View Profile Page

Profile

Although I have been teaching at Montclair State for more than 20 years, I have continued to have an active singing career. My experience is varied and deep, as I have performed, toured and recorded contemporary music, early music, oratorio and recitals, opera and music theater. This practical experience has informed my teaching at every step. As well as grounding students in understanding of vocal pedagogy, I want to mentor a new generation of colleagues. My work in wide range of styles helps me to know what these emerging artists need to know in order to flourish in their respective musical communities. I help them develop skills to understand the physicality of singing; we work on strengthening musical skills including decoding musical scores so they can develop their own interpretations of works based on what is on the page; we use eurhythmics to internalize rhythm; we work on text separately from music to develop storytelling skills; and most importantly, I teach them how to practice. Learning to set short, achievable tasks to avoid frustration and help them learn how to see their own improvement. We develop a physical checklist to diagnose tension and how to recognize how it is released. We do daily breathing work so these skills become second nature. My goal is for each student to discover their own individual sound and how to use it for the best outcome for them.

Resume/CV