Upper School Music
19 years teaching, 2 at Country Day
Why is building strong teacher/student relationships important to you?
In the arts, we’re asking people to be vulnerable and show this other side of who they are; not just the academic part, but asking them, in my case, to sing. You have to build a relationship of trust and respect for each other so they’re willing to put themselves out there. One of the special things about teaching choir is that I may have a student for all four years, so I get to experience their growth, to see how they mature and gain confidence, how they learn that their voice is their power. Teenagers are really interesting people. They wear their emotions on their sleeves, so you learn a lot about them, especially if you build that trust. They’re fun to be around and they teach me a lot, too. I’ve also started a faculty choir and that has helped to build some wonderful relationships across departments and disciplines.
How are you a lifelong learner?
I’ve always enjoyed school. I got my undergraduate degree in piano performance, then a master’s in performance and pedagogy. A little while later I got a doctorate in education. And a little while after that I was ready for something else, so I moved to Ireland and got a second master’s in Gregorian chant and Irish singing. Recently, I’ve started taking harp lessons and hope to eventually be certified as a therapeutic harpist. There’s so much to learn; you can never know it all. Since being at Country Day, I was able to offer students a new class in Piano. We have a lab with six keyboards and headphones. Students work at their own pace, but also play for each other to build confidence. It’s a popular class, I think, because students can learn how to read music without having to be in a larger ensemble, or they just don’t feel comfortable singing.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started teaching?
Relax! When I came out of graduate school, I was so intense. When you’re a new teacher, you’re so eager for your students to learn and eager for them to be their best, that you’re not always your best. I haven’t lowered the bar, but I’ve learned to be more empathetic and understanding of what my students have going on in their lives. They’re not in college, they’re not majoring in music, they have other classes and commitments. It goes back to relationship building. When you know your students, you know what they need, and it makes for a better experience for everyone.