Authentic musicians create authentic music.
Music Lessons are currently offered for serious and intermediate to advanced-level voice and piano students high school age and above. Location is determined at the time of contract. Schedule will be determined per the availability of the teacher and student.
In-person (rate dependent on location)
Starting at:
• $34/half-hour
• $68/hour
Online
• $30/half-hour
• $60/hour
(Contract also specifies Cancellation and Illness Policies)
*********
Holistic Vocal Pedagogy
We, like everything else on this earth, are made up of 6 primary elements: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus.
We are more than just our instrument.
Especially true for vocalists, as we are the instrument, musical instruction needs to include more than technical proficiency. Becoming a well-rounded musician must include practice in understanding our individual bodies and their needs, our emotional world including our minds and our egos, and our spirit - what drives us, the source of our truest expression, and where our passion lies. While musicians and music instructors have no required education in psychology, interoception, mindfulness, or mind-body connection, and it is unethical for music instructors to approach instruction through these elements without related and proper training, it is important that musicians everywhere, particularly instructors, be introduced to this information to not only help themselves become better musicians and people, but to inspire, cause no harm to, and appropriately interact with the next generations of musicians.
My personal style of holistic vocal pedagogy focuses on wellness in mind, body, and spirit as a means of healthy and effective vocal production through a student-centered approached influenced by adapted music therapy techniques, historical holistic pedagogy and psychology, mindfulness, and spiritual and philosophical practices, such as minimalism, the ethics of yoga, and Secular Buddhism. It is my aim to help students achieve their individualized goals by providing personalized instruction on technique, musicality, and mindfulness so they feel empowered to pursue and/or engage in music with an independent ability to care for their overall wellbeing.
Curious to know more? Follow my instagram account @MusicwithMadi to read more tips and insights to my approach of holistic pedagogy!
*********
Neurologic Music Therapy® and Music Lessons: What’s the difference?
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)® is a research-guided clinical model that is driven by advances in neuroscience and the understanding of the perception, production, and performance of music and how music can influence and change non-musical brain and behavior function; It is a standardized system of clinical techniques that use the functional perception of all properties of music to train and retrain brain and behavior function. The research that guides NMT relies on neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change by strengthening and weakening connections within it. Music therapy sessions can include a variety of instruments, singing, electronic music, and/or recorded and/or live music, based on the client’s preferences, but the use of musical tools will be designed specifically to address the client’s needs in social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral domains.
Music lessons and adaptive music lessons are provided to anyone of any age or ability with goals solely encompassing musical skill sets. An holistic method of pedagogy encourages students to build connections between mind, body, and spirit. Especially applicable to vocal students who require instruction on bodily functions (i.e. breath management), it is essential that music students share thoughts, feelings/emotions, physical/mental blockages, physical limitations, etc. as they occur in lessons, but they can/will be addressed only to the extent required for musical function – anything further would be removed from the music instructor’s scope of practice. Persisting concerns regarding student’s overall health and wellness will be shared with the student’s caregiver(s), and further references or referrals will be shared, if applicable.
Because music instruction is tailored to students’ specific goals and needs, which includes being mindful of a student’s mental, physical, and spiritual health, it can often be viewed as “similar” to NMT. Both practices use music and may address areas of overall health and wellness, but the respective goals of each practice are completely different! NMT is designed to addresses non-musical skills, while music lessons are aimed to address musical skills.
*********
To schedule lessons and for further information or specific questions about which service may be most beneficial, please reach out via the “Contact” tab above. Please provide your name, contact information, and your specific reason(s) for seeking music instruction.