Name: How to Play "Deconstructed" Chords
Uploaded: 2021-05-10T17:48:47.000Z
Duration: 7 min 7 s
Description: In this video, Heather demonstrates how to play our old root position chords in a fresh new way - by learning how to play inversions! Additionally, we look at how to extend those inversions across the keyboard.

In this video, Heather demonstrates how to play our old root position chords in a fresh new way - by learning how to play inversions!  Additionally, we look at how to extend those inversions across the keyboard.

Piano

More important than my conservatory education and my experience as an educator and a performer is my passion for teaching music and acting and my undying belief that anyone can learn to be a musician and an actor.  

I'm currently available to teach lessons in my own St. Augustine home studio and online around the globe.

I'm a cum laude graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and a winner of its merit scholarship.  I studied classical music there, grateful to have been taught by the likes of tenor Thomas Faracco, and renowned voice scientist and pedagogue, Dr. Scott McCoy.

After performing with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir and the internationally renowned opera star, Andrea Bocelli, studying opera and piano at Westminster Choir College and performance art and improvisational acting at East Carolina University in North Carolina, and appearing in shows and pageants across the east coast, I found my life's work in 2003 when I began teaching music.  

I've taught hundreds of different students since 2003 with great success, from 5-year-olds with special needs to middle-aged professional opera singers, from a professor in Saudi Arabia to a 65-year-old doctor of music, from kids of Radio Disney to students of the famed Actors Studio in New York, from busy stay-at-home parents to retirees with bucket lists, from CEOs to touring singer-songwriters.   

I've created and led a workshop about singing called, "The Whole Body Singer". I've written dozens of articles about music and music education for the blog at TakeLessons.com.  

My extensive knowledge of the voice has encouraged and empowered hundreds of singers and prepared many of them to win competitions, pageants and auditions, as well as roles in operas and musicals, including lead roles in Limelight Theater and Curtis Camp productions.  When a student comes to me in need of voice coaching, my job is to get to the root of mental blocks, to reveal why and how she's not singing at her optimum. 

Before I received formal training at a conservatory, I learned piano on my own, and both have prepared me to teach almost anyone, with any experience, how to play.  

The intensive training and education that I received at Westminster Choir College in songwriting, music theory and sight reading has benefited my students at every level.  

My current work as singer and keyboardist in the acoustic folk rock duo, Timberwood, has strengthened my knowledge of a broad range of styles and genres.  As a lifelong learner, I have a strong commitment to continuing my education.  That's why I studied songwriting online with the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2014.

In the lessons that I teach, I'm flexible, positive and encouraging.  While I want my students to have fun and love music, not dread it, I expect hard work and persistence.  I am caring, patient, nurturing, and compassionate.  
In piano lessons, I usually allow the student to choose a piece with which to warm up and then move on to technique and repertoire.  
In voice lessons, I usually warm up the singer and discuss technique and sight singing before focusing on song choices.  Joan Frey Boytim wrote a book for voice that I like to use, and I like the Estelle Liebling exercises for the more advanced singer. Hanon exercises are a big part of my piano curriculum, and I enjoy the Bastien and Alfred books for young and old.  I have used completely random songs pulled out of a piano bench and a karaoke CD for kids.  I will use almost anything I can get my hands on if it means effectively teaching music.  

Acting lessons consist of exercises and games that apply learned concepts, with an emphasis on stage acting and Meisner technique, as well as monologue and audition coaching.  

Currently, I have only online availability for guitar students.
Students under the age of twelve will use the Alfred Guitar Book for Kids.  All other students will start with the Hal Leonard Guitar Method.

Parents, siblings and spouses are always welcome to observe lessons quietly.

How to Play "Deconstructed" Chords

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While it was wonderful to teach voice and piano at the Jacksonville School of Music, I left in order to teach more in my Saint Augustine home studio.

Voice and Piano Instructor

After teaching piano and voice full time at DnD Music for over five years, I left when my family and I decided to move to Florida in order to live close to family.

I taught voice lessons out of my home studio to a group of students with a variety of ages and experience levels.

Private Voice Instructor

I taught both private voice lessons and classroom music history and music theory to auditioned magnet students.

Adjunct Voice and General Music Faculty

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Playing the piano is so much fun.  My piano students learn how to read music, play with proper technique, and express themselves musically.  More importantly, they learn to believe in themselves and their own strengths.  We'll begin our learning journey together by discussing your specific goals.  Each and every student's lessons are customized to his preferences.  In my home studio, we'll use a pro-level Yamaha keyboard with weighted keys.

This was a great first day, I'm very excited to be working with her, because she's very nice and seems like a perfect fit for me. It seems like we will be making lots of progress together. Can't wait for the next lesson!

Heather is wonderful.  I enjoyed working with her to improve my speaking voice, not only for my popular podcast titled Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life, but also for future presentations before audiences. Her expertise is augmented by her warm and engaging personal style.  5 stars!

Heather is so friendly, and she's always so excited to help.

Heather is amazing i had my first lesson today and had a blast!

She is very knowledgeable about music.  My grandson is taking lessons with her and looks forward to his lesson.

My daughter really enjoyed her  first acting lesson with heather and is looking forward to the next lesson.

So glad I finally decided to go forward with taking lessons. Heather is so sweet and takes the pressure out of learning!

My 10 yr old’s great grandma took lessons from Heather and hooked us up with her. Asher loves his lessons with Heather!

Heather is amazing and does a wonderful job of keeping my 10-year-old excited about the piano. Highly recommend her!

Love the lessons! Heather is such a fun and helpful teacher. She makes it easy to jump right in and try improv. I have a great time going thru the exercises with her. Highly recommend.

Rock singing can be a lot of fun, but pretty intimidating at the same time.  Here, Heather discusses some of what makes rock singing unique, and introduces three exercises to help you achieve that sound.

Daily Exercises for Rock Singing

In this video, Heather shares three different, but simple exercises to sing on a daily basis to keep your voice in tip top shape!

Vocal Exercises to Sing Every Day

Here, Heather discusses simple, practical ways to combat performance anxiety: drink more water, exercise daily, breathe the right way, and consider essential oils and supplements.

Tips for Performance Anxiety 

In this video, we discuss finger numbers - what they mean, how they're useful for both note reading and exercises, and what a pentascale looks like on a music staff.

What Are Piano Finger Numbers?

In this video, we explore what our finger numbers are when we read piano music, why they're important to helping us read more easily, and a short finger number exercise to play each day!

Do you have your first musical audition coming up? You may feel pretty nervous, but there are lots of ways to feel well prepared.  In this video, Heather shares her best tips and tricks for your upcoming tryout.

How to Audition for Your Next Musical

Explore two different piano exercises for both hands.
Students can expect to learn a pentascale exercise that's played both legato and staccato, and an octave exercise that's also legato and staccato.  Students will also learn why learning these techniques is so important in their playing.

Piano Exercises to Play Every Day

In this video, we'll explore how to play the chords of the song "Shallow" on the piano.  Students can expect to learn how to play each of the chords of the song step-by-step.

Heather M. L.

How to Play "Deconstructed" Chords

Heather's Piano videos

Daily Exercises for Rock Singing

Vocal Exercises to Sing Every Day

Tips for Performance Anxiety

What Are Piano Finger Numbers?