Quincy, MA Cello Lessons
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About Ilona M.
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Student needs to have the instrument. I usually use Essential Elements and Suzuki books for beginner and intermediate students. Also String Tunes.
About Ilona
I am experienced (3 years) in home school tutoring. I mostly work with Florida Virtual School students. I overlook their tests and assignments, and help them with preparations for Discussion Based Assessmemts (DBA). I also help parents with required annual evaluations and how to sign up with home education department.
For my tutoring sessions I use skills that include goal-directedness, I teach how to organize learning in small steps and how to set them up; I always strive to motivate and engage my students to make them interested in learning and have fun; I also use self-control skills to teach how to avoid distractions and I show how to use different focusing strategies. I use positive mind set skills to teach how to use failures as learning opportunities.
I have Masters in Education (2018) with specialization in English, Curricul
For my tutoring sessions I use skills that include goal-directedness, I teach how to organize learning in small steps and how to set them up; I always strive to motivate and engage my students to make them interested in learning and have fun; I also use self-control skills to teach how to avoid distractions and I show how to use different focusing strategies. I use positive mind set skills to teach how to use failures as learning opportunities.
I have Masters in Education (2018) with specialization in English, Curricul
um and Education; and Masters in Arts (2012) in Teaching English to speakers of other languages, and Bachelors in Music Education (2010), both from Florida Atlantic University, as well as a degree in violin performance from Chicago.
I studied piano in Chicago for 10 years & taught both piano & violin for over 20 years. I also teach flute & cello for the past 5 years, as I studied them during my Music Education program.
I have taught music for over 24 years using the traditional and Suzuki methods. I am fan of the Essential Elements method and I Can Read Music book for string instruments, and the Alfred's Piano Library for piano. Alfred's piano library can be used for any age as they also have books especially made for adult learners. I also like their music flash cards.
For teaching music theory I mostly used Fundamentals of Piano Theory (9 levels) combined with Master Theory (6 levels) books.
I personalize every lesson, and always set goals for my students. Most of my violin students are members of the Florida Youth Orchestra as well as the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra and my piano students participate in Pompano Beach Piano competition and the annual Piano Guild auditions.
I teach any age and any level, and always stress that learning a new instrument is very similar to learning a new language, it needs a lot of patience, persistence and repetitions. My lessons are customized to my students needs, and are work in progress as they needs may change over time. I always remind my students that music can give them instant gratification when they learn to play favorite songs.
I always encourage my students to tell me about their music preferences, so I can incorporate them in their music lessons.
*** Lesson Details ***
All my tutoring sessions include reviews of previously learned material and if possible the use of technology. I use students books but often bring extra study materials if necessary.
All my lessons include technique and reading music. I like to use the Finger Power for piano students and Essential Elements for my string students, and scales for both.
Music theory: I use Master Theory and Fundamentals of Piano Theory books for younger ages, Alfred's music flash cards to support learning notes and musical terminology, and of course the fun part performance.
Besides Essential Elements for strings I also use String Tunes and I Can Read Music to add more fun to the lessons as well as support reading music during the lesson. For piano students I use Holiday Treats book, which comes in 2 different levels: Beginner & Intermediate, so my students have a new songs for a specific holiday.
*** Studio Equipment ***
I always bring violin with me to be able to show what I teach.
*** Travel Equipment ***
The students need to have their books and assigned material ready for tutoring. Instrumental students needs to have their music books, flashcards & instrument available as well as a pencil. I always stress with my students to be organized and prepared for their lesson, this way they will be able to focus better during the lesson. I always bring my violin with me. I also ask that the room where the lesson takes place be free of any distractions, such other siblings or any other noise. The quiet environment helps in faster learning.
*** Specialties ***
I tutor most K-12 subjects and prepare students to take ACT, SAT, GRE tests.
Music genres: Classical, traditional, Suzuki, Popular, Celtic, fiddle, Blues
I studied piano in Chicago for 10 years & taught both piano & violin for over 20 years. I also teach flute & cello for the past 5 years, as I studied them during my Music Education program.
I have taught music for over 24 years using the traditional and Suzuki methods. I am fan of the Essential Elements method and I Can Read Music book for string instruments, and the Alfred's Piano Library for piano. Alfred's piano library can be used for any age as they also have books especially made for adult learners. I also like their music flash cards.
For teaching music theory I mostly used Fundamentals of Piano Theory (9 levels) combined with Master Theory (6 levels) books.
I personalize every lesson, and always set goals for my students. Most of my violin students are members of the Florida Youth Orchestra as well as the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra and my piano students participate in Pompano Beach Piano competition and the annual Piano Guild auditions.
I teach any age and any level, and always stress that learning a new instrument is very similar to learning a new language, it needs a lot of patience, persistence and repetitions. My lessons are customized to my students needs, and are work in progress as they needs may change over time. I always remind my students that music can give them instant gratification when they learn to play favorite songs.
I always encourage my students to tell me about their music preferences, so I can incorporate them in their music lessons.
*** Lesson Details ***
All my tutoring sessions include reviews of previously learned material and if possible the use of technology. I use students books but often bring extra study materials if necessary.
All my lessons include technique and reading music. I like to use the Finger Power for piano students and Essential Elements for my string students, and scales for both.
Music theory: I use Master Theory and Fundamentals of Piano Theory books for younger ages, Alfred's music flash cards to support learning notes and musical terminology, and of course the fun part performance.
Besides Essential Elements for strings I also use String Tunes and I Can Read Music to add more fun to the lessons as well as support reading music during the lesson. For piano students I use Holiday Treats book, which comes in 2 different levels: Beginner & Intermediate, so my students have a new songs for a specific holiday.
*** Studio Equipment ***
I always bring violin with me to be able to show what I teach.
*** Travel Equipment ***
The students need to have their books and assigned material ready for tutoring. Instrumental students needs to have their music books, flashcards & instrument available as well as a pencil. I always stress with my students to be organized and prepared for their lesson, this way they will be able to focus better during the lesson. I always bring my violin with me. I also ask that the room where the lesson takes place be free of any distractions, such other siblings or any other noise. The quiet environment helps in faster learning.
*** Specialties ***
I tutor most K-12 subjects and prepare students to take ACT, SAT, GRE tests.
Music genres: Classical, traditional, Suzuki, Popular, Celtic, fiddle, Blues
...
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Ilona M.
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About Karen D.
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Cello:
A bowed or plucked string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. The strings from low to high are generally tuned to C2, G2, D3 and A3, an octave lower than the viola. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin and viola and the double bass. The cello is used as a solo musical instrument, as well as in chamber music ensembles (e.g., string quartet), string orchestras, as a member of the string section of symphony orchestras, and some types of rock bands. It is the second-largest and second lowest (in pitch) bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, the double bass being the largest and having the lowest (deepest) pitch. My lessons always start out with the basics! We start out by learning notes by plucking the strings and then the bow is soon incorporated. The goal is to eventually learn all the notes on the fretboard and also learning how to read and play chords. As the student progresses ...
About Karen
Anyone Can Learn To Sing or Play Any Instrument With My Method!
No End To How Good You Can Get!
Become Better Than Anyone Out There!
Vocal Therapist-Can Cure ALL Vocal Damage!
Karen D.
-Certified Teacher of the World Famous Dante Pavone Vocal Method
-Honor Graduate of Berklee School of Music!
-Winner of International World Contest for Meridan Records from over
300 Countries
-Runner up in Ticketmaster Contest
-Twenty Original Songs Placed in Movies
-Written and Recorded Hundreds of Original Songs
-Performer, Producer, Actress, Poet, Writer, Dancer, Entrepreneur
-Teaches Song Writing, Ear Training, Theory, Arranging
-Teaches Video Production and Editing
-Teaches Audio Engineering
It is completely untrue that some people are "born to sing or play an instrument" while others are not. Using my method, the most "tone de
No End To How Good You Can Get!
Become Better Than Anyone Out There!
Vocal Therapist-Can Cure ALL Vocal Damage!
Karen D.
-Certified Teacher of the World Famous Dante Pavone Vocal Method
-Honor Graduate of Berklee School of Music!
-Winner of International World Contest for Meridan Records from over
300 Countries
-Runner up in Ticketmaster Contest
-Twenty Original Songs Placed in Movies
-Written and Recorded Hundreds of Original Songs
-Performer, Producer, Actress, Poet, Writer, Dancer, Entrepreneur
-Teaches Song Writing, Ear Training, Theory, Arranging
-Teaches Video Production and Editing
-Teaches Audio Engineering
It is completely untrue that some people are "born to sing or play an instrument" while others are not. Using my method, the most "tone de
af" can learn to sing perfectly in tune, the most nasal or unappealing sound can be transformed into the most beautiful resonant tone, and someone with "no talent" can become better than anyone out there. With this superb method when you finish singing your voice will feel better than when you started! All it takes is desire, patience, perseverance, and above all, practice. I also have a unique and very patient teaching style that can make learning any instrument seem easy. Anyone can learn with my method of teaching.
It all started out in a small town called Chatham, NJ where I spent the first thirteen years of my life. I remember loving music as early as I could walk and talk. I started taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old. Along with the guitar, came a love for singing and writing my own songs. When we moved to Pennsylvania the guitar came with me. Throughout my high school years, I spent hours playing with teachers, fellow students and at parties.
When I was sixteen every week for three years I would drive an hour into Philadelphia, by myself, to study with world famous Artie Singer. His students include such names as Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Al Martino, and Bobby Rydel. Artie co-wrote and produced two massive hit records “At the Hop” and “Rock ‘n Roll is Here to Stay,” both recorded by Danny and the Juniors. Artie was personal friends with Dick Clark and would bring him acts for his show.
