Newtown Music Lessons

Julia Dehning in the world premier of the opera The Making of Americans at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She received her Master's degree in vocal performance from The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, where, upon graduation, she was awarded The Phyllis Bryn-Julson Prize for Commitment to and Performance of 20th and 21st Century Music.

Ms. S. currently serves on the Board of Directors of MATA, an organization dedicated to supporting young composers from around the world. She is also co-founder, along with award winning superstar composers Lisa Bielawa and Aaron Jay Kernis, of Your Music Bus, and is the founder and director of Stone Mason Projects, a boutique production company specializing in endeavors related to new music for voice. She is in high demand as a voice teacher for competitive students and professional singers, and lectures on the social significance of music history topics related to contemporary repertoire.

Pamela has been teaching music and voice for more than ten years. Currently, she teaches voice and music theory at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts Extension Division for their Young Artist Program, and is on the voice faculty of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. Prior to these positions, she was an adjunct lecturer at City College of New York, CUNY where she taught music theory, musicianship, and composition. Additionally, she spent two years as the chair of the voice department at The College of Saint Elizabeth, where she has taught private vocal instruction, as well as lecture courses in music history, music theory, vocal pedagogy, and ear training.

Pamela's students have performed with Paper Mill Playhouse, Continuo Arts Foundation, Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Italy, Carnegie Hall, Opera at Florham, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, In Mid Air Productions, and many other companies around the East Coast and abroad. Her students have placed in vocal competitions including Mid Atlantic Music Festival, Golden Key, National League of Performing Arts festival, and many others. In addition to her work as a teacher of music, Pamela has worked as a Teacher's Assistant at Columbia University's Department of Astronomy, for the class Theories of the Universe: From Babylon to the Big Bang.

Pamela also maintains a private studio of voice students, and is available to give lessons from her home in Newtown, PA. In the past, Pamela worked for Rider University as a private tutor for students in music theory, music history, and French. Pamela was active in the vocal pedagogy program at The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University through which she taught voice lessons while earning her master's degree in vocal performance. Pamela has held substitute positions teaching voice and piano at Spotlight Music in Flemington, New Jersey and was on the roster of teachers at Bravissimo Music, a branch of Ivy Bound Test Prep.

*** Lesson Details ***
My teaching is goal oriented but always supportive and encouraging. Students can expect lessons to consist of vocal technique building and repertoire study. Lessons are very individually geared towards each student's unique needs and goals. Students who follow my instruction always see and hear results.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I expect the student to have a piano, or at least a high quality electric keyboard.

*** Specialties ***
classical voice, contemporary music performance

s well. I try to show students that learning music is a lifelong pursuit that can provide all types of fun and personal fulfillment, in addition to being a potential career and social outlet. After 3-6 months, the student will be playing songs, good ones, not just scales. They will also have learned basics, such as chords and scales, as well as sight reading.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Basement converted into music studio with instruments, and piano and keyboard. Parents can sit in on lessons. Street parking available.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide all lesson materials, listening examples, and, on occassion, an instrument. I often use my laptop to play songs and tutorials for students (who don't buy records like we did in the old days.) Generally, students must provide instrument.

*** Specialties ***
I tailor my lessons based on three factors: a student's interests, their ability, and their amount of practice time. I do not use a cookie cutter method of teaching because each student is different. I have studied, formally and informally, rock, pop, blues, jazz and classical. My specialties are rock and blues. On occasion, I will use method books, such as the Schirmer books for piano, but only if the student clearly seems to benefiting from them.

, and with the classical and traditional duo Driftwood. Her repertoire also reaches beyond classical music, with recent projects including performances of jazz and traditional fiddle styles throughout the Boston area, and recordings with Ran Blake, the founding chair of New England Conservatory's Department of Contemporary Improvisation, on a CD released in 2015 titlted "Ghost Tones". In addition to her work as a performer, Rachel runs an active studio and specializes in teaching both conventional and Suzuki violin method as well as beginning and intermediate fiddle. Rachel is Suzuki Certified through Book 3.

*** Lesson Details ***
I like to teach students using a combination of Traditional method books as well as Suzuki. I believe that it's equally important for students to be able to play music by ear as it is to be able to sight-read off of a score. In a typical lesson, we will cover scales, exercises in technique, etudes, and a movement of a classical piece. I also like to play duets with students as I believe it helps improve the ear and acclimate a student for playing in group or orchestral settings.
I encourage all students to bring a notebook with them to every lesson and will write down what is being worked on and the areas of improvement. I've found that it's vastly helpful to be able to go back and look at what was covered in a lesson when you're at home practicing!

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio is in a private room, neat, organized, with plenty of instruments. She has a music stand, extra equipment, instruments, and seating for parents.

