Piano with Daniel G.

I am a voice instructor living in Chicago. I am in my mid-twenties and have been hired to sing with regional opera companies around the Chicago. I am originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but have received my Masters in Music Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Familiarizing myself with my surroundings has always been my best way of learning. Context has always provided me with a good base of knowledge to grow from. This is how I believe teaching should also be. Being aware of where a person comes from, why they surround themselves with what they do and noticing how they can relate to you are important factors for me as a teacher. As a student, I pursue knowledge to the most intimate detail and try to find related information to form a proper conclusion about any topic, whether it is writing, music or trigonometry. As a teacher I aim to speak using the vocabulary that my professors impressed on me. I hope adjust my terms and concepts in a logical and digestible way for each of my specific students with regards to their strengths. I believe that it is vital to treat each student with respect, confidence and encouragement at an early stage and provide proper motivation for a student at a more developed stage. I like to teach on an even level with the student by doing the same exercises alongside them. My teaching has always been organic. I provide knowledge to nearly every person I am familiar with; whether it is a weather forecast or an upcoming film that I researched. My need to express knowledge comes out in a useful and colorful way. I relate different sources to whatever I encounter in life and I choose to link that knowledge to my daily interactions in a spontaneous and rewarding way of life. As a teacher I choose not to shield any of my personality from my students, seeing as the student is the one that is the most exposed and humbled in the classroom. I teach this way because I am still searching for another way to impart my knowledge. I know that my way of teaching works for those people I have previously taught but I want my way of expressing information to be individual and universal. I know that I cannot possibly be the perfect teacher to anyone and I hope that someone continues to humble me as I develop. I understand that I teach the way I do because I have important knowledge that should be shared with the world. I also know that I teach the way I do because I have the tools to teach anyone as long as I put my mind to the task. I am to understand my students fully and commit myself to their education.