While going to a Community College in Philadelphia the music teacher there took notice of me, pulled me aside, and told me about a great music school I should attend. He then sent away for the application and helped me fill it out. The next thing I knew I was in Boston attending Berklee School of Music! I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Jazz and Rock Composition, Arranging, and Guitar.
I had originally gone to Berklee intending to major in voice, however I had no luck with the vocal department there and ended up with nodules on my vocal cords. The damage was so significant that I had to stop singing during my four years at Berklee and turned to studying Guitar and Composition.
I tried every vocal teacher in town wanting more than anything to be a singer. What I found was no teacher could help me and it seemed obvious that even though they had the “big name” they didn't know what they wt. I was losing hope. The combination of this roadblock and my persistence led me to the greatest thing that ever happened in my life....... I met Dante Pavone!
I kept hearing about a singing teacher named Dante Pavone. Since I had already tried everyone else, I decided to give him a shot. On my first lesson with Dante I noticed a big difference. My throat didn't hurt at all and a real voice was coming out of me. I was cured!
Dante’s studies were extensive and he had doctorates in voice, music history, psychology and many other subjects. He was the most intelligent; insightful person I have ever met in my life and not only taught me about voice but taught me many things about life. He one time told me that he had a more profound knowledge of all the fine singing muscles than anyone else.
Dante was the first; a “pioneer” in popular singing, breaking from the traditional operatic style. He taught, or was contacted by, such singers as John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Beatles), Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Steve Tyler (Aerosmith), Peter Wolf (JGiles Band), James and Livingston Taylor, Faye Dunaway, Tom Jones, Donna Summers, Jonathan Richman, Julianna Hatfield, Andy Pratt, at their prime and the list goes on and on. Once John Lennon and Paul McCartney showed up unannounced at his door handing him a blank check! Singers from New York City Opera Company used to sneak away from their teachers and come to Boston to study with Dante who would cure their wrecked voices from their famous opera teachers they had in NY. Best Singing Teacher in the World!
I studied with Dante every day for the first couple of years and then two or three times a week after that for fifteen years until his demise in 1998. I never missed a lesson! He gave me over a four-octave range where I started with only a five-note one. Not only did he improve my pitch and tone, but I can now sing and scream all night, if I want to, and never have a single vocal problem. In fact the more I sing the better my voice feels!
One day at my lesson Dante asked if he could pass his method down to me. This has been a great honor to me and although many teachers try to emulate his method I am the only one with a certificate as seen above. Not only was Dante my mentor, but still to this day he is the most important person I ever encountered in my life and was my best friend. We were very close and he would spend hours talking to me at lessons not only about music but about many fascinating subjects and opened my eyes to many incredible things.
Thirteen of my songs were chosen to be in one movie called Getting Personal and other songs in the movies Fillbilly and Dykeotomies. My band has won world contests.
I have also studied piano, guitar, and drums extensively and teach all instruments. I studied for years with late great world renowned Charlie Banacos and John Horrigan. Besides teaching I am a songwriter, dancer, actress, film maker, audio engineer and producer as well. I can help you record your songs!
Since 1982 I have written hundreds of songs and have been performing and recording my own music in major New England and New York venues. I've also won awards for my band "Girl on Top."
Breathing
If a teacher tells you breathing is not important you should be concerned. Let me help you to develop solid breathing and correct singing posture. An instrument only sounds as good as it's built. As we build your instrument your range, strength, resonance and stamina all improve. There is no end to how good you can get.
All Styles
The greatest thing about this method is it does not give you a style. You develop your own style! The student brings in songs they want to work on. Pop, rock, hip-hop, alternative, country, progressive, blues, jazz, swing, broadway, folk, rap, r+b, gospel, hardcore, screaming at the top of your lungs (if you want to).
All Levels
I teach all ages and presently have students from three years old to students in their seventies. Beginners to advanced, adults to elderly, children, kids, and pre-school. Dante taught me that I can improve a person’s life by teaching them music. He’s certainly improved mine. I hope you will let me help to improve yours.
Vocal Therapist
My method is guaranteed to cure any and all vocal problems or damage you may have from singing or talking: nodules, pitch, range, tone, endurance, etc.
Sing with no break
Have a smooth, multi-octave range. Sing any note the way you like: high or low, hard or soft.
No end to how you can improve
As long as you practice using this method, there is no limit as to how you can improve your range, tone, strength, flexibility, vibrato, phrasing, etc. Let me help you transcend fear, anxiety, and stage fright and replace it with technical ability and self-confidence.
Coaching and Stage Presence
We work on songs that the student brings with them to lessons. Using acting techniques, I help them understand the true meaning of the song and how to convey it to an audience.
Guitar Lesson
Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords. Start with the basics and move into learning to play songs that you love. Incorporate learning to sing and play guitar on your favorite tunes. As the student becomes more confident the lessons move into learning advanced voicing, improvisational techniques and chord solos. All styles, all levels, all ages.
Piano Lessons
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced professional, any age is welcomed. Learning to play the piano can be lots of fun and very rewarding with practice, persistence and the proper instruction. Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords. In the first lesson you will be able to play with both hands. As you continue lessons it will be fun and exciting to learn to play popular piano pieces. The more advanced student will have fun learning to improvise and play chord solos.
Drum Lessons
Learning to play the drums is really easy and fun with my method! Start by learning how to hold the sticks and position yourself at a full drum set. At the end of the first lesson you will be able to play beats. With each lesson new beats, styles and exercises will be added. As you get more advanced the student can bring in songs they want to learn. This method is perfect and easy for any beginner or more advanced student.
Bass Lessons
The bass is what holds the rhythm of the band together and provides the foundation and bottom for the chord structure. The student is taken in a step by step method that is easy to understand starting with learning basic notes, rhythms and finger exercises. As the student becomes more advanced they can bring in songs that they would like to learn. All styles, ages and levels.
Ear Training
Developing your ear is essential for any serious musician. We start by learning to sing simple melodies and rhythms and as the student progresses move to more challenging ones. Also incorporated will be learning notation and chord and pitch recognition.
Song Writing
Learn to write songs like the pros. Karen D. has written over two hundred and fifty song. Let her expertise help you learn the secrets fast. We will work on song structure, theory and lyric writing.
Theory and Arranging
Karen D. is an honorary graduate of Berklee School of Music in Boston. There she acquired a degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging. She will teach you about notes, intervals, scales, chord structures and how chords work together. Also, you will learn how to arrange a song by adding drums, bass, guitar, horns, strings and whatever your heart desires.
Instruments-All Styles
Voice
Vocal Therapy
Nodules
Polyps
Breathing
Strength
Range
Coaching
Stage Presence
Extras
Theory/Arranging
Song Writing
Ear Training
Apple Computer Skills
Final Cut
Logic
Stringed Instruments
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharp
Banjo
Bass Guitar
Dobro
Dulcimer
Electric Guitar
Gottuvadhyam
Guitar
Harp
Lap Steel Guitar
Lute
Mandolin
Pedal Steel Guitar
Sitar
Ukulele
Veena
Zither
Keyboard Instruments
Acoustic Piano
Clarinet
Electric Keyboards
Harpsichord
Keyboards
Organ
Piano
Synthesizer
Percussion Instruments
Bongos
cajon
Castanets
Celesta
Chimes
Congas
Cymbals
Double Bass / Kick
Drums
Drum Set
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Timpani
Tom Toms
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Bowed Stringed
Cello
Double Bass (Acoustic, Upright, Stand-up)
Fiddle
Viola
Violin
Woodwinds
Accordion
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Clarinet
Contrabassoon
Double Reed
English Flute
English Horn
Flute
Flutes
Harmonica
Melodica
Oboe
Piccolo
Pitch Pipes
Recorder
Saxophone
Single Reed
Brasswinds
French Horn
Pan Flute
Piccolo
Recorder
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Testimonials
Karen D is the numero uno female singer in Boston.
Karen made the lesson fun and highly personalized. Karen wanted to know about my current skills and what I wanted to achieve. She then based our lesson play on this information. Excellent!
I don't know how much you remember of me, but you were my favorite voice teacher! I adore/d you and hope all the best for you! I used to walk across Copley Square to your studio for my classes. I remember vividly and I also remember my homework. I will always recommend you highly. Next to my band director you were always my best teacher. Know what? Love you Karen! You are the best! I wish every great thing for you.
Karen is an amazing teacher. She's patient, hard-working and dedicated. She has a lot of musical background experience and knowledge. She's also a cool person!
In American Idol, Haley did great on her solo, clearly the best. I was really impressed I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.
Karen is a great teacher. She is extremely patient and encouraging. She also has a great method in building up strong muscles for singing. When I first met her, I could barely match the notes. She encourages me all the time and guides me through the tough period. Now I can match up to High C. She is also very great at Guitar, and has a very good way teaching. I really love her.
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I didn't get much of it when I was growing up that's probably why I never put any effort in pursuing my dream of becoming a musician. I am going to use your time for deeper understanding. I wasted a lot of time in the past I could of been much more educated by now if only i would of had focused and pushed myself. Our time together made me realize many things about myself what i should have done in the past and that I'm very impatient that's probably the main cause of why i never bothered learning anything worth learning... I admire people like yourself who encourage artists to do what they love. Thanks again.
Karen is an awesome teacher with patience and excellent methods to help people sing. She taught me the singing techniques and mostly importantly gave me confidence to face my weakness and sing once more. Patient, nice, and remarkable capability.
Thank you for being such a great teacher and friend!
Thanks for all your help. It has been a revelation.
I finally took your advice and have been doing my practicing every day. As a result, my choir director, Wendy, came up to me after the service and said, "you might become the lead soprano singer if you keep working with that singing teacher of yours, Karen.
Back from a week in New England...great trip...both reunion shows went very well...the audiences loved them. Thanks for your help in getting my voice ready. We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday. My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights. That's a tribute to you and Dante, and I am grateful. Take care, and let's stay in touch...
Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!