*** Travel Equipment ***
If a student lives in a reasonably subway/bus accessible area then I have no problem traveling to them for lessons.

*** Specialties ***
Classical, Fiddle, Violin, Viola

singer and guitarist. I've played shows all over the Northeast including (but not limited to) Xfinity Live, Wells Fargo Center, Hard Rock Cafe, The Tin Angel, Borgata AC, Ballys, Tropicana, and Seacrets in OCMD.
I love music and the role it has played in shaping my life. I value the experiences and wisdom passed on to me by my music mentors and instructors, who not only had a meaningful impact on my music career but also immensely influenced my development as a person.
I look forward to having that same positive impact on any student I instruct :)

*** Lesson Details ***
I like lessons to be, first and foremost, an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. I try to create a laid back and comfortable learning environment for all my students. Music is fun, and I guarantee that there will be plenty of good times while taking lessons!
Now, let me also clarify that my positive attitude and laid back demeanor are not excuses for students to be undisciplined and uncommitted. I promise to work hard toward your development as a musician to make you the best you can be, and I appreciate the same commitment from all of my students.
Music should be enjoyable, but also rewarding and enriching to your life! I don’t want to sell that short!

Below is a basic rundown of what a student can expect to learn while under my instruction. I would first like to preface this information by saying that I fully recognize that every student is different; therefore, I tailor lessons to fit an individual’s needs and goals. Because of this, the priority of certain skills tends to vary from one student to another, as does the order in which this skills are taught. I also want to note that I tend to use some self-made resources (charts, explanations, etc) in addition to published books. Taking into consideration the aforementioned variables, here is the basic rundown of the material I try to cover with students, in the general order it is taught:

-Understanding of guitar parts (anatomy of the instrument) and basic terms (ie note, chord, etc).
-Names of strings (E-string, B-string, etc.) and corresponding numbers for strings (1-6), and which fingers are given what numbers.
-Tuning of the instrument
-Basic technique (how to finger a fret board, hold guitar, hold pick, etc).
-How to find notes on the fret board/chromatic
-Basic rhythm concepts and counting (whole notes, quarter notes, time signatures, etc)—usually involves clapping exercise, single note playing exercises, reading rhythm charts, and learning what different note values look like.
-Basic concepts of “keys”
-Basic major and minor scales (especially for “warming up”)
-Chords (mostly basic open chords)
-Strumming
-Learning songs to put concepts together
For more advanced students, we will likely get into the following:
-Power chords, bar chords, and complex chords beyond majors and minors.
-Scales beyond basic majors and minors
-Music theory (chord construction, modes, etc).
-Knowledge of gear (for those guitarist who wish to branch out to electric guitar)—bass players will already have to know some of this before moving to more advanced work since they already require an amp.
-How to play with other musicians and instruments (collaboration, listening, understanding each instrument’s part, etc).

[To give students a basic timeline for these skills, one can expect to be playing open chords within three months and probably their favorite songs within 6 months]

SONGWRITING TEACHING METHODS:
-Review slides about basic song structure and anatomy of songs (verse, hook, etc)
-lyric and vocal phrasing
-finding your voice as a writer
-exploring environments and conditions that foster one’s creativity for writing songs (preference for outdoors, quite secluded spaces, etc).

LIVE PERFORMANCE:
-Breathing/relaxation exercises
-Movement/watching footage of self
-Watching footage of others
-Acting/stage exercises to get out of your head and into your body
-learning common problems with live performances and becoming comfortable with fast, on-the-spot trouble shooting (and how to avoid some problems before they begin).
-Finding your stage voice, both in singing and speaking.
-Developing your stage persona

*** Studio Equipment ***
Lessons in the living room
Equipped with guitars, bass amp, guitar amp, guitar cables, and tuner.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Student should provide his or her own guitar (and amps when applicable)

*** Specialties ***
I'm currently a professional musician that sings and plays guitar and bass for pop and rock music. We perform in front of thousands of people each week so I'm very comfortable giving live performance instruction as well.

test virtues of a music teacher are passion, patience, understanding, and communicating. You will experience this in the studio. Give yourself a treat of two months of lessons and I promise you will be playing and/or singing better than you expected.

Member of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs),
NJFMC (NJ Fed. of Music Clubs). MENC (Music Ed National Conference),

*** Lesson Details ***
I am generally easy going and laid-back and will work with you to obtain specific goals such as a piece you would really like to learn. I can be strict if assignments are not followed or if there is no progression; we need to analyze why that is. I use many teaching methods as there are many different learning styles. The series I am currently using are Faber, Alfred, and Celebrate Piano! for pianists. Many singers are in Broadway, Disney, and/or English Reliquary and Italian Arias. There are so many wonderful choices! I can guarantee after three months you will be playing some music you like, and you will be reading music, and able to perform if you wish (starting small). With singing you will have basic knowledge of proper posture, breathing, and increased range. I also so enjoy people and communicating so you will feel comfortable taking lessons, and I believe that is one major factor of success in learning an instrument: the student-teacher relationship And second for children, especially the young, is the parent-teacher relationship .

