The psychological connection between body and mind is an important factor of personal growth as well as a key function in authentic storytelling. The focus of my teaching is often both creative and intellectual. The arts create a direct line of communication between performer and audience. As a teacher, I am often both witness and participant to this process. Fostering a collaborative, trusting relationship between my students and myself is key.
The arts can be an emotional release, and, as such, performing can often bring up challenging emotions, sensations, memories, and triggers. With this in mind, my approach to teaching means incorporating somatic, psychological, and emotional alignment for the whole performer, analyzing characters through the lens of psychology, and providing maximum individualized growth to discover an effective and connected storyteller for theatre audiences.
My enthusiasm for teaching has always come from a belief that performers who learn to trust themselves become free to explore healthy emotional awareness, effective vocal production, and are better equipped to let go of the technical elements and mental hurdles to get straight to the art of the creative process. Emphasis is placed on the student/group’s unique needs, setting personal goals, overcoming and supporting each other through life’s challenges, and delving deep to discover our best, most authentic selves to embody the characters they play, whether on small local stages or in professional venues.
I am a firm believer that students must feel free to be wholly themselves within their artistic learning environment, regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or political affiliation. Great care is taken to personalize lessons with each uniquely individual student being considered. It is also my belief that teachers of any subject should stay up-to-date on the latest emerging technology and science in their field, consistently seeking to further their education by attending workshops in vocal anatomy and pedagogy, as well as the psychological connection between body and mind, in order to bring the very best education to every student. As an added benefit, the networking opportunities that come along with attending workshops and lectures with like-minded instructors at the top of their field is especially beneficial to ensure the continued growth of my own offerings and keep a fresh perspective in the classroom.