Hey Karen! How are you? I'm over that horrible sickness. I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better. Just the look on everyone's face was awesome. More importantly I can finally express everything inside me. Thank you so much! The only problem I have is when my back get's tired. After an hour it get's tough. There's so much I want to go over with you. I'm your biggest fan! Thanks is not enough.
I know with the voice and lessons it can be like anything else one needs to improve, two steps forward one step back. However, I have to tell you, I have really made a breakthrough in the last week, starting last Thursday. For some reason "all of a sudden" my voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on. Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would. Bless you and the spirit of Dante.
I threw Dante's name into the search engine and found you. My sister, Tina Sanderson, quit high school in 1967 and moved from long island to Boston and found Dante. I was at Berklee at the time for flute. I was amazed what he did to her already fabulous voice! When Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) went to prison, they asked Tina to fill in, but decided not to do anything until Grace was out. Unfortunately, two days before recording for Irwin Levine (tie a yellow ribbon....) she died in a car accident. Anyway, I am very happy to see that Dante's message is not lost with the Master. i will keep you in mind for anyone wanting the best techniques.
Hello Karen, I found your site through a google search of Dante. I was thinking about him and thought I’d see what I could find. Yours was the first site that turned up and I was very happy to have found it. Even back in 1981 and 1982, when I was with him, Dante was looking for a successor. I’m very glad to have found you. I am also a bit envious that you were wise enough to stay with him until the end. It was my every intention to do that, however, as a teen at the time on my own living in Boston, I let certain emotional issues cloud my judgment and left Dante in 1982 and came back to New Jersey. I must say that I was filled with sadness to find that Dante passed in 1997 and that I made no effort to contact him or study further before that time. What an opportunity it was ever to have met the man! I was with him for a year and applied his method for many years after. I’ve recently gotten back more into singing, I am a guitarist as well, and probably would want to start lessons with you. I was a voice major at Rowan University for a year and half, but actually would rather study by Dante method. Dante was very dear to me. I loved him very much. The year with him was one of the best times of my life with some of the fondest memories.
Hi Karen glad you had a great gig. Nothing was touching the pain, but when I sing it is so intense it doesn't matter. I didn't sleep at all last night, and I felt like crying! I went to my second project today and I think there is an ungodly potential there. I did a little recording last night (just me) so you could hear what you never hear in lessons. I am the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you and I know it's only going to get better! Oh well for now it's ice hot bath and rest.
Karen, even though it was sort lived, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits especially with the e vowel. With those exercises I'm now placing the e vowel where it should be. I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be. As I said before, I'll be back.
Thank you so much for your wonderful lesson with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier.
Karen is a wonderful, sensitive, teacher, who will work with you no matter what style of singing you prefer. For over 6 years I have taken voice from her and my range and confidence increased by leaps and bounds!
Karen is a committed, dedicated and extremely talented teacher. The unique techniques I learned in studying with her have greatly improved my singing, the quality of my voice, and my range is far greater. I am able to sing notes I would not have thought possible. Karen loves what she does and every lesson has been an extremely enjoyable learning experience.
Dear Karen, I wanted to thank you for teaching me. I'm very happy that I decided to take lessons with you and I was able to achieve my goal. Before I came to you I was not happy with my singing when I hit Bb above middle C and up, but I feel more comfortable with those notes after the lessons with you, and of course, doing the exercises and scales does wonders. You even got me to vocalize an octave above that Bb and beyond in less than six weeks. What I learned was so precious because it's not something you can learn by reading, but it's something I could only learn by actually having someone coach me in physical coordination. It was a very interesting experience and a hard work. I sing almost everyday, so I do notice the difference in my voice from day to day. Thank you so much.
Karen has been an amazing teacher. I have taken piano, guitar and voice lessons from her for over the past year. I had no prior musical knowledge (or native ability) but yet within 4 months she coached me through preparation for a show singing and accompanying on guitar. While I have much to learn I feel that Karen, with her dedication to her students and wonderful teaching ability, has truly helped me to succeed beyond my wildest expectations.
Dear Karen, So happy to see you're still doing great..I could never in words express my gratitude towards you for teaching me about music, life, and piano..(as well as the wonderful course for drums and everything else) Thank you.
HI Karen, Thank you so much for being such a great mentor and friend of mine:) Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me all the time. Love you.
Thank you so much for your wonderful lessons with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier.
Hey, "Coach" -- hope this finds you well. We played two shows in Vermont two weekends ago, and my voice was excellent. I've been diligently doing my scales, my stretching exercises, and singing rock songs about 45 minutes a day since the book launch party last August, and it really paid off. I sang lead on two songs I couldn't even reach last summer. And I sang our "signature" song, "All Along The Watchtower" probably better than I ever sang it back in the 60s and 70s. My voice held up through two rehearsals, two sound checks, and two shows, and was stronger at the end than at the start. In fact, we had a jam session after the second gig and I sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and I have never been able to do that one. So, thanks to you and our dear, departed Dante.
Just wanted you to know that I have continued to work on what you taught me with excellent results. This past August, at the book launch party, I sang lead on a song which I could not do in 2010 (and I could hardly have done any of my leads in 2010 without your help). In the six months since the book launch party I have done all my breathing exercises every day, except one single day, without fail. The result has been that as I sing along with records (which I do about 4-5 days a week) I can now do about a dozen leads on songs I sing with regularly, which I couldn't do six months ago in August. All this stuff re the voice is only to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your help and your teaching. Clearly, the Dante method works for geezers, also. I am amazed at what I can sing that I couldn't get to a year ago, or even 6 months ago. Plus, a couple of weeks ago I sang 11 days in a row (45 to 60 minutes each day) with no problems at all. It's so much fun to be able to really sing again...:-)
I'm not sure if you remember me but I took web lessons with you about a year an half ago. Life, however got in the way, and I had to stop. My schedule is now much freer, and I happen to once again be on the same time zone that you are on. I was hoping to begin taking vocal lessons with you again. You are by far the best vocal teacher I have ever had, and my voice really misses your training.
i am happy to tell you about my experience and opinion of Karen. i have been taking voice with her since 1996. I starting to sing in a choir as a soprano at my old church. i struggled to hit the notes and in doing so was straining my vocal chords. i went online to read about strained vocal chords and got scared when i read that they sometimes get nodules a need surgery. i decided i wanted to learn proper technique and searched for a vocal teacher. i read Karen’s bio and discovered that she too had suffered strained vocal chords and got relief through Dante Pavone’s method of teaching, and now she is certified to teach the same method. Since i started with her i have no problem in my throat and i sing way better. Even my body looks better because the exercises that the student does strengthen the lower back so that it can support the ribs properly and has given me a better figure. i still sing in a choir at my new church and i have gotten many compliments on my voice from many people. At this point i will tell you that i do not practice all of the breathing and scales as often as i am supposed to due to my being a wife and mother of two teenagers, which keeps me very busy and running. That said, i still have made great progress with Karen.
Another more personal note is that a person would be hard-pressed to find another human being as loving as Karen. She’s very caring beyond just voice lessons. My husband has been taking drum lessons from her for three years now and he feels the same way about her, and he doesn’t usually trust people easily. Karen is very well educated and very intelligent. She is a tough but kind teacher. She watches her student like a hawk and doesn’t miss a trick. She corrects gently and never makes you feel badly about yourself. She’s very encouraging. i try never to miss a lesson, because i always leave there in a better mood than when i arrive.
i hope this helps you to decide. You may think...whats with all of this breathing and posture? Trust the technique. it really works without pain or strain of the vocal chords, which means you can sing for the rest of her life and not just a couple years and have to quit due to nodules.
Forty years ago I was a lead singer in a New England rock band and I was tearing my throat up. I was hoarse after every gig and regularly lost my voice entirely after two or three nights. Then I became a pupil of Dante Pavone in Boston and a remarkable transformation occurred. Dante’s method was hard work, and it depended on following his advice precisely. But working with Dante I was able to correct my bad habits, improve the clarity, quality and range of my voice. I could go seven nights in a row and not lose my voice. Forty years later my band is getting back together for several reunion shows, but I have not sung professionally since 1971. Fortunately, I found Karen, a protégé of Dante’s, and took webcam internet lessons (she is in Boston, I in Virginia). All the benefits of the Pavone method re-appeared. I gained back three octaves on my range and my clarity, strength and pitch all greatly improved. The Dante Pavone method is still as great as ever and Karen is the ideal voice coach to teach it – a perfect blend of encouragement and pushing.
Saturday, for the first time after studying with you for over three years and not practicing, i forced myself to do what you have been telling me all along: to practice. The next day my husband came to the early church service with me and told me that when the choir sang the "anthem", which is our main piece in the service, that he could really hear me and that i sounded really good. Then i had another small rehearsal afterwards with the choir for a new piece for future. After that i was walking down the hall to leave and my choir director caught up to me and said, "You are sounding really good!" i said, “Really?” She affirmed, so i told her it was because my singing teacher is telling me i had better start doing my breathing exercise so i finally listened. She said it was paying off. Today i plan to do all 30 of each again. As much as i don’t understand why it makes so much of a difference, i now know it works and i know also that you are a very smart and driven person and that you would never steer me wrong. so thanks.
I called my brother (he used to back up Taj Mahal) to ask about when Grace Slick studied with Dante. When my sister was studying his method I met Dante once or twice. At the time I was making costumes for the New York City Opera Company and was one of Beverly Sill's dressers. Dante kept saying that Beverly was going to blow out her voice. I remember that several opera singers used to sneak away from their appointed vocal coaches in NYC to catch some time with Dante. Dante would have to cure all the vocal problems that their so called “famous” NY coaches were giving them.