*** Studio Equipment ***
Studio: Yamaha baby grand piano, Kawaii studio upright and keyboard, Yamaha keyboard, recording abilities, computer software, couch and two chairs, parents can sit in on lesson. Also have computer programs for note learning, composition, as well as giving you apps to download.

*** Specialties ***
Different methods for different students. Piano: mostly Faber and Alfred series. "Prodigy": Aaron/Thompson series. I've also had graduate study in teaching the Adult Beginner! As I was a church music director 1994 till last September, I am very familiar with traditional and contemporary sacred music, learning and performing. If you also wish to combine singing and accompanying yourself on piano or guitar lessons can be tailored.

love for music, everything grows naturally. I teach to help my students find those strengths in themselves to live a fulfilling life through their instrument.

***Lesson Details***

We create daily, weekly, and monthly goals for you to achieve.

Guitar: After 3 to 6 months of learning with me, you will have a basic knowledge of chords, how to read musical notation, strumming patterns and basic rhythms. Most importantly, you will have learned 3 or 4 songs of your choice so that you can experience the joy of expressing yourself through music.
To achieve these results, you must be willing to practice 20-30 minutes a day most days each week.

***Specialties***

I specialize in teaching students to learn to play by ear and improvise songs based on their tastes, style, and ability level. I also walk students through how to write and record semi-professional quality songs with drums, vocals, guitar, and piano. Music genres I cover are mainly Pop, Pop/Rock, Folk, Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Alternative, and Classical (piano only)

*** Studio Equipment ***

I provide a comfortable, quiet room with live instruments, and playback and recording equipment. I expect students to bring a guitar, books, sheet music, picks, and a tuner.
Instruments:
1. Taylor Acoustic Guitar
--picks, tuner, and capo
2. Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
-- Marshall 100W Amplifier
-- Classic Cry Baby Wah Effects Pedal
3. Casio PX-310 Weighted 88-Key Piano Keyboard

Playback and Recording:
1. MacBook Pro OSX 10.10.3 13-inch screen
- Insignia 27W Speakers with subwoofer
- Garageband
2. Steinberg UR-22 Recording Interface
3. Audio-technica M30 Headphones
4. Sterling Audio ST51 Black Condenser Microphone

er Center. Last summer, she understudied Sybil Vane in Loehmann’s The Picture of Dorian Grey. In 2013, she performed the role of Suor Osmina in their production of Suor Angelica, and covered the roles of Fortuna and Venere in their production of L’coronazione di Poppea. She also portrayed Pamina, La Contessa, Ilia, Anne Truelove and Laurie Moss in their various scenes programs.

Rachel completed her Bachelor’s of Music at Mannes College in 2012. There, she performed in their Opera Scenes Workshop and their Rise of Modernism Festival, singing Canciones populares Españolas by Manuel de Falla.

o perform as the “jazz trumpet” chair in part of Disney’s highly selective All American College Band.

After graduate school in Evanston, IL, I moved into the heart of the city of Chicago. For 3 years, I played trumpet and sang jazz standards most Thursday evenings at the famous Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, one of Chicago’s oldest jazz clubs. In addition to that, I helped start The Syndicate, my hip-hop brass band that offers a blend of funk, R&B and jazz. I also played with other groups such as Four Star Brass Band, and J-Livi and the Party, which released an album in July of 2016 called “Come and Share My Life," whom I still play with.

In addition to playing trumpet, I also am an accomplished classical singer, presently predominantly performing with the Crossing, a Grammy Nominated professional chamber choir conducted by Donald Nally. This 17-18 season, I'm singing with Conspirare, Apollo’s Fire, The Crossing, Vocal Arts Ensemble (Cincinnati), Variant 6, Madison Choral Project, ekmeles (NYC), and Choral Arts Philadelphia. Recently, I made my debut as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra performing Chris Deviney’s “Pat Metheney Concerto.”

I love teaching. I go into every lesson with the belief that the student is there to learn; if they weren't interested in learning, they wouldn't be there. Because I have always had diverse musical interests, I create a stress-free atmosphere for my students by allowing them to pursue whatever avenues of music interest them. My degrees may be in Jazz Studies and Performance, but I have extensive experience with Classical and Popular music; I provide a unique perspective and enthusiasm to every student.

ory, and piano. I'm very energetic and expect genuine effort from all my students. I try to make things fun, so I hope you try too!