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STUDIO SPOTLIGHT
 

Kay's Songs LISTEN!

INSTRUCTION: VOICE & PIANO

VOCAL INSTRUCTION

• For individuals planning or already active in a musical career
• For students preparing for adjudications and auditions
• For all who sing just for the joy of it

Each student's course of study is custom designed around his/her individual vocal performance and career goals, with the universal objective of promoting confidence, vocal health, projection, agility, expression and skillful musicianship.
 

Students will be considered for voice lessons when they have reach 9-10 years of age (4th Grade).  Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  The vocal skills learned in childhood can be used even as the voice transitions through puberty.  Care is always taken to select songs appropriate for the age and experience of each student.  Kay also has experience developing the recently changed male voice.

One is NEVER TOO OLD to learn to sing!  Kay Pere works with adult beginners, as well as experienced singers who wish to care appropriately for the mature voice.  She even teaches pitch matching to students told as children that they were "tone deaf" (in reality, a very rare condition).
 

• Selection:  Student and teacher selected materials are used.  Choices are based on each student's performance goals and vocal development needs.
• Styles:  Broadway, pop, rock, jazz, folk, art songs and opera. Style specific techniques are taught.
• Languages:  English, Italian, German, Latin and French.  Songs in languages other than English are taught phonetically, either by example or by using IPA transcriptions.  Poetic and word-by-word translations are provided for better communication of meaning by the singer.
   
• Book List: available on Tools for Singers page

• Technique:  breath control, healthy and stylistically appropriate placement of the voice.
• Diction:  Vowel and consonant production as used to interpret songs and communicate effectively with and audience.  For students studying songs in languages other than English, instruction is available in the use of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions.
• Sight-Reading:  intervals, rhythms, and basic ability to sing a simple, unaccompanied melody without having seen it before.
• Ear Training:  interval, scale, and chord identification, echo clapping rhythmic dictation.
• Theory:  from general identification of clefs, note names, and note values, to cadences, transposition and analysis.
• Songwriting/Composition:  Students who are interested in developing their own original material are strongly encouraged to do so!  Assistance and instruction will be provided if requested. (Kay Pere, an award winning songwriter, has studied songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Songwriters Association.  Her debut CD Even Better Than Chocolate was released in 2005.)
• Live Performance & Studio Recording Skills:  Audience interaction, musical interpretation for live performance, vocal projection without a microphone, use of a microphone in performance and recording studio, selection of repertoire for a specific audience or event, audition skills, and creating a demo tape/CD.

• Participation:   All students are encouraged to participate.
• Recital Repertoire:   Performers present 2-3 songs in contrasting styles.  Most participants will perform at least one song in a language other than English.  All selections are presented from memory.
• Accompanist:   A professional accompanist is hired for recitals.  This provides students with the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to rehearse and perform with professional accompanist.  Students who are able may choose to accompany themselves on piano or guitar for one of their selections.
• Audience:   The audience at Sound Krayons' student recitals consists of friends, family and members of the community.  Audience participation in sing-alongs lead by students has become a traditional part of Sound Krayons Music recitals.
• Tickets:   information available upon request.

FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING RECITALS
Click Here
 

• For individuals planning or already active in a musical career
• For students preparing for adjudications and auditions
• For all wishing to learn to play piano just for the joy of it

Each student's course of study is custom designed around his/her individual piano performance objectives and learning style, with the universal objective of promoting confident expression and skillful musicianship.
 

Young students will be considered for piano lessons who have reached an academic reading readiness level equivalent to that required to begin public school 1st grade.  Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

One is NEVER TOO OLD to learn to play piano!  Kay Pere works with adult beginners through intermediate level pianists who wish to continue to develop their skills and understanding of music theory. Specialized instruction is offered in piano based songwriting and composition skills.
 

• Selection:  Student and teacher selected materials are used.  Choices are based on each student's performance goals and musical development needs.
• Styles:  Material is drawn from both classical and popular repertoire. Style specific techniques are taught.
• Book List:  Coming soon.

• Technique:  agility, strength, expression, articulation, and more.
• Sight-Reading:  intervals, rhythms, and basic ability to sing a simple, unaccompanied melody without having seen it before (even pianists need to be able to sing a little!), playing material of appropriate difficulty by sight.
• Ear Training:  interval, scale, and chord identification, echo clapping rhythmic dictation.
• Theory:  from general identification of clefs, note names, and note values, to cadences, transposition and analysis.
• Songwriting/Composition:  Students who are interested in developing their own original material are strongly encouraged to do so!  Assistance and instruction will be provided if requested. (Kay Pere, an award winning songwriter, has studied songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Songwriters Association.  Her debut CD Even Better Than Chocolate was released in 2005.)
• Live Performance & Studio Recording