I was thinking about Dante recently. I just got a gig in Switzerland coming up in April and even though I'm a sax player (Berklee alumnus) I will be singing a concert there. I pulled out all of my old hand written Dante notes and oddly I realized the system and its ease after twenty years. What I'm saying is "voila" now it all came back to me and I’m singing with a fair amount of ease up into my head, stretching my range and feeling really great. Anyway, I googled his name and your name came up associated with Dante's, and rightfully so. I was always amazed by him, but now I'm amazed at what he was always trying to tell me even though he saw me as a great student. I know that one website that came up under someone's name (associated with him) mentioned that he had passed away. I think he was 76 when he taught me. I remember he mentioned your name to me many times in the 80's. I moved to LA after Berklee and I talked about him with the highest respect and felt very lucky to have studied for a long time with a genius and true master of the human anatomy. Keep up the good work! I just wanted to say hello and let you know that I'm glad you're carrying on his legend.
Thanks for your help in getting my voice ready. We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday. My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights. That's a tribute to you and Dante. I am grateful.
Karen I have to tell you I have really made a breakthrough since I started studying with you. My voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on. Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would. Bless you and the spirit of Dante.
Every day, since studying with you, after I sing my voice is clearer and stronger when I am finished. You’re a great teacher!
Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!
I studied with one of the supposed most famous vocal teachers in America. After a year of studying this particular method I couldn’t even get through one rehearsal or four songs at a gig with out vocal blow out. When I came to Karen I had severe vocal damage from studying with this supposed other “famous” teacher”. On the first lesson with Karen my voice was cured and after four lessons I played a gig and my voice felt better than before I started singing and the next day I was not hoarse at all. This is the best vocal method I have ever studied in my life as I have studied with many other teachers before Karen that also damaged my voice. If it weren’t for Karen and the Dante Pavone method I surely would not ever be able to sing.
My daughter did great on her solo, clearly the best.! I was really impressed. I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.
Had a great lesson with Karen today. I expected the usual tongue and lip rolls and of course the long lectures on what to avoid to keep a good voice, but i got something much better. :)
I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better and better. Just the look on everyone's face when I sang was awesome. More importantly I can finally express everything inside me. Thank you so much! I'm your biggest fan! Thanks is not enough.
I just wanted to let you know that my gig on Saturday went GREAT!!! My voice felt really good and I didn't feel strained at all. I'm so glad I took the breathing exercises that you showed very seriously. I don't know where I'd be without you.
Once again you have my deepest thanks for what you've opened to me vocally. I still can't believe it. Every time I open my mouth to sing I get better and better! Also, thank you very much for the great encouragement.
I just wanted to say again how happy I am that I met you. My progress is more than I dreamed of and I know I'm not all the way yet. I also have come to regard you as a friend. I truly wish you all the success you dream of.
Before studying with you I always felt like crying because I could never get my voice to work properly. You have showed me the potential there. I did a little recording last night so I could really hear the huge difference and in just a few lessons. I am becoming the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you. I know it's only going to get better!
My voice keeps getting better and better every day. I would say that you have 100% given me all the ability and more than I could have dreamed of. You definitely delivered the goods. I've grown from skeptic to true believer. The last two weeks, but especially the last couple of days, I have transformed into an altogether more dynamic singer with a pitch increase of at least an octave. Every note becoming as soft or as loud as I want it to without strain or effort! God bless you. I know that it's going to only get better from here! Did you ever see the matrix we're the guy says why oh why didn't I swallow the blue pill. That's how i feel about my choice some twenty years ago or more, when I saw your add. Also the changes in my physique are truly unbelievable too. Anyway thanks so much and I look forward to seeing you next week.
Hello Karen, Life is stranger than fiction!! I played an outdoor gig today! I sang for hours and had no problems. Afterward everybody was all over me. Makes all the sacrifice worth it. I learned a lot today. I sure hope it will continue. I live for this. Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but thanks so much for all you've given me the ability to do. I'm everything and more that I always wanted to be.
I so much value everything I've learned from you and I always looked forward to my lesson. You are a very gifted teacher and your technique has really made a difference in my voice. I never thought I could hit high C so effortlessly. Thank you, Karen.
It was great getting the first lesson from you. Saw how you rock from Dante's point of view.
Karen, You are wonderful. I love your personality and your lessons. I talked about you and your method to all my friends and co-workers and will always recommend you to anyone who’s interested in lessons.
Hi Karen, we're moving to New Hampshire tomorrow :-) We're going to miss you a lot! You have played a very positive role in Brendan's life and for that I will always be grateful. I wish you nothing but happiness. Warm Regards, Rob
You have been such a blessing. I believe people don't just come into your life by accident.
Karen, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've ever done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits. With those exercises I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced and I had vocal issues. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be when I studied with Dante.
I enjoy the music instruction and guidance which shows progress in a short amount of time. I have explored rhythm, melody, and harmony with various instruments for resemblance. Her personal studio at home is great for this.
Awesome!
It all started out in a small town called Chatham, NJ where I spent the first thirteen years of my life. I remember loving music as early as I could walk and talk. I started taking guitar lessons when I was seven years old. Along with the guitar, came a love for singing and writing my own songs. When we moved to Pennsylvania the guitar came with me. Throughout my high school years, I spent hours playing with teachers, fellow students and at parties.
When I was sixteen every week for three years I would drive an hour into Philadelphia, by myself, to study with world famous Artie Singer. His students include such names as Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Al Martino, and Bobby Rydel. Artie co-wrote and produced two massive hit records “At the Hop” and “Rock ‘n Roll is Here to Stay,” both recorded by Danny and the Juniors. Artie was personal friends with Dick Clark and would bring him acts for his show.
While going to a Community College in Philadelphia the music teacher there took notice of me, pulled me aside, and told me about a great music school I should attend. He then sent away for the application and helped me fill it out. The next thing I knew I was in Boston attending Berklee School of Music! I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Jazz and Rock Composition, Arranging, and Guitar.
I had originally gone to Berklee intending to major in voice, however I had no luck with the vocal department there and ended up with nodules on my vocal cords. The damage was so significant that I had to stop singing during my four years at Berklee and turned to studying Guitar and Composition.
I tried every vocal teacher in town wanting more than anything to be a singer. What I found was no teacher could help me and it seemed obvious that even though they had the “big name” they didn't know what they wt. I was losing hope. The combination of this roadblock and my persistence led me to the greatest thing that ever happened in my life....... I met Dante Pavone!
I kept hearing about a singing teacher named Dante Pavone. Since I had already tried everyone else, I decided to give him a shot. On my first lesson with Dante I noticed a big difference. My throat didn't hurt at all and a real voice was coming out of me. I was cured!
Dante’s studies were extensive and he had doctorates in voice, music history, psychology and many other subjects. He was the most intelligent; insightful person I have ever met in my life and not only taught me about voice but taught me many things about life. He one time told me that he had a more profound knowledge of all the fine singing muscles than anyone else.
Dante was the first; a “pioneer” in popular singing, breaking from the traditional operatic style. He taught, or was contacted by, such singers as John Lennon and Paul McCartney (Beatles), Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Steve Tyler (Aerosmith), Peter Wolf (JGiles Band), James and Livingston Taylor, Faye Dunaway, Tom Jones, Donna Summers, Jonathan Richman, Julianna Hatfield, Andy Pratt, at their prime and the list goes on and on. Once John Lennon and Paul McCartney showed up unannounced at his door handing him a blank check! Singers from New York City Opera Company used to sneak away from their teachers and come to Boston to study with Dante who would cure their wrecked voices from their famous opera teachers they had in NY. Best Singing Teacher in the World!
I studied with Dante every day for the first couple of years and then two or three times a week after that for fifteen years until his demise in 1998. I never missed a lesson! He gave me over a four-octave range where I started with only a five-note one. Not only did he improve my pitch and tone, but I can now sing and scream all night, if I want to, and never have a single vocal problem. In fact the more I sing the better my voice feels!
One day at my lesson Dante asked if he could pass his method down to me. This has been a great honor to me and although many teachers try to emulate his method I am the only one with a certificate as seen above. Not only was Dante my mentor, but still to this day he is the most important person I ever encountered in my life and was my best friend. We were very close and he would spend hours talking to me at lessons not only about music but about many fascinating subjects and opened my eyes to many incredible things.
Thirteen of my songs were chosen to be in one movie called Getting Personal and other songs in the movies Fillbilly and Dykeotomies. My band has won world contests.
I have also studied piano, guitar, and drums extensively and teach all instruments. I studied for years with late great world renowned Charlie Banacos and John Horrigan. Besides teaching I am a songwriter, dancer, actress, film maker, audio engineer and producer as well. I can help you record your songs!
Since 1982 I have written hundreds of songs and have been performing and recording my own music in major New England and New York venues. I've also won awards for my band "Girl on Top."
Breathing
If a teacher tells you breathing is not important you should be concerned. Let me help you to develop solid breathing and correct singing posture. An instrument only sounds as good as it's built. As we build your instrument your range, strength, resonance and stamina all improve. There is no end to how good you can get.
All Styles
The greatest thing about this method is it does not give you a style. You develop your own style! The student brings in songs they want to work on. Pop, rock, hip-hop, alternative, country, progressive, blues, jazz, swing, broadway, folk, rap, r+b, gospel, hardcore, screaming at the top of your lungs (if you want to).
All Levels
I teach all ages and presently have students from three years old to students in their seventies. Beginners to advanced, adults to elderly, children, kids, and pre-school. Dante taught me that I can improve a person’s life by teaching them music. He’s certainly improved mine. I hope you will let me help to improve yours.
Vocal Therapist
My method is guaranteed to cure any and all vocal problems or damage you may have from singing or talking: nodules, pitch, range, tone, endurance, etc.
Sing with no break
Have a smooth, multi-octave range. Sing any note the way you like: high or low, hard or soft.
No end to how you can improve
As long as you practice using this method, there is no limit as to how you can improve your range, tone, strength, flexibility, vibrato, phrasing, etc. Let me help you transcend fear, anxiety, and stage fright and replace it with technical ability and self-confidence.
