BOSTON | PrivateLessons.com member Tammy Scheffer is a senior at the New England Conservatory of Music. College students have to do all kinds of jobs to support themselves, and it is nice to see a college student dedicated to private teaching and working in her field. Tammy is a jazz singer. She fuses middle eastern melodies with jazz to achieve a signature sound. She writes her own songs and performs in jazz clubs with her sextet. On a recent trip to Boston, we had a brief conversation with Tammy, discussing teaching and music making.
BOSTON | If you are booked for several years in advance, the answer is simple. In the case of Bryan Hymel, he is slated to graduate Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts in May 2009, however, for the last year or so he has been living out of a suitcase. I am hoping he shows up at least for the graduation recital.
I saw Bryan last summer when he came to me to coach Rimsky-Korsakoff’s “The Snow Maiden” for performances in Wexford Festival in Ireland. As I travel around the country, it gives me great pleasure to attend performances by recent AVA students. Last Friday night, Bryan made a stellar debut with the Boston Lyric Opera in Dvorak’s “Rusalka”
300 Songs and Counting for Singer-Songwriter Karen DeBiasse
BOSTON | On my trip to Boston, I visited with PrivateLessons.com long-time member, Karen DeBiasse. Originally from West Chester PA, near Philadelphia, Karen graduated with honors from the Berklee College of Music. A busy voice teacher, she teaches a vocal method that seems to work magic with her students. Rock is hard singing, and the technique certainly works well for her own singing, leaving her voice fresh after each show. Karen’s rock band “Girl on Top” performs her original songs and is found regularly in the East Coast venues.
BOSTON | Fear not if your kid, to the annoyance of school teachers, is in constant motion, tapping out rhythms with feet, hands and pencils. This is not a behavioral issue. It’s a matter of expression. Your kid just happens to be a drummer.
On my visit to Boston, I sat down for a conversation with PrivateLessons.com Member, Dave Rodenhiser. Dave attended the Berklee College of Music but it became apparent that with a full performing and private teaching schedule he needed to focus on the work at hand. Dave shares a charming story of how he built his first drum set, paying for it by doing variety of chores and odd jobs.
So you want to audition for the Berklee College of Music?
BOSTON | This weekend we sat down for a short conversation with PrivateLessons.com Member, Gil Graham. Gil is a private drum teacher in Arlington, MA area. Previously, Gil spent 14 years on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music. Competition for top tear music schools is serious business. Berklee places an important role on private instructors to offer proper audition guidance and preparation. Here is an insider’s take.
Founded in 1996, PrivateLessons.com is an exclusive membership of professional musicians helping private music students discover the joy of music making.
