"I try to work with students at a level that’s comfortable for them. But I also try to see where the edge is and if they can get close to the edge of their comfort zone, and maybe go beyond it."
"Working with first-year students has been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a freshness that is very contagious; it only feeds into my own enthusiasm for teaching, and particularly teaching here at Berklee. I’m eager to show them, 'Here is my experience. Here is what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years as a teacher and, in addition, for the last 35 years as a performing musician.'"
"I can’t emphasize enough that I’m not just teaching students how to sing. I’m teaching them how to be professional musicians. In addition, I want students to have grown a little bit more as young adults [after working with me]."
"I try to emphasize relaxation above anything else. If a student can feel comfortable with me as a teacher and as a human being, then we’re off to a very good start. I believe the work we’re doing comes from a relaxed place. I want them to be at ease. I want them to feel like they can be open to this learning experience, and so when it comes time to present in a performance setting, they begin with a calm, grounded center from which they will be open to expressing themselves. This is what we do as performing artists."
"I want students to come away with a solid technique that will serve them for the rest of their lives, whether or not they go into music professionally."
