Maumee Music Lessons

t the most out of it.

**In your first lesson, I will get to know you by asking for your vocal history, influences, goals, and style. Most importantly, “What would you like to get out of this lesson?” Every singer has different challenges, needs, and goals, so I approach each student and lesson as a unique experience where the student’s most pressing needs will be addressed.

I’ll give you an honest idea of where your voice needs to grow and then will work with the tools to get there! You will get a personalized lesson plan to practice with. Like a gym workout routine, these exercises will target your weak areas to correct bad habits and build a strong, balanced instrument.

**I will ask you to sing a song…… your latest repertoire, “Happy Birthday,” "twinkle twinkle little star", something just to get an idea of your voice and style. Then I will take you through a few singing technique exercises to quickly assess your strengths and challenges.

**As your technical abilities grow, you need to apply them to songs. The key is to maintain the same easy feeling in your songs that came out in the exercises. Bring in your music and we can work out any kinks and I will also suggest appropriate material in your key and style that will build upon the successes of your exercises. Stylistic and performance coaching is available, but our focus is technique, if you don’t learn HOW to sing, WHAT you sing will always be limited. I will work with you so that as a singer, you will be able to sing through a greater range with more consistency. As a performer. you will become confident that your voice will deliver time after time. My goal is to help you sing in a free, natural manner, while keeping your lessons engaging and fun.

-EAR TRAINING -
As a choir and vocal director, I am trained to listen and pay special attention to all the details including pitch, vibrato, dynamic and harmonies. I will help you learn to listen and gain confidence to "hear" progressions in the music and their voice.

-STYLES/GENRES -
Being a worship leader, choir and vocal director in a major urban church in the Sacramento area, I have over 13 years experience as a gospel artist and contemporary christian singer, singing, performing and recording with many gospel artists and contemporary christian artists, both local and professional. I have recorded and performed with such artists as Israel Houghton, Lincoln Brewster, BJ Putnan, Trent Corey, Darnisha Taylor and the Porter Brothers.

-SINGING/VOICE TRAINING -
I am a Voice Teacher (student) with the Institute for Vocal Advancement. The IVA technique is based on 17th and 18th Century principles of singing developed by the Old Italian School of Singing. Our goal is to train voices to sing in a free and natural manner, smoothly, from the bottom of the range to the top with no breaks or sudden changes in quality. Training in this technique gives the singer access to all dynamics, with tonal clarity and flexibility. Also, training in this technique helps improve a singer's range, endurance, stamina, breath control, resonance, vocal strength and vocal quality across all styles of music without fatigue or damage to the voice. We accomplish these results by training the singer to find a balance between airflow and intrinsic muscular resistance, all within a resting laryngeal posture.

=PERFORMANCE OR AUDITION PREP-
As a former entertainment business professional and singer, I have experience in dance, choreography, stage blocking, performance technique and vocal coaching. I will help you prepare for your performances and/or auditions to present the best YOU, that you can be!

m a firm believer that teachers should be able to practice what they preach as far as skill acquisition and work ethic!

While voice is my primary instrument, I also offer piano for beginning and intermediate students as well as ear training lessons. While we have fun in our lessons and with music, a certain amount of discipline and practice time is necessary for improvement. You'll find that I'm very organized in my approach for all subjects, as I take the time that you are paying for seriously. I work hard to offer comprehensive lessons that will help you with whatever genre you're learning or skills you're working to hone.

If you have any questions at all- about lessons, your teacher search, or scheduling, feel free to send me a note, and I'll be happy to get back to you as quickly as possible!

r is to identify what Michelangelo called the “rubbish” -- those obstacles that stand in the way of natural and free musical expression -- and devise the most effective and fun ways to bring the “David” within to the forefront.

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As a pianist I do a lot of freelance work with singers and instrumentalists. Working with them for their concerts/recitals, competitions and recordings. I work also with middle/high school students as the choir accompanist for the Bowling Green City Schools in Ohio. I perform my organist duties at Olivet Lutheran Church in Sylvania, OH.

I have a small private studio that I teach from home and looking to expand it with online lessons and with you. I look forward to working with you and helping you accomplish your musical goals whether that is in classical or any other genre, I am here for you.