Piano with Kris F.

Kris has been a private vocal, flute and piano instructor since 1984, and has been teaching in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1994. Her students have gone on to perform in the Los Angeles Opera Company, and in Regional Theatre and National Touring Companies for Hairspray, The King And I, The Music Man, Jekyll and Hyde, A Little Night Music, Fiddler On the Roof, My Fair Lady, Edges, Cats, and many other great musicals. She has been an Individual Voice Instructor at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles since the Fall semester of 2004, and also teaches at a private studio in West Hollywood. She has taught vocal workshops from coast to coast, in Musical Theatre and Rock styles. Kris has been the Vocal Director for the Southern California Childrens' Music Theatre productions of And The World Goes 'Round, Zombie Prom and Footloose, and was also the Vocal and Musical Director for their production of Once Upon A Mattress. She was the Vocal Director for productions of Into The Woods and Urinetown at Hart High School in Newhall, California. She has also lent her talents to Benefit The Leukemia Foundation, Project AIDS L.A., and The Compton Battered Women’s Shelter, as featured performer, Vocal and Musical Director. Kris has been a professional performer since the age of 10, beginning her career in the world of sacred music. She had the privilege of being a televised singer of sacred music, in the cathedrals of St. Patrick's and St. John the Divine in New York City. Kris' live performances have included all styles of music, including Jazz, Pop, Country, Bluegrass, Broadway, Classical, and Rock. She has had an extensive career as a jingle singer, arranger, songwriter, flautist and backup vocalist, as well as having had her own weekly broadcast jazz show. Kris has appeared in several musicals, on stage and in the orchestra pit. Musical Theatre credits include: Frau Blucher (Young Frankenstein); Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music); Mrs. Beauregarde/Grandma Josephine (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory); Philia (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum). She has also sung in the Ensembles of several other productions. She led and performed with the popular local jazz ensemble The Treblemakers, with whom she recorded a CD, It’s Not About The Coffee. Other CD credits include The Wedding Collection (Arista Records), Land of The Diamond Sun, A Wolf At My Door, The Same Road Twice (all on Melonball Records), Last Night At Europa, A Class Act, and Like Fine Wine (Canadian American/Caprice International/The Orchard). Commercial jingle credits include Barbie, Clorox, American Airlines, Keebler Cookies, Thomas' English Muffins, and many others. Original compositions used by international television and radio. Training: BM Jazz Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. IU studies include Vocal Training with Eileen Farrell and Tim Noble; Applied Flute with Harry Houdeshel; Jazz Studies with David Baker and Dominic Spera. Ongoing vocal studies with Douglas Susu-Mago, Chicago and Los Angeles. *** Lesson Details *** I am pretty easygoing, because I realize that students probably have a lot of homework, jobs, children to raise, etc. I believe that music should be enjoyable as well as educational! I also know that when a student practices, it heightens their enjoyment of music because it is far more fulfilling. I can guarantee that if you work with me as hard as I work with a student, you will feel excellent about your progress and ability! I have experience teaching people on the autism spectrum and those with Down Syndrome. *** Studio Equipment *** Casio Privia, 88 keys. CD player, music stands. Bluetooth speaker. *** Travel Equipment *** N/A. *** Specialties *** Whole voice, patient teaching of all ages and personalities, jazz, musical theatre, classical, pop. I teach all levels of flute and voice, and beginning to intermediate piano