I have years of experience teaching and performing classical, jazz and world music, which adds some international flavor to my teaching approach. I seek to assist the student in developing their creativity and mastering skills of their heart's desire. I'm an expert on voice and diction, able to assist vocalists in singing popular music informed by classical technique, yet with a modern, natural sound that suits each student. I help the student to find their voice. It's important to work on music that the student enjoys in order to stimulate the greatest potential. I offer some technical studies (exercises) that build the voice or instrumental understanding in order to bring strength to any style of musical performance. I teach functional piano to children and adults, and hope to educate students on basic theory in the process. I can meet the student in their home or school or teach in my home studio in Cliffside Park, NJ.
My education includes studies at the University of Houston, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the University of North Texas, and Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. I've taught privately in home studio since 1990. I was a private contractor teaching voice for the Appleton Area School District at North High School (2008-9) and East High School (2009-10). I've performed, composed, recorded and arranged vocals for studio recordings (Nashville, 1980-87). I've studied vocal improvisation with Bobby McFerrin (Omega Institute 2005) and Rhiannon (Omega Institute 2005, Wisconsin 2006, and Big Island of Hawaii, 2006). I'm presently active in the New York City Vocal Improv Collaborative (2011-present), and perform regularly in the NYC area singing jazz, pop, and world music. While in Texas, I sang and was featured soloist in the Denton Bach Choir (2002-2005). I love teaching and have had great success with facilitating growth in a student who is willing to practice an average of 20 minutes/day on their instrument.
I've performed solo in Texas, California, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, New York, and New Jersey. I've enjoyed tours in Montevideo, Uruguay (2004), and Hamamatsu, Japan (2012). Some highlights include the Charles Neville House Band (New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, 1980), work with Tom Scott and the L.A. Express (Colorado, 1980), Circo (1990-2005) recording North/South Convergence (2000) and Return to Whenever (2005). I taught composition to middle school and high school students in Wisconsin, and facilitated Vocal Improvisation classes for the Boys and Girls Choirs of Green Bay camps.
I have 23 years' experience in desktop publishing: 1990-93 at the Arkansas Census State Data Center, 12 years as Publications Computer Specialist at the University of North Tezas Office of University Relations, Communications and Markaeting (1993-2005). Book design: UNT Press (2003-2007) "Pride of Place", "Hinojosa", and "They Are Ruining Ibiza". Contract book design: "Special Studies for Trumpet" 2011. Editing, proofreading, and desktop publishing have been an ongoing thread through my musical pursuits. I'm a licensed user of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro). My mother was a proofreader for newspapers all of her life, so I was raised by the grammar police! I enjoy English Arts and am also a writer.
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