Coaching and Stage Presence
We work on songs that the student brings with them to lessons. Using acting techniques, I help them understand the true meaning of the song and how to convey it to an audience.
Guitar Lesson
Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords. Start with the basics and move into learning to play songs that you love. Incorporate learning to sing and play guitar on your favorite tunes. As the student becomes more confident the lessons move into learning advanced voicing, improvisational techniques and chord solos. All styles, all levels, all ages.
Piano Lessons
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced professional, any age is welcomed. Learning to play the piano can be lots of fun and very rewarding with practice, persistence and the proper instruction. Learn easily the basics of rhythm, notes and chords. In the first lesson you will be able to play with both hands. As you continue lessons it will be fun and exciting to learn to play popular piano pieces. The more advanced student will have fun learning to improvise and play chord solos.
Drum Lessons
Learning to play the drums is really easy and fun with my method! Start by learning how to hold the sticks and position yourself at a full drum set. At the end of the first lesson you will be able to play beats. With each lesson new beats, styles and exercises will be added. As you get more advanced the student can bring in songs they want to learn. This method is perfect and easy for any beginner or more advanced student.
Bass Lessons
The bass is what holds the rhythm of the band together and provides the foundation and bottom for the chord structure. The student is taken in a step by step method that is easy to understand starting with learning basic notes, rhythms and finger exercises. As the student becomes more advanced they can bring in songs that they would like to learn. All styles, ages and levels.
Ear Training
Developing your ear is essential for any serious musician. We start by learning to sing simple melodies and rhythms and as the student progresses move to more challenging ones. Also incorporated will be learning notation and chord and pitch recognition.
Song Writing
Learn to write songs like the pros. Karen D. has written over two hundred and fifty song. Let her expertise help you learn the secrets fast. We will work on song structure, theory and lyric writing.
Theory and Arranging
Karen D. is an honorary graduate of Berklee School of Music in Boston. There she acquired a degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging. She will teach you about notes, intervals, scales, chord structures and how chords work together. Also, you will learn how to arrange a song by adding drums, bass, guitar, horns, strings and whatever your heart desires.
Instruments-All Styles
Voice
Vocal Therapy
Nodules
Polyps
Breathing
Strength
Range
Coaching
Stage Presence
Extras
Theory/Arranging
Song Writing
Ear Training
Apple Computer Skills
Final Cut
Logic
Stringed Instruments
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharp
Banjo
Bass Guitar
Dobro
Dulcimer
Electric Guitar
Gottuvadhyam
Guitar
Harp
Lap Steel Guitar
Lute
Mandolin
Pedal Steel Guitar
Sitar
Ukulele
Veena
Zither
Keyboard Instruments
Acoustic Piano
Clarinet
Electric Keyboards
Harpsichord
Keyboards
Organ
Piano
Synthesizer
Percussion Instruments
Bongos
cajon
Castanets
Celesta
Chimes
Congas
Cymbals
Double Bass / Kick
Drums
Drum Set
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Timpani
Tom Toms
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Bowed Stringed
Cello
Double Bass (Acoustic, Upright, Stand-up)
Fiddle
Viola
Violin
Woodwinds
Accordion
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Clarinet
Contrabassoon
Double Reed
English Flute
English Horn
Flute
Flutes
Harmonica
Melodica
Oboe
Piccolo
Pitch Pipes
Recorder
Saxophone
Single Reed
Brasswinds
French Horn
Pan Flute
Piccolo
Recorder
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Testimonials
Karen D is the numero uno female singer in Boston.
Karen made the lesson fun and highly personalized. Karen wanted to know about my current skills and what I wanted to achieve. She then based our lesson play on this information. Excellent!
I don't know how much you remember of me, but you were my favorite voice teacher! I adore/d you and hope all the best for you! I used to walk across Copley Square to your studio for my classes. I remember vividly and I also remember my homework. I will always recommend you highly. Next to my band director you were always my best teacher. Know what? Love you Karen! You are the best! I wish every great thing for you.
Karen is an amazing teacher. She's patient, hard-working and dedicated. She has a lot of musical background experience and knowledge. She's also a cool person!
In American Idol, Haley did great on her solo, clearly the best. I was really impressed I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.
Karen is a great teacher. She is extremely patient and encouraging. She also has a great method in building up strong muscles for singing. When I first met her, I could barely match the notes. She encourages me all the time and guides me through the tough period. Now I can match up to High C. She is also very great at Guitar, and has a very good way teaching. I really love her.
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I didn't get much of it when I was growing up that's probably why I never put any effort in pursuing my dream of becoming a musician. I am going to use your time for deeper understanding. I wasted a lot of time in the past I could of been much more educated by now if only i would of had focused and pushed myself. Our time together made me realize many things about myself what i should have done in the past and that I'm very impatient that's probably the main cause of why i never bothered learning anything worth learning... I admire people like yourself who encourage artists to do what they love. Thanks again.
Karen is an awesome teacher with patience and excellent methods to help people sing. She taught me the singing techniques and mostly importantly gave me confidence to face my weakness and sing once more. Patient, nice, and remarkable capability.
Thank you for being such a great teacher and friend!
Thanks for all your help. It has been a revelation.
I finally took your advice and have been doing my practicing every day. As a result, my choir director, Wendy, came up to me after the service and said, "you might become the lead soprano singer if you keep working with that singing teacher of yours, Karen.
Back from a week in New England...great trip...both reunion shows went very well...the audiences loved them. Thanks for your help in getting my voice ready. We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday. My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights. That's a tribute to you and Dante, and I am grateful. Take care, and let's stay in touch...
Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!
Hey Karen! How are you? I'm over that horrible sickness. I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better. Just the look on everyone's face was awesome. More importantly I can finally express everything inside me. Thank you so much! The only problem I have is when my back get's tired. After an hour it get's tough. There's so much I want to go over with you. I'm your biggest fan! Thanks is not enough.
I know with the voice and lessons it can be like anything else one needs to improve, two steps forward one step back. However, I have to tell you, I have really made a breakthrough in the last week, starting last Thursday. For some reason "all of a sudden" my voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on. Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would. Bless you and the spirit of Dante.
I threw Dante's name into the search engine and found you. My sister, Tina Sanderson, quit high school in 1967 and moved from long island to Boston and found Dante. I was at Berklee at the time for flute. I was amazed what he did to her already fabulous voice! When Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) went to prison, they asked Tina to fill in, but decided not to do anything until Grace was out. Unfortunately, two days before recording for Irwin Levine (tie a yellow ribbon....) she died in a car accident. Anyway, I am very happy to see that Dante's message is not lost with the Master. i will keep you in mind for anyone wanting the best techniques.
Hello Karen, I found your site through a google search of Dante. I was thinking about him and thought I’d see what I could find. Yours was the first site that turned up and I was very happy to have found it. Even back in 1981 and 1982, when I was with him, Dante was looking for a successor. I’m very glad to have found you. I am also a bit envious that you were wise enough to stay with him until the end. It was my every intention to do that, however, as a teen at the time on my own living in Boston, I let certain emotional issues cloud my judgment and left Dante in 1982 and came back to New Jersey. I must say that I was filled with sadness to find that Dante passed in 1997 and that I made no effort to contact him or study further before that time. What an opportunity it was ever to have met the man! I was with him for a year and applied his method for many years after. I’ve recently gotten back more into singing, I am a guitarist as well, and probably would want to start lessons with you. I was a voice major at Rowan University for a year and half, but actually would rather study by Dante method. Dante was very dear to me. I loved him very much. The year with him was one of the best times of my life with some of the fondest memories.
Hi Karen glad you had a great gig. Nothing was touching the pain, but when I sing it is so intense it doesn't matter. I didn't sleep at all last night, and I felt like crying! I went to my second project today and I think there is an ungodly potential there. I did a little recording last night (just me) so you could hear what you never hear in lessons. I am the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you and I know it's only going to get better! Oh well for now it's ice hot bath and rest.
Karen, even though it was sort lived, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits especially with the e vowel. With those exercises I'm now placing the e vowel where it should be. I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be. As I said before, I'll be back.
Thank you so much for your wonderful lesson with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier.
Karen is a wonderful, sensitive, teacher, who will work with you no matter what style of singing you prefer. For over 6 years I have taken voice from her and my range and confidence increased by leaps and bounds!
Karen is a committed, dedicated and extremely talented teacher. The unique techniques I learned in studying with her have greatly improved my singing, the quality of my voice, and my range is far greater. I am able to sing notes I would not have thought possible. Karen loves what she does and every lesson has been an extremely enjoyable learning experience.
Dear Karen, I wanted to thank you for teaching me. I'm very happy that I decided to take lessons with you and I was able to achieve my goal. Before I came to you I was not happy with my singing when I hit Bb above middle C and up, but I feel more comfortable with those notes after the lessons with you, and of course, doing the exercises and scales does wonders. You even got me to vocalize an octave above that Bb and beyond in less than six weeks. What I learned was so precious because it's not something you can learn by reading, but it's something I could only learn by actually having someone coach me in physical coordination. It was a very interesting experience and a hard work. I sing almost everyday, so I do notice the difference in my voice from day to day. Thank you so much.
Karen has been an amazing teacher. I have taken piano, guitar and voice lessons from her for over the past year. I had no prior musical knowledge (or native ability) but yet within 4 months she coached me through preparation for a show singing and accompanying on guitar. While I have much to learn I feel that Karen, with her dedication to her students and wonderful teaching ability, has truly helped me to succeed beyond my wildest expectations.
Dear Karen, So happy to see you're still doing great..I could never in words express my gratitude towards you for teaching me about music, life, and piano..(as well as the wonderful course for drums and everything else) Thank you.
HI Karen, Thank you so much for being such a great mentor and friend of mine:) Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me all the time. Love you.
