Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is continuously evolving. As I reflect on my beliefs regarding both the teaching and learning processes, I find that my mission as an educator comprises four main objectives:

To provide a healthy and sustainable vocal technique;
To lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning;
To spark student enthusiasm for learning;
To maintain a positive learning atmosphere.

To accomplish these goals, I apply a wide variety of strategies, best summarized as “3 Ps”:

Physiological (providing students with the knowledge of how their instruments work and what their bodies are doing as they sing),
Psychological (figuring out what makes each student tick and what approaches will best work for him or her),
Performance (assessing one's own performance, as well as observing and evaluating colleagues' presentations).

While I realize that each young artist’s potential is different, I encourage all of my students to want the best and to realize that their only limitations are the ones they set. I consider it my duty to help them achieve their goals, to support that I teach solid healthy vocal technique, rather than a few quick fixes that will help with one song. I also make an effort to stay up-to-date on news and events in the field. I continue to further my own education and maintain an active performing schedule in conjunction with my teaching. I believe this work makes me a better educator—one who remains profoundly committed to his professional mission.