Hello!

What was your first experience in music? 

I was given a toy piano when I was two or three, and I am told that I tried to pick out melodies on it, so I suppose that was my first experience.  I also recall being really annoyed as a young child that the windshield wipers did not align with the tempo of whatever song was on the car radio during rainstorms. My first memory of performing was in second grade - my class sang Suzy Snowflake.  I was asked to be a snow dancer but declined, because I didn't think my mother would be willing to provide the required costume pieces.  I later found out that the dancers would not be singing, and I was relieved that I had turned down the feature dance role, as I would have been devastated if I had been kept from singing.

 

What instruments do you play, and which one is your primary expertise? 

I am a singer and mallet percussionist, as well as an actor. I play piano at a level that serves my teaching well, but not at a concert performance level.  I played the violin in high school, and learned just enough cello once to support a need in the pit orchestra of a school musical. 

 

Have you performed professionally or collaborated with any notable musicians or ensembles? 

I was a percussionist and assistant conductor with Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, touring the US and Canada for two summers.  I have team-taught with some wonderful collaborative teachers whom I consider notable, even if they are not widely known.

 

Can you share any success stories or testimonials from your previous students? 

I had a third grade student who was highly resistant to singing.  I knew he took piano lessons, so I sought permission from my administration to work with him differently as we prepared for the annual all school Christmas concert.  I connected with his piano teacher, sharing my plan to write bell parts for him to accompany his class songs. She agreed to fold that music into her private lesson work with him.  He was not immediately hooked, but his piano teacher and I kept working with him and he did perform the bells parts.  Two years later, he auditioned for my hand chime choir, where he remained for four years and grew into a leader during his eighth grade year.   He just needed to make music another way.  I am glad my school allowed me to meet him where he was and help him find his niche.

 

If money was no option, what dream vacation would you go on? 

I have seen some of Europe through choir tours.  I would like to go to one of the smaller towns I have briefly seen through tourist eyes and stay several months to really get to know some of the people and really live the true culture.  I would also love to stay at a lake house all summer.  For me, the dream is more about extending the time for a fuller experience. 

 

What do you do when you’re not teaching?

In the summer, I spend quite a lot of time on my patio reading books or taking care of my flowers and vegetable garden.  Spears vs. Rabbits is an ongoing battle of wits.  I also enjoy tent camping, kayaking and riding my bike. In the winter, I move my reading to a chair near the fireplace and invite friends over for board game nights.  I also cook big batches of food for freezing and sharing with friends. An annual winter tradition is making two crock pots full of my grandmother's recipe ham and bean soup.