15 students, aged 4 to 73 years; working as the composer and music director for Kaleid Theatre’s original production Take/Sacrifice; singing with the Philadelphia Singers; developing vocal empowerment workshops; and creating music educational videos to be released as web content. In all that I do, I remain dedicated to holistic and positive musical education and to showing people that yes, you can make music.