Hello! I am a professional singer, music teacher, and collaborative musician based in Kalamazoo, MI. I received a music teaching degree, and later a Master's degree in opera performance at the University of Michigan. Although I trained as an opera singer, I perform and teach many styles of music, including musical theatre and folk. I teach students of all ages, focusing on a holistic approach to each individual's unique instrument. Over time, I've come to realize that learning how to sing starts with breaking down physical and mental barriers that inhibit a free, natural sound. Most of my technical work with students begins with this premise, finding those barriers and tackling them together. Examples of barriers may include tension in the neck muscles, tension in the core that inhibits breathing, fear of the sound that will come out, and many more. My students are often amazed at how quickly their voices change once we remove a barrier. For all students, I put an emphasis on storytelling, which I consider to be just as important as the music itself. Storytelling is why we sing; it gives our voices purpose and helps us communicate to others. Working on storytelling can look like analyzing the text of a song, brainstorming feelings and ideas of the character, and finding relevant experiences in your own life to bring to the song.