A Teacher Spotlight Series
Behind every confident performance, bold brushstroke, or breakthrough moment is a teacher who believes first.
Our “5 Questions for Your Teacher” series pulls back the curtain on the incredible educators who inspire our students every day. From teaching philosophies to unforgettable moments, we’re sharing the voices, stories, and personalities that make our classrooms such special places to grow.
Meet the people who help students find their confidence, creativity, and courage — one lesson at a time.
Question 1: What first sparked your passion for your craft, and how does that influence the way you teach your students today?
My mom always says I learned how to sing before I could talk. She found me singing the Sesame Street theme song to myself in my crib, and I’ve been singing ever since! What sparked my passion for musical theatre, however, was seeing my very first Broadway show as a kid. My parents took my brother and I to see The Phantom of the Opera. I was completely awe struck! I knew instantly that that was what I wanted to do. I devoured every musical I could, joined every school musical, and later went on to study Vocal Performance in college. College was my first experience with formal vocal training, and I was completely fascinated by vocal technique. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could. After college, I went on to train with Broadway professionals to solidify my contemporary vocal technique (I studied opera and classical voice technique in college). These teachers encouraged me to start teaching voice myself and led me to taking vocal pedagogy certification courses, which taught me vocal anatomy, how to teach students new vocal habits, and even how to create individualized vocal exercises for each unique student. Deciding to share my passion for my craft with the next generation of singers was the best decision I could have ever made for myself, and I hope to be the teacher I always needed for them!
What’s something your students might be surprised to learn about you?
I love seeing Broadway shows alone. There is something so special about spending time with myself, seeing an art form that I am so passionate about. I feel like I am fully immersed in the world, and I can really focus on my own thoughts and opinions about the show. It’s a favorite pastime of mine!
Question 2: Can you share a memorable breakthrough moment with a student—when something finally clicked—and what helped make that happen?
I had a student who would sing with a very soft, and breathy sound. It didn’t match their speaking voice, which was a much stronger and present sound. I always say that we only have once voice so the voice we speak with is the one that we sing with. I spent time working on vocal exercises that encourage the natural speaking tone to shine through. When we honor our natural tone qualities, we stay true to our unique and authentic voice. We want you to sound like YOU – not an imitation of someone else or like you have two different voices. Working this way every week helped bring this student’s voice to the next level. Now they sing with a voice that fills up the room and the confidence that now emanates from them is truly awe inspiring.
Question 3: How do you adapt your teaching for different ages or learning styles, especially when a student feels stuck or lacks confidence?
I like to take time getting to know my students beyond their artistic ability – who they are as a human – that’s what makes the artist unique beyond technical skill. Getting to know what they like allows me to create individualized vocal exercises catered to who they are as a person and what vocal goal we’re working on that day. This helps make the voice lesson feel like a fun outlet as opposed to boring work. Switching up the routine and making sure my student feels seen helps break them out of their shell and feel good about the work they’re doing. I always say that singing is play. We’re playing with different sounds to achieve a specific vocal goal so why not try a vocal exercise using the name of their favorite toy? “Labubu” is a very popular one in my studio!
Question 4: What’s one thing parents can do at home to help their child get the most out of their lessons?
Practice at home is key to helping young artists achieve the musical skills they want. Even five minutes of practice every day can help progress be made. I would suggest meeting your children where they are. Forcing them is only going to make them want to quit, but if you encourage them by noting the progress they’re making, you’d be surprised to see their motivation grow. A simple “wow! I really hear a difference. I’m so proud of you!” goes a very long way. I also encourage parents to let their children explore the music they like, not just what you hope to see your child do. Remember we are all unique individuals with our own unique tastes. Let them discover who they are and who they are meant to be. Art in any form is the perfect outlet for self-discovery
Question 5: What do you hope your students gain from lessons beyond just skills?
I hope my students gain confidence in themselves. My greatest joy is seeing my students starting to believe in themselves. Anything is possible when we love ourselves enough to take a risk. Patience is another trait I hope they gain in music lessons. New skills take time to learn. When we learn to have patience with ourselves, we don’t give up quite so easily. We forge on knowing that tomorrow is a new day, and we can try again. I also hope that my students learn how to be empathetic to themselves and to others. Art is representative of all people. When we learn how to access our empathy, we learn how to share joy and kindness with others, and that is the greatest gift of all.