Thank you so much for your wonderful lessons with great encouragement. You are the best music teacher I could ever imagine. How I wish I had met you earlier.
Hey, "Coach" -- hope this finds you well. We played two shows in Vermont two weekends ago, and my voice was excellent. I've been diligently doing my scales, my stretching exercises, and singing rock songs about 45 minutes a day since the book launch party last August, and it really paid off. I sang lead on two songs I couldn't even reach last summer. And I sang our "signature" song, "All Along The Watchtower" probably better than I ever sang it back in the 60s and 70s. My voice held up through two rehearsals, two sound checks, and two shows, and was stronger at the end than at the start. In fact, we had a jam session after the second gig and I sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and I have never been able to do that one. So, thanks to you and our dear, departed Dante.
Just wanted you to know that I have continued to work on what you taught me with excellent results. This past August, at the book launch party, I sang lead on a song which I could not do in 2010 (and I could hardly have done any of my leads in 2010 without your help). In the six months since the book launch party I have done all my breathing exercises every day, except one single day, without fail. The result has been that as I sing along with records (which I do about 4-5 days a week) I can now do about a dozen leads on songs I sing with regularly, which I couldn't do six months ago in August. All this stuff re the voice is only to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your help and your teaching. Clearly, the Dante method works for geezers, also. I am amazed at what I can sing that I couldn't get to a year ago, or even 6 months ago. Plus, a couple of weeks ago I sang 11 days in a row (45 to 60 minutes each day) with no problems at all. It's so much fun to be able to really sing again...:-)
I'm not sure if you remember me but I took web lessons with you about a year an half ago. Life, however got in the way, and I had to stop. My schedule is now much freer, and I happen to once again be on the same time zone that you are on. I was hoping to begin taking vocal lessons with you again. You are by far the best vocal teacher I have ever had, and my voice really misses your training.
i am happy to tell you about my experience and opinion of Karen. i have been taking voice with her since 1996. I starting to sing in a choir as a soprano at my old church. i struggled to hit the notes and in doing so was straining my vocal chords. i went online to read about strained vocal chords and got scared when i read that they sometimes get nodules a need surgery. i decided i wanted to learn proper technique and searched for a vocal teacher. i read Karen’s bio and discovered that she too had suffered strained vocal chords and got relief through Dante Pavone’s method of teaching, and now she is certified to teach the same method. Since i started with her i have no problem in my throat and i sing way better. Even my body looks better because the exercises that the student does strengthen the lower back so that it can support the ribs properly and has given me a better figure. i still sing in a choir at my new church and i have gotten many compliments on my voice from many people. At this point i will tell you that i do not practice all of the breathing and scales as often as i am supposed to due to my being a wife and mother of two teenagers, which keeps me very busy and running. That said, i still have made great progress with Karen.
Another more personal note is that a person would be hard-pressed to find another human being as loving as Karen. She’s very caring beyond just voice lessons. My husband has been taking drum lessons from her for three years now and he feels the same way about her, and he doesn’t usually trust people easily. Karen is very well educated and very intelligent. She is a tough but kind teacher. She watches her student like a hawk and doesn’t miss a trick. She corrects gently and never makes you feel badly about yourself. She’s very encouraging. i try never to miss a lesson, because i always leave there in a better mood than when i arrive.
i hope this helps you to decide. You may think...whats with all of this breathing and posture? Trust the technique. it really works without pain or strain of the vocal chords, which means you can sing for the rest of her life and not just a couple years and have to quit due to nodules.
Forty years ago I was a lead singer in a New England rock band and I was tearing my throat up. I was hoarse after every gig and regularly lost my voice entirely after two or three nights. Then I became a pupil of Dante Pavone in Boston and a remarkable transformation occurred. Dante’s method was hard work, and it depended on following his advice precisely. But working with Dante I was able to correct my bad habits, improve the clarity, quality and range of my voice. I could go seven nights in a row and not lose my voice. Forty years later my band is getting back together for several reunion shows, but I have not sung professionally since 1971. Fortunately, I found Karen, a protégé of Dante’s, and took webcam internet lessons (she is in Boston, I in Virginia). All the benefits of the Pavone method re-appeared. I gained back three octaves on my range and my clarity, strength and pitch all greatly improved. The Dante Pavone method is still as great as ever and Karen is the ideal voice coach to teach it – a perfect blend of encouragement and pushing.
Saturday, for the first time after studying with you for over three years and not practicing, i forced myself to do what you have been telling me all along: to practice. The next day my husband came to the early church service with me and told me that when the choir sang the "anthem", which is our main piece in the service, that he could really hear me and that i sounded really good. Then i had another small rehearsal afterwards with the choir for a new piece for future. After that i was walking down the hall to leave and my choir director caught up to me and said, "You are sounding really good!" i said, “Really?” She affirmed, so i told her it was because my singing teacher is telling me i had better start doing my breathing exercise so i finally listened. She said it was paying off. Today i plan to do all 30 of each again. As much as i don’t understand why it makes so much of a difference, i now know it works and i know also that you are a very smart and driven person and that you would never steer me wrong. so thanks.
I called my brother (he used to back up Taj Mahal) to ask about when Grace Slick studied with Dante. When my sister was studying his method I met Dante once or twice. At the time I was making costumes for the New York City Opera Company and was one of Beverly Sill's dressers. Dante kept saying that Beverly was going to blow out her voice. I remember that several opera singers used to sneak away from their appointed vocal coaches in NYC to catch some time with Dante. Dante would have to cure all the vocal problems that their so called “famous” NY coaches were giving them.
I was thinking about Dante recently. I just got a gig in Switzerland coming up in April and even though I'm a sax player (Berklee alumnus) I will be singing a concert there. I pulled out all of my old hand written Dante notes and oddly I realized the system and its ease after twenty years. What I'm saying is "voila" now it all came back to me and I’m singing with a fair amount of ease up into my head, stretching my range and feeling really great. Anyway, I googled his name and your name came up associated with Dante's, and rightfully so. I was always amazed by him, but now I'm amazed at what he was always trying to tell me even though he saw me as a great student. I know that one website that came up under someone's name (associated with him) mentioned that he had passed away. I think he was 76 when he taught me. I remember he mentioned your name to me many times in the 80's. I moved to LA after Berklee and I talked about him with the highest respect and felt very lucky to have studied for a long time with a genius and true master of the human anatomy. Keep up the good work! I just wanted to say hello and let you know that I'm glad you're carrying on his legend.
Thanks for your help in getting my voice ready. We had five hour rehearsals last Monday and Tuesday, and then shows on Wednesday and Thursday. My voice was stronger Thursday night than any of the three previous nights. That's a tribute to you and Dante. I am grateful.
Karen I have to tell you I have really made a breakthrough since I started studying with you. My voice is stronger, clearer, I don't get hoarse as quickly, I can sing longer and "harder"/higher, my voice isn't so raspy the next morning, on and on. Yeah -- the lessons are really working, as I believed they would. Bless you and the spirit of Dante.
Every day, since studying with you, after I sing my voice is clearer and stronger when I am finished. You’re a great teacher!
Thank you for all you’ve taught me. I know your way is the real way. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from you in the future. You’re the best!
I studied with one of the supposed most famous vocal teachers in America. After a year of studying this particular method I couldn’t even get through one rehearsal or four songs at a gig with out vocal blow out. When I came to Karen I had severe vocal damage from studying with this supposed other “famous” teacher”. On the first lesson with Karen my voice was cured and after four lessons I played a gig and my voice felt better than before I started singing and the next day I was not hoarse at all. This is the best vocal method I have ever studied in my life as I have studied with many other teachers before Karen that also damaged my voice. If it weren’t for Karen and the Dante Pavone method I surely would not ever be able to sing.
My daughter did great on her solo, clearly the best.! I was really impressed. I hope you are doing well…we will see you at the next lesson.
Had a great lesson with Karen today. I expected the usual tongue and lip rolls and of course the long lectures on what to avoid to keep a good voice, but i got something much better. :)
I went to rehearsal tonight and what's coming out of me keeps getting better and better. Just the look on everyone's face when I sang was awesome. More importantly I can finally express everything inside me. Thank you so much! I'm your biggest fan! Thanks is not enough.
I just wanted to let you know that my gig on Saturday went GREAT!!! My voice felt really good and I didn't feel strained at all. I'm so glad I took the breathing exercises that you showed very seriously. I don't know where I'd be without you.
Once again you have my deepest thanks for what you've opened to me vocally. I still can't believe it. Every time I open my mouth to sing I get better and better! Also, thank you very much for the great encouragement.
I just wanted to say again how happy I am that I met you. My progress is more than I dreamed of and I know I'm not all the way yet. I also have come to regard you as a friend. I truly wish you all the success you dream of.
Before studying with you I always felt like crying because I could never get my voice to work properly. You have showed me the potential there. I did a little recording last night so I could really hear the huge difference and in just a few lessons. I am becoming the singer I always wanted to be thanks to you. I know it's only going to get better!
My voice keeps getting better and better every day. I would say that you have 100% given me all the ability and more than I could have dreamed of. You definitely delivered the goods. I've grown from skeptic to true believer. The last two weeks, but especially the last couple of days, I have transformed into an altogether more dynamic singer with a pitch increase of at least an octave. Every note becoming as soft or as loud as I want it to without strain or effort! God bless you. I know that it's going to only get better from here! Did you ever see the matrix we're the guy says why oh why didn't I swallow the blue pill. That's how i feel about my choice some twenty years ago or more, when I saw your add. Also the changes in my physique are truly unbelievable too. Anyway thanks so much and I look forward to seeing you next week.
Hello Karen, Life is stranger than fiction!! I played an outdoor gig today! I sang for hours and had no problems. Afterward everybody was all over me. Makes all the sacrifice worth it. I learned a lot today. I sure hope it will continue. I live for this. Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but thanks so much for all you've given me the ability to do. I'm everything and more that I always wanted to be.
