My philosophy as a teacher comes from experiences I have had as a student and a teacher over my lifetime. As a beginning student at 8 years old, we didn’t have the technology available to us in the 60’s that we do now. I would hear a song on the AM radio and ask my teacher if I could get the music for it. She would then have to go downtown to search for it and was oftentimes unsuccessful.
It was the same in college. There were not many recordings of vocals I could get and no teachers had recordings to play for me at my lessons. If I needed a key change and it couldn’t be found in print then I was unable to sing that song.
I have been teaching for 42 years and in that time I have always tried to move forward in my studio. I have continued my own education by being an active member of Music Teachers National Association, Nebraska Music Teachers Association and Omaha Music Teachers Association.
OMTA has monthly meetings combined with a musician speaker or program which focuses on teaching and preparing students for success. Nebraska Music Teachers has a yearly Conference in October linked with State and National Competitions, in which my students have been participants. I have attended the MTNA National Conferences since 1992 with the exception of four conferences. This moves me ever forward as a strong teacher keeping abreast of changes in the music field.
It has also helped me put technology in my studio that is a benefit to both the piano and voice student. I have computer technology which allows the student to learn theory and composition, and I can transfer vocal music into the computer and change keys as needed. There is no limit to the songs my students can sing!
With the addition of the iPad to the studio in 2014, we are able to “compete” in a friendly manner with students around the world as well as in the home studio. there are several apps from Joytunes and I can even assign homework that can be done on the iPad! If you have an iPad and take lessons here, I can make the connection that allows you to complete lessons or just have fun at home! we do have theory and music appreciation apps on the iPad as well. Lots of fun!!