Piano with Kristine S.

Hi! My name is Kristine, and I'm a classically trained mezzo soprano, lifelong music student, and performer. My music studies began with piano at the age of six, but eventually led to two undergraduate degrees in Music and Broadcasting, which included ten years of private study in Bel Canto technique. In addition to my work as a classical singer, I collaborate with a variety of artists working in genres such as folk, bluegrass, gospel, experimental rock, spoken word, broadway, and jazz standards. These collaborations have resulted in performances at a variety of Denver venues, as well as private engagements and parties. After over twenty-five years of musical training and performance in a wide range of genres, I began teaching as a way to share my love of music with children and adults who are in the early stages of their exploration of this wonderfully expressive art. Because of my varied musical background, I am uniquely positioned to tailor lessons to your individual needs and interests, while maintaining a fun, progress oriented structure. In teaching, my goal is to provide a warm and welcoming environment to nurture my student's natural musical curiosity and personal expression while laying the foundation for continued study with fundamental concepts of theory and technique. Often, when a person starts music lessons, it can seem scary and often comes with feelings of vulnerability or embarrassment ("Everyone's looking at me!"). This kind of anxiety can hinder the learning experience, which is why I use humor to engage my students and encourage them to be easy on themselves. In my studio, we continuously strive for progress, not perfection. After all, no one just wakes up one day and magically knows how to play an instrument or sing. It takes time. So, why engage in a learning process that is perfection driven and joyless? Together, we can make your discovery of music truly rewarding! *** Lesson Details *** In order to foster a student's love for their instrument and appreciation of music in general, my lessons focus on progress and individual achievement, not perfection. Each voice or piano lesson consists of warm-up exercises, repertoire, and music theory concepts as students gradually learn about pitch, rhythm, dynamics and other musical elements. Practice techniques and routines are discussed as well, so that students develop the skills to prepare for their lesson and explore new pieces on their own. While I primarily use classical and folk music pieces in my lessons, I also work with you, the student, to incorporate personal musical tastes into the teaching repertoire. After 3 months of lessons, the majority of students have a beginning foundation in rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and technique. As we work together, students continue to build and expand on those concepts, and come away from lessons with technique that can be applied to any genre of music, and a knowledge base that prepares them for more advanced studies. I use the following methods and books in my studio, but am always open to using any books or materials you may already have. In piano instruction, I use Faber Piano Adventures series for children and adult, Hanon and Jr. Hanon exercises, Hal Leonard Finger Aerobics, and Alfred Complete Essentials Theory books. In my vocal instruction, I use classical, folk, and broadway/jazz standards as well as popular genres such as rock, folk, R&B, and country. *** Studio Equipment *** Lesson studio is on the second floor (not wheelchair accessible). I use a full length weighted-key keyboard and provide seating and a separate waiting area for parents and children. *** Specialties *** Piano and voice, folk music, rock, pop and country, Broadway and jazz standards, music theory, timid or shy students, chord structure, music performance.