I so much value everything I've learned from you and I always looked forward to my lesson. You are a very gifted teacher and your technique has really made a difference in my voice. I never thought I could hit high C so effortlessly. Thank you, Karen.
It was great getting the first lesson from you. Saw how you rock from Dante's point of view.
Karen, You are wonderful. I love your personality and your lessons. I talked about you and your method to all my friends and co-workers and will always recommend you to anyone who’s interested in lessons.
Hi Karen, we're moving to New Hampshire tomorrow :-) We're going to miss you a lot! You have played a very positive role in Brendan's life and for that I will always be grateful. I wish you nothing but happiness. Warm Regards, Rob
You have been such a blessing. I believe people don't just come into your life by accident.
Karen, coming to you for lessons was one of the best things I've ever done. It's really gotten me back on track. Dante's scales are so balanced. I was getting into really bad habits. With those exercises I can sing all night again and feel nothing in my throat. When I went to university, the vocal scales weren't balanced and I had vocal issues. Dante's balances the e's with the ah's and when you got that, you've got it all. This is how I remember it as it used to be when I studied with Dante.
I enjoy the music instruction and guidance which shows progress in a short amount of time. I have explored rhythm, melody, and harmony with various instruments for resemblance. Her personal studio at home is great for this.
Awesome!
...
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Karen D.
Somerville, MA 02145
starting at
$40
/ 30-min
About Catherine W.
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I only teach beginner and intermediate cello.
About Catherine
Catherine is a performer, teacher, and arranger. She has performed in world class venues such as Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Kosciuszko Foundation, as well as the Museum of Natural History, and she has performed with over thirty different chamber ensembles, including the American String Quartet and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Her career developments are primarily in music, but she also pursues interest in creative writing, journal writing and human rights. She has given many community performances and raised charity funds for organizations such as World Vision, A. G. Rhodes Health & Rehab nursing home, Columbia Hospital, Corpus Christi Church, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Catherine initially gained her musical inspiration through her family and has been performing since her youth. Her family provided
Catherine initially gained her musical inspiration through her family and has been performing since her youth. Her family provided
her countless opportunities to perform, to participate in event planning, and to experiment with new music and arranging. She grew up participating in her mother's studio recitals at home and enjoys an annual family tradition of organizing and performing Christmas programs at church. One of Catherine's projects during her studies at the Manhattan School of Music was the Symposium Concert Series, which has led her to perform in apartment homes around the city and build a community of young artists. She has made countless arrangements for solo viola and viola with various ensembles which she often performs.
Catherine resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, Lawrence. She plays on a Raymond J. Melanson viola made in 1987.
*** Lesson Details ***
I'm able to travel to the student's home or teach at my home. Parents are welcome to sit in the lesson.
*** Studio Equipment ***
N/A
*** Specialties ***
Patience
Catherine resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, Lawrence. She plays on a Raymond J. Melanson viola made in 1987.
*** Lesson Details ***
I'm able to travel to the student's home or teach at my home. Parents are welcome to sit in the lesson.
*** Studio Equipment ***
N/A
*** Specialties ***
Patience
...
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Catherine W.
Online
starting at
$45
/ 30-min
About Christien B.
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Students can expect to learn the fundamental technique for learning cello or viola da gamba, through listening and playing exercises. My goal is to make lessons and practicing more like playing, and less like having to do something difficult. We'll find the right book to work from, and go from there! I will especially appreciate students who are genuinely interested and motivated and can set aside a bit of time each day to practice.
About Christien
Hi! I have a degree in Early Music Voice from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, and have studied voice with private teachers intermittently over the past two decades.
I also have a Master's in Cello Performance, and can teach cello at the beginner to upper intermediate level. My experience in teaching is with modern (standard) cello, but I can also teach the basics of baroque cello (with gut strings and a baroque bow). Gut strings can be finicky, but their sound is warm and expressive. If you are interested to know more, just drop me a note! Another instrument I can teach is the Viola da Gamba, a very interesting early 6- or 7-string instrument with gut strings. (That's the instrument I'm holding in my profile picture!)
Aside from music, I have taught English as a Foreign and Second Language (in Bulgaria with Peace Corps,
I also have a Master's in Cello Performance, and can teach cello at the beginner to upper intermediate level. My experience in teaching is with modern (standard) cello, but I can also teach the basics of baroque cello (with gut strings and a baroque bow). Gut strings can be finicky, but their sound is warm and expressive. If you are interested to know more, just drop me a note! Another instrument I can teach is the Viola da Gamba, a very interesting early 6- or 7-string instrument with gut strings. (That's the instrument I'm holding in my profile picture!)
Aside from music, I have taught English as a Foreign and Second Language (in Bulgaria with Peace Corps,
in New Mexico with Berlitz, at the U. of New Mexico). I would be very pleased to help students of any age with reading, listening comprehension, and writing.
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Thank you!
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Christien B.
Waltham, MA 02453
starting at
$35
/ 30-min
About Victor M.
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My goal as a teacher is to help you reach your musical goals! My lessons consist of scales, duets, and solo repertoire. Each lesson is different depending on the student I am working with, but the core of my teach is based around these 3 areas.
About Victor
My name is Victor and I have been actively teaching cello for the past 4 years. In Ames, IA I had a studio of 8 students, all ranging from different age groups and abilities. I also have experience teaching online lessons, which require a slightly different approach than normal in person lessons. I recently moved to Boston to pursue my masters degree in cello performance at The Boston Conservatory. I am looking forward to building a studio here in Boston! My goal as a teacher is to help you achieve your musical goals. I try my absolute hardest to create a warm and positive environment for all of my students. I understand that all of my students are different and I make sure to create individual lesson plans for each of my students. Not only will you grow as a musician and as a cellist, but I believe that learning an instrument gives us sk
ills that can be beneficial in every aspect of our daily lives. Whether you are new to the cello, picking it back up after some time off, or at a more advanced level, I hope to hear from you! If you have any questions at all, please send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
BIO:
Born in Minneapolis, MN, Victor Mooney began playing cello at the age of 7. While in Minneapolis he studied with Tom Austin, former member of the Minnesota Opera. Victor completed a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Iowa State University, where he studied with George Work. Upon graduation he was awarded the Outstanding Senior in Music award, the highest honor the Music Department at Iowa State gives. While in undergrad he also received a scholarship for excellence in performance. Starting in the fall of 2015, Victor will be pursuing a Master's of Music in Cello Performance from The Boston Conservatory, where he will be studying with Andrew Mark. He has participated in master classes with Anthony Ross, Tanya Remenikova, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Hong Wang, Bruce Uchimura, and Joshua Koestenbaum. Since 2013 he has played with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. While at Iowa State University he had the opportunity to sit Principle Cello in both the Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra and the Iowa State University Chamber Orchestra. He has been teaching privately in the Des Moines area since 2012 and is looking forward to building a studio in Boston. Outside of music, Victor enjoys reading, watching hockey and soccer, running, and visiting with family and friends in Minnesota.
BIO:
Born in Minneapolis, MN, Victor Mooney began playing cello at the age of 7. While in Minneapolis he studied with Tom Austin, former member of the Minnesota Opera. Victor completed a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Iowa State University, where he studied with George Work. Upon graduation he was awarded the Outstanding Senior in Music award, the highest honor the Music Department at Iowa State gives. While in undergrad he also received a scholarship for excellence in performance. Starting in the fall of 2015, Victor will be pursuing a Master's of Music in Cello Performance from The Boston Conservatory, where he will be studying with Andrew Mark. He has participated in master classes with Anthony Ross, Tanya Remenikova, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Hong Wang, Bruce Uchimura, and Joshua Koestenbaum. Since 2013 he has played with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. While at Iowa State University he had the opportunity to sit Principle Cello in both the Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra and the Iowa State University Chamber Orchestra. He has been teaching privately in the Des Moines area since 2012 and is looking forward to building a studio in Boston. Outside of music, Victor enjoys reading, watching hockey and soccer, running, and visiting with family and friends in Minnesota.
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Victor M.
Brighton, MA 02135
starting at
$35
/ 30-min
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About Johnny M.
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I strive to treat each student equally no matter how advance the student are. My job as a teacher is to provide students a tool in life. Students will learn the way life works through the art of music. Should the students decide to pursue music or not in the future, I only hope that students will apply what they've learned in music to their everyday problem solving.
About Johnny
Johnny received his Bachelors of Music at the University of Alabama, under the tutelage of Carlton McCreery, and a Masters of Music at The Boston Conservatory with Andrew Mark. Johnny made his debut performance in 2011, performing Dvorak's Cello Concerto with Albuquerque Youth Symphony under the direction of Gabriel Gordon. Since then, Johnny had many opportunities to work with members of the Russian National Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was also a fellow of National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO.
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Johnny M.
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
starting at
$40
/ 30-min
About Elias M.
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As with the piano, I tailor my cello teaching approach to my individual students' needs, and work to help my students pursue the instrument at the speed and level of intensity they desire. I am as happy to help beginners take casual lessons as I am to help more advanced students prepare for recitals and auditions. I believe that scales, arpeggios, and etudes are more essential to a cellist's development than anything else, so I encourage my students to focus on these exercises as much as they can. A balanced variety of repertoire is also important, of course, and I'm happy to recommend appropriate pieces to students or to help them through the works that most interest them.
About Elias
Hello! My name is Elias, and I'm a classical cellist, pianist, and an aspiring symphony orchestra and opera conductor. I recently graduated from Harvard University where I studied music. Before transferring to Harvard, I attended the New England Conservatory of Music where I was a cello performance major and Tufts University where I studied history. As a cellist I have attended various music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and I have performed in concerts and master classes across the country. As a pianist, I have served as a rehearsal pianist and vocal coach for numerous operatic productions, and I frequently accompany both singers and instrumentalists. I am looking for piano and cello students of any age and level!
