Kempton Language Lessons

“play” and to discover how to both lean in and tap in to what is there and then develop relaxation, ease and focus on the task at hand - a monologue, an audition, a speech or working with a text. In addition to teaching and coaching actors, I have worked extensively in the corporate worlds in areas of Voice, Speech and Presentation as a coach and have taught group classes on Public Speaking and Presentation. I have taught and coached students from China, Russia, Taiwan, Italy, Japan in addition to the U.S. Throughout the ten plus years that I have been teaching, I have helped both actors and non-actors, those in the professional business world, gain tools that lead to freedom and ease of expression when speaking in front of others, be it at an audition, an interview, giving a presentation to a board or speaking in front of thousands at a Ted Talk.

pend much of my classical technique in order to play both old-time and traditional Irish fiddle as authentically as possible; but I still retain my initial training and apply good basic violin technique to my fiddle and (of course) her violin teaching, while tailoring it to the musical idioms of each of students.

I have also studied voice, which again, however, I have never allowed to interfere with my performance of traditional songs--largely because I had developed a traditional approach to the singing of both American southern mountain repertory and traditional Irish song many years before receiving any formal instruction. This training, however, has given me greater insight into how to get the most out of your voice for almost any style.

I also taught myself to play lap dulcimer, basing my approach on the Eastern Kentucky styles associated with Jean Ritchie, Barbara Edwards, and Anne MacFie—that is, primarily using a small dowel stick or noter to sound the melody, and playing counter-melodies for song accompaniments.

My clawhammer banjo-playing is influenced by various Appalachian instrumentalists and accompanists (including Dock Boggs, Clarence Ashley, Hobart Smith, and Lily May Ledford), but my style is also influenced by years of playing with midwestern and southern-style fiddlers.

I welcome students ages 10 or above, and have learned to adapt my teaching style to the individual student, helping each one to make the most of his or her talents and enthusiasms, while emphasizing sound technique and good practice habits.

I also teach academic subjects, especially English (in which I hold a Ph.D.) and French (in which I hold a B.A.). In English, I emphasize good grammar and solid composition skills and try to get my students as excited as I am about everything from sentence structure to Shakespeare.