Philosophy Statement

      As an instructor, it is not only my job to help my students better tell the stories that are given to them, but to aid in strengthening their own sense of self and confidence in their abilities no matter who they are or from where they come. Performance is an artform that celebrates diverse history, traditions, and identities; it is in many ways a reflection of the human experience. My teaching philosophy greatly centers around inclusivity, adaptability, and deep respect for the unique experiences and abilities possessed by my students. As an instructor of such a vulnerable artform and unique profession, I am deeply committed to creating an environment where all students feel supported, seen, and encouraged to reach their full potential as artists.
     Every student that enters my studio is entering through an entirely different lens from the person in front of or behind them. I always strive to honor these differences by tailoring my individual study with them based on their needs as well as creating an environment that offers a wide range of opportunities that offer insight, perspective, and opinions to reach a common thread of knowledge. I place great importance on approaching curriculum that is flexible, accommodating, but also one that pushes my students to their highest potential. As a teacher, I recognize that many students have differing strengths, and I therefore like to offer both visual and auditory learning tools that aid in understanding the subject matter, whether it be during individual instruction or in a group-setting. If the lesson proves difficult, I am always willing to adjust my teaching style or approach in order to reach understanding.  
     In addition to understanding that all of my students have their own individual journeys as performers, I recognize that my students all my have different goals for their professional careers. Many students participate in this program for reasons that vary. Some wish to make performing their careers, some wish to become opera or musical theater directors, or some wish solely to become voice teachers or musical theater instructors themselves. Whatever the reason, it is my goal to not only give my students the tools to keep their voices and their approach to learning healthy, but to give them the confidence and education to guide them to the next step of both their professional and academic journeys. My job as their teacher is to meet them where they are and to diagnose their individual hurdles on a case-by-case basis. In my studio and classroom, I strive for the following:  

•    To create a positive environment for cultivating and refining their skills
•    To help students get to know their voice and understand its realistic capabilities
•    To help students feel confident in replicating learned techniques in the practice room and in performance
•    To teach them to be willing to make mistakes and use them as learning opportunities
•    To help students to trust themselves 

     Ultimately, my goal as an instructor is to empower my students to joyfully develop their artistic skills while fostering a sense of belonging and community within my studio. By acknowledging and embracing the rich diversity of the arts, I strive to provide a space where each and every student feels valued, respected, and motivated to pursue their artistic goals.