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Elias M.
Cambridge, MA 02138
starting at
$30
/ 30-min
About Julia R.
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My goal is to help you become the cellist you want to be! I am excited to teach students of all levels. I believe a core foundation in classical technique is the key to success, and I emphasize that in my teaching. With that said, I love exploring other genres such as pop and folk. Let's make music together!
About Julia
I have been playing the cello for 12 years, and in those years I have experienced many different approaches to teaching. No two students are alike, and I cater every lesson to the student's personal needs. I have a Bachelor's degree in cello performance from Ithaca College, Whalen School of Music, and am currently pursuing a Master's degree at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
My main goal is to create a fun, engaging, encouraging and inspiring relationship with my students. I often play alongside my students during lessons to create a more comfortable atmosphere, as well as allowing me to demonstrate whatever it is I am trying to teach. At times in my cello studies, I found practicing to be difficult because I wasn't playing repertoire I wanted to play, rather, playing only what my teacher felt was best. I have taken those personal
My main goal is to create a fun, engaging, encouraging and inspiring relationship with my students. I often play alongside my students during lessons to create a more comfortable atmosphere, as well as allowing me to demonstrate whatever it is I am trying to teach. At times in my cello studies, I found practicing to be difficult because I wasn't playing repertoire I wanted to play, rather, playing only what my teacher felt was best. I have taken those personal
struggles and applied them to my own teaching style. While technique and standard classical repertoire is incredibly important to a students development as a cellist, I like to incorporate music that the student is passionate about as well, whether it be pop music, folk, rock, you name it! I think it is really important for a student to make their own choices in their musical development.
At this point in my career, I am most passionate about chamber music. I find when I'm playing alongside other musicians, I feel the most comfortable and can express myself openly. As a chamber music coach, I strive to help a group connect, both as musicians and as people, so they can perform passionately and experience all of the fun that small ensemble music has to offer.
Let me help you become the musician YOU want to be! I look forward to making music with you.
At this point in my career, I am most passionate about chamber music. I find when I'm playing alongside other musicians, I feel the most comfortable and can express myself openly. As a chamber music coach, I strive to help a group connect, both as musicians and as people, so they can perform passionately and experience all of the fun that small ensemble music has to offer.
Let me help you become the musician YOU want to be! I look forward to making music with you.
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Julia R.
Boston, MA 02215
starting at
$40
/ 30-min
About Dahwi K.
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I am a classically trained cellist and currently producing my own electronic music that ranges from hip-hop, to R&B to house music and combination of all kinds of music. Considering my personal journey with music, my main focus in teaching is to have fun with music and promote creativity. Rather than following the strict classical method of teaching all the time, I also share my own track with my students and encourage them to play their favorite songs whether it is a classical piece, a pop-song, or a track from a movie. I can confidently say that the many of students truly enjoyed the class with me while realizing significant improvements in their skills.
I have been teaching students for 9 years. I've taught many private lessons for different age groups, levels, and ethnicity. I had students from a 6 year old children to high school students and even adults occasionally. My previous working experiences include teaching private and group lessons, directing and managing a youth ...
About Dahwi
I have been playing cello over 20 years along with studying 4 years of Cello performance at University of California, Los Angeles, as well as joining UCLA Philharmonia, an orchestra for music majors, and 13 different chamber groups throughout my years at UCLA. These experiences prepared me well by expanding my musical knowledge in various genres of music, such as classical, baroque, contemporary,and even tango, and teaching me the importance of compromising with other musician’s musical tastes and feelings; with practice, all of this comes together in the end to put our own color on a piece.
Although I am a classically trained cellist, I am currently working as a music producer/DJ/performer. I have various experiences when it comes to music, including performing a solo, a chamber, an orchestra, a djing, teaching private lessons or grou
Although I am a classically trained cellist, I am currently working as a music producer/DJ/performer. I have various experiences when it comes to music, including performing a solo, a chamber, an orchestra, a djing, teaching private lessons or grou
p lessons, recording in a studio for films and commercial, directing a cello ensemble, and producing my own track in a studio.
My belief is that every student has their own musical potential and it is my passion to help them realize how they can express it through music.
My belief is that every student has their own musical potential and it is my passion to help them realize how they can express it through music.
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Dahwi K.
Online
starting at
$30
/ 30-min
About Isaac B.
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I'm a student currently studying cello performance at the Eastman School of Music. I've been playing cello for 9 years and have been doing student teaching for about 4 years. I focus on building up great technique in my students, but more importantly, I want to help my students feel more connected to the music they play, and ultimately use their technique to express themselves. The best teachers, for me, don't just teach you how to play the notes, but also how to find your own meaning in the music that you play- no matter the difficulty level of the piece you're playing!
I use the Suzuki method for most beginner/intermediate students, but I'm also sensitive to what the student wants. I'm a firm believer that the student should always enjoy what they are practicing! I want to build up healthy, solid technique in my students, but I encourage my students to find pieces they themselves are interested in! Practicing and learning the cello takes dedication- but it is a deeply gratifying ...
About Isaac
I am a very experienced classical cellist currently studying cello performance at Eastman, and I've been there for about 2 years now. As a student, my aim is to provide valuable, affordable lessons and teach my students everything they need to know in order to improve their musicianship.
Students can expect to improve their technique every single week, but there's something that's even more important to me as a teacher. I want my students to feel more connected to the music they play, and feel that they are using their technique in order to express themselves. That's the most gratifying part of music making, for me: finding your own meaning in the music you play.
As a cellist, I've been lucky enough to be apart of masterclasses with some very incredible cellists, including Paul Katz, David Geber, Julia Lichten and Norman Fischer. I've b
Students can expect to improve their technique every single week, but there's something that's even more important to me as a teacher. I want my students to feel more connected to the music they play, and feel that they are using their technique in order to express themselves. That's the most gratifying part of music making, for me: finding your own meaning in the music you play.
As a cellist, I've been lucky enough to be apart of masterclasses with some very incredible cellists, including Paul Katz, David Geber, Julia Lichten and Norman Fischer. I've b
een principal cellist of the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, and was very lucky to have been a part of Boston University Tanglewood Institute's Young Artists Orchestra in 2015, where I also served as one of the principal cellists. I've studied cello privately for 9 years with teachers including Ching-Jung Lee, Efe Baltacigil, and am currently studying with David Ying at the Eastman School of Music.
Practicing the cello is a commitment, but a deeply gratifying one. I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your musical goals!
Practicing the cello is a commitment, but a deeply gratifying one. I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your musical goals!
...
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· Cello · In studio
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Isaac B.
Online
starting at
$25
/ 30-min
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Cello Lesson Reviews from Students
Students are raving about their Cello instructors on TakeLessons. Check out some of these recent reviews.
Review by Sofia
"She is excellent, my daughter loves her lessons. I have noticed a lot of improvement. Highly recommended."
Boston, MA teacher:
Christien B.
Review by Amelia
"Terrific start. Victor is very adaptable and is enthusiastic as a teacher. Looking forward to future lessons."
Boston, MA teacher:
Victor M.
Review by Mary
"Victor was on time and very friendly. My daughter happily jumped right into playing.
The best review I can give is that this morning after the lesso
The best review I can give is that this morning after the lesso
n, unbidden, she picked up her cello and practiced for the few minutes she had between breakfast and leaving for the bus. That is inspiration. What could be better that that?!"
...
Boston, MA teacher:
Victor M.
Review by Cheyenne
"Very helpful and informative. Gives tips and exercises to help with good posture and correct form. Flexible with time and able to send help during the wee
k if needed. Works at a good pace and always checks for understanding. Reviews your form while playing to make sure everything is in the correct place and moving correctly. Good first lesson. Excited for the rest to come xD"
...
Boston, MA teacher:
Victor M.
Review by Anna
"The lesson with Christien was terrific! She had a great rapport with my 6 year old, and she was patient. She also focused on key things my daughter shou
ld work on with her technique at this point, and she also offered lots of ideas."
...
Boston, MA teacher:
Christien B.
Review by Sofia
"She is excellent, my daughter loves her lessons. I have noticed a lot of improvement. Highly recommended."
Boston, MA teacher:
Christien B.
Review by Frances
"Johnny has been a great instructor. I am enjoying learning the cello under his tutelage."
Boston, MA teacher:
Johnny M.
Review by Chingwen Chan
"Christine is very patience and friendly. I really enjoy the lesson."
Boston, MA teacher:
Christien B.
Review by Itai
"Christien is a wonderful teacher! She is patient, caring, interesting and generally great with kids. It was pleasure to have her as our 8 y/o daughter's f
irst cello teacher.
Thank you!"
Thank you!"
...
Boston, MA teacher:
Christien B.
And they're not alone!
Our teachers have taught
2
,
4
2
8
,
7
1
5
lessons and counting!
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Recent Cello Articles from the Blog
Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, check out the Cello articles on our blog.
Violin or Cello: Which Instrument Is Right For You?
Choosing whether to play the violin or cello can be difficult, but this article will help you consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. The violin and cello are two of the most well-known and commonly studied instruments in the string family. Each one is central to the makeup of the orchestra we know today. Becoming familiar with the pros and cons of these two instruments will help you decide whether the violin or cello is a better fit for you. Violin or Cello - How to Decide … Read More
Is Cello Hard to Learn? Read THIS Before Taking Lessons
Many beginning musicians wonder, Is cello hard to learn? The process of learning the cello is not difficult, but its important to keep in mind that the cello is not an instrument of instant gratification. It does require focused, daily practice time and a good teacher to guide you along the way. How far you progress with cello is a direct result of the amount of quality time you put into practicing the instrument. Even someone who puts in just 30 minutes a day will notice a significant … Read More