Alexandra H.

As your teacher, I will prioritize your technique and the learning process, so that you will be set up for success in a collegiate setting. This means that you will learn: 1) about vocal anatomy and the physicality of the body as it relates to singing classical repertoire from reputable and peer-reviewed resources, 2) how to analyze and process songs with difficult harmonies, rhythms, and etc. using music theory, and 3) how to set yourself up for progress using the scientifically proven SMART-goals method that is used around the world. For vocal anatomy: there will be a number of textbooks to choose from, handouts, coloring pages, and miniature quizzes. Information will be provided on the Alexander Technique of Body Mapping, and other methods used to track sensations and increase awareness of your body's muscles during singing. For analyzing and practicing music: here we will discuss basic and intermediate music theory to help you analyze and process music. This includes, but is not limited to, handouts, practicing individual research and presentation of the music you're performing (such as name and birth/death dates of the composer and librettist, info about the composer's education and/or time period, and typical musical characteristics of the time period), and a breakdown of how to practice and manage your time effectively to maximize results. Not all practice time will be spent singing, and there are other ways to practice. For SMART-Goals: you will be required to keep a practice journal and to record lessons (either via voice recordings or video). This is so you can track your progress, find what works best for you, and further maximize the results of your individual practice time. If you are interested in getting a degree in vocal performance or music, this will be especially important for college, as you will need to be very organized in order to juggle all of your performances, practice, academic obligations, and extracurricular activities. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Rewarding, and Timely. This means if you have several songs to complete, you need to have SMART goals for each of them, and you must use your prior knowledge of the piece from your research and analysis to prioritize your songs accordingly. A song with a bigger range, more complex harmonies or rhythms, no repeated sections, etc. will typically require more time and energy from you than a song that's shorter, has a smaller range, and is repetitive. With this method, you will learn to prioritize your songs, and set yourself up for success!!! These skills will set you up for successful college auditions! Also provided to each student will be a college auditions handbook and resources!