Escher Studios LLC

I have always loved to sing. While refining my technique in my graduate program at Westminster Choir College I happily discovered a true passion for teaching singing.

Since graduation in 2004 I have been teaching in my own private studio as well as in a public school as a studio voice teacher. In both of these settings I have come across a wide variety of students. I have had to teach all sorts of repertoire from early music to songs from the newest musical theater shows.

My job is to see each singer as a whole person and reach her or him through whatever means is most effective. My objective to teach a unique lesson for each student allows me to draw upon a vast array of methods through which to communicate. I can explain, show, create imagery, elicit kinesthetic responses, provide pictures and diagrams, play a recording, or any number of other methods to communicate a musical or technical concept. My approach to teaching is simple: the student and his or her unique needs are at the center of every lesson.

Because of my interest in pedagogy and my belief that excellent teaching in the private studio is important, I have continued to challenge myself as a singer and teacher in a variety of ways. I am constantly seeking new tools to help communicate technical ideas to my students. To that end I have participated in many seminars, workshops and master classes and performed a wide variety of music in my area.

One of the most rewarding professional development experiences I’ve had to date was being a “NATS intern” during the summer of 2008. 12 teachers with 5 or less years of experience are selected from across the USA and Canada to be mentored by master teachers and participate in master classes and other educational sessions. I was the only full time private studio teacher selected that year and also the youngest of all of the interns. I had the pleasure of working with Charles Peterson who is a master teacher located in Seattle, W.A. who not only teaches classical repertoire but has extensive knowledge of musical theater styles and pedagogy. The opportunity to have someone with his years of experience observe and critique my teaching has had amazingly positive and lasting effects on my pedagogy.

Another strong influence on my teaching is my Yoga practice and body work. I have always believed in the importance of alignment and freedom in the whole body while singing and my appreciation of this concept was taken to a new level when I participated in Mark Moliterno’s YogaVoice Seminar in March ‘08. Yoga poses are a powerful tool to that can open the body and relieve unwanted tension- no previous yoga experience or “flexibility” required!

Every professional development experience has enhanced and shaped my teaching. The Master Singers and Teachers week at WCC the summer of '04 gave me the opportunity to learn a great deal from watching master teachers work with singers of all ages and levels. Each master teacher had a unique approach or "specialty" and all were successful teachers, eliciting the responses they were looking for from their students.From Anat Keidar's Vocal Health Summer Seminar at WCC summer '06 I built on my existing knowledge of vocal health and vocal pathology. I took with me techniques for teaching students to use a more effective and healthy speaking voice that modulates and has good resonance. It is my experience that for many young girls who speak too low and in a gruff manner, learning to speak correctly can help their singing greatly.

Heather Buchanan's Workshop on Breathing in March of '07 introduced me to the concept of body mapping and its power to create stronger and more efficient connections between the brain and the body. I often refer to the text she suggested "What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body" by Barbara Conable in lessons because the illustrations are so clear and powerful.