20245 Kingsville St., Harper Woods, MI 48225, 120 N. Military, Dearborn MI, 48124
Instruments:Chorus, Composition, Ear Training, Musicology, Piano, Theory, Voice
Styles:Classical, Jazz, Kids
Levels:Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Experience:30 years
Rate:$42 / hr
Personal Statement
As a performer, I specialize in Debussy, Chopin, and Brahms on the piano, with a sprinkling of Christmas jazz. I also love to perform and coach chamber music (piano with strings). I sing popular music from the 40’s, musical theater, classic art songs, opera, and sacred church solos. I enjoy students of all backgrounds, age 4 through adult. We have 2 recitals per year, with 4 Studio Classes to learn performance skills, present composer reports, and interact with other students,giving helpful feedback to others. I emphasize theory, analyzing music to understand how the composer put chords and musical ideas together. Each student learns music history styles, ever-changing and interacting with art.
I have 2 locations: Harper Woods and Dearborn.
I have directed musical theater and periodically hold drama
workshops. I enjoy directing church choirs.
Education / Training
I have undergraduate degrees in Vocal Performance and Theater from Adrian College, and a Master of Master in Piano Pedagogy from Oakland University. Between studies, I performed 4 years with the international Christian theater company Covenant Players throughout the U.S., Canada, and German-speaking Europe.
I studied opera with coloratura soprano Carolyn Grimes, art
song with Art Jones and Betty Smith. I specialize in bel canto singing enhanced by Alexander Technique, a method of learning to release hindering body tension.
My undergrad piano study focused on Brahms and Debussy. Later, as grad assistant for Flavio Varani, artist-in-residence at Oakland U., I studied and performed Mozart,
Chopin, and classical chamber music coached by the Lafayette String Quartet. I also specialize in the Dorothy Taubmann Piano Technique, which I studied with Joseph Gurt at Eastern Michigan U, a healthy approach to avoid repetitive motion injury.