Students give me the greatest gift by trusting me with the instruments that reside in their bodies. It is my responsibility to approach instruction with attention and integrity, always cognizant of the students’ vulnerabilities in placing their voices in my care. I do this by creating a safe space in my studio; I make myself accessible as a human being and respect their humanity as well, honoring who they are and what they bring to the experience. I have worked with students of varied ages, cultures, genders, transitioning gender identities, sexual orientations, races, students with learning disabilities, and students with varied levels of skill. I strive always to meet my students where they are in their lives and abilities to help them grow as singers and as people.

It is vital for a singer to understand their voice: solid knowledge of vocal technique helps to remove much of the mystery from this hidden instrument and allows students to rely on skill and craft to realize the tasks expected of them when performing. This is accomplished by focusing on evidence-based voice science and pedagogy in every lesson and studio class, encompassing respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation, all while simultaneously encouraging connected communication through dramatic interpretation of the literature.

Vocal health is often misunderstood and underwhelmingly emphasized in higher education curricula, to the detriment of many young singers. My objective is to arm vocal athletes with accurate information to maintain their vocal health, prevent vocal injury, and get on the rapid path to healing when their voices are compromised. With appropriate medical oversight, I have worked with singers recovering from a variety of vocal pathologies. With student/teacher collaboration and medical supervision, we have successfully navigated our way back to healthy vocalism and continued professional achievement. Instructing singers in vocal health and healthy vocalism in any genre is my passion, which I am lucky enough to continue to pursue.