Westfield, NJ Music Theory Lessons

style while truly nurturing their unique talents.

with One World Symphony, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Clorinda (La Cenerentola) with Capitol Heights Opera, Alice (Le comte Ory) with West Side Opera Society, Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Myrrhine (Lysistrata) with Opera Avanti, Gilda (Rigoletto) with Academie Internationale d'Ete de Nice, and The First Spirit (Die Zauberflote) with the Opera Company of Brooklyn.

My international credits include studies at the Academy Internationale d'Ete de Nice, France; the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Chianti, Italy; the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel; and an appearance at the Young Artist's Concert in Tokyo, Japan.

As a versatile singer, I was presented as an aspiring opera singer on the website of Maybelline New York. My voice was featured in short films for NEC, the Japanese technology company.

I was also selected as a finalist at the Opera Idol Competition at Lincoln Center, the Hariclea Darclee Voice Competition in Romania, and the Mario Lanza and Elaine Malbin Vocal Competition. In the summer 2014, I received a scholarship to perform at The Savannah Voice Festival that is founded by Metropolitan Opera/Grammy Award Winner Opera Star Mr. Sherrill Miles. My upcoming engagement includes singing the title role of Madame Butterfly with Snob Opera in Montreal and Quebec that is supported by Quebec City.

Besides being an opera singer, I have been teaching piano and voice for 11 years. I have been fortunate to study with the world renowned teachers. I continue my vocal studies with Mr.Gerald Martin Moore who teaches Tony award winner Kelly O'Hara, Met star Renee Flemimg and Mr. William Hicks who was a coach for Luciano Pavarotti at The Metroplitan Opera. I would like to share my skills and experience with you. Since I perform often, I can coach you how to perform on stage in addition to building solid technique and languages. Also, I have taught various kinds of music, such as Rock, Broadway musicals, Pop music, so we can work on all kind of music.

I look forward to teaching you soon!

*** Lesson Details ***
My students can expect to improve their skills and start to enjoy music more as we work together.
I believe that learning music is fun and enjoyable. However you also need to be serious and focused.
I can demonstrate various and specific techniques, phrasing, and interpretation and will always coach on how to develop your skills. However, I feel it is important for students to think critically on their own and take the first try at solving a problem themselves. I cannot emphasize enough that primarily it is you who find the ways to improve. Leaning music is a collaboration between teachers and students. I hope that through my lessons, students will become more self-sufficient and confident as musicians.
Let me help you become a better musician.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano (Clavinova), music stand, and desk.

*** Travel Equipment ***
By Subway, the closest station is 23rd street. You can take C, E train(within one block). 1 train(one block), M, F train (2 blocks).

able experiences and knowledge with my students.

I am also a alumna of the Meadowmount School of Music.

Currently, I am a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of America and have completed Suzuki teacher training for books 1 - 8 at NYC's School for Strings, where I trained with Ekaterina Gerson and Allen Lieb. I have also completed additional violin and viola pedagogy studies with Ann Setzer of the Julliard School. My students have been accepted to performing arts high schools such as Laguardia Highschool School for the Performing Arts and now perform with ensembles such as Chicago University's Chamber Orchestra.

In addition, I completed both Music Mind Games Units 1 & 2 teacher training with Michiko Yurko in 2012. I incorporate this fun way of learning how to read and understand music theory into all of my lessons.

I have been teaching privately for over 10 years, and look forward to continuing to enrich other peoples' lives through music for years to come.

*** Lesson Details ***
I generally try to tailor my teaching approach based on a student's individual goals with a strong emphasis on proper violin technique. I have the most experience teaching using the Suzuki method, but also utilize more traditional approaches in order to address the developmental level of my pupil. I expect my students to come in with a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and strong work ethic.

With students 7 years of age and younger, I strongly recommend that a parent take lessons for 6 weeks prior to their child beginning instruction. I also insist that parents sit in on their child's lessons and take notes. This enables parents to properly supervise their child's practice, which ultimately leads to speedier progress and a better grasp of the material being taught.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Separate dedicated violin studio in apartment with piano.

I do own three cats (Spork, Pancakes, and Brienne), so please let me know if this is a problem!

*** Travel Equipment ***
I ask that my students please speak to me prior to purchasing or renting an instrument.

Following the first violin lesson, I expect my student to provide their instrument (I can provide a list of resources and rental companies for instruments), a notebook, any music books assigned, a music stand, and a metronome.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in classical playing and prefer teaching using the Suzuki method. I am currently registered with the Suzuki Association of America. I am also flexible enough to assist a student seeking to branch out, and for those not interested in Suzuki, I am also able to teach via more traditional methods. Additionally, I have an extensive educational background in music theory, I am also able to take those students interested in taking beginning to intermediate viola lessons.

egina Opera. Nick holds an Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from Rutgers University. He is presently enrolled in an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy program at New York University, where he is an adjunct professor.

*** Travel Equipment ***
If you have a piano or a good keyboard, I can teach at your home.

Hall debut with the Zephyr Duo as a prize winner in the Artists International Competition. Both as a solo artist and chamber musician, she has performed throughout the Metropolitan New York area in venues such as Trinity Church, Mannes and Manhattan Schools of Music, the Connell Library, Drew University, Watchung Art Center, Summit Presbyterian Church, Atlantic Highlands Chamber Music Series and others. Her performances also included appearances at Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel, PA, Solstice Festival at Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Benefit concerts for New Sussex Symphony, Bucks County Symphony and NJ Symphony orchestras, as well as chamber music recitals at Livingston Music Club, Women's Club in Glen Ridge, Temple University.

Ms. S. currently maintains a private piano studio. She is an active member of Music Educators Association of New Jersey and sits annually on a panel of judges for the association.

Teaching Philosophy:

I believe that learning to play an instrument should be an integral part of every child's education. Music enriches emotional and intellectual development, provides a source of joy and fulfillment. My teaching philosophy is based on emphasizing individuality of each student. I teach students ages 5 through adult, and try to find a way to make it interesting, exciting, intellectually stimulating and rewarding for each individual.

- I incorporate elements of Suzuki method into my teaching for young beginners combining it with traditional Russian school methods and various others depending on student's needs.

- I believe in providing strong technical basis for piano playing and teach my students skills and tools to make practicing on their own efficient.

- I include music theory, ear-training, and elements of music history into my piano lessons

- I prepare my students to participate in annual MEA auditions, as well as recitals and competitions. I am an enthusiastic and devoted teacher who loves sharing my knowledge and creates an environment in which a student can learn and grow.

te. The Post also celebrated him in Opera Theater of Northern Virginia’s The Barber of Seville as a “bright and bouncy” Figaro who delivered his lines with “aplomb.” He was a young artist in the studio programs of Portland Opera, Kentucky Opera, and El Paso Opera.

Dr. Collins has sung the roles of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Sid in Albert Herring, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro and in The Barber of Seville, Papageno in Die Zauberflӧte, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Jupiter in Orphée aux enfers, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Schaunard in La Bohème, Clayton McAllister in Cold Sassy Tree, the Clock in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, the Mandarin in Turandot, and Haushofmeister in the world premiere of Dorian Gray. Dr. Collins has had the pleasure of singing in the choruses of the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and Fort Worth Opera. He has performed roles with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Kentucky Opera, El Paso Opera, Summer Opera Theater, Bel Cantanti Opera, Amarillo Opera, Crested Butte Opera, Portland Opera To Go, Opera Southwest, Opera Theater of Northern Virginia, Concert Royal, Ash Lawn Opera, Bay View Music Festival, and Seagle Music Colony.

Dr. Collins is currently on the voice faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and maintains a private voice studio at the National Opera Center in New York City where he teaches singers of all skill levels including those who perform on Broadway and at the Metropolitan Opera. He has a passion for vocal instruction and is dedicated to the success of each individual student. Dr. Collins keeps an active record of each student’s progress, vocal exercises, repertoire, performances, and personal goals. He is a member of the College Music Society, the American Guild of Musical Artists, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Opera America.

xperience in private studio and has given workshops at the middle school, high school, and college level including his recent outreach work with the Boston Philharmonic to underfunded schools. Drew approaches each student as an individual with their own goals, needs, experience level, and learning style to create a specialized curriculum that helps propel the student towards their best self and enjoy the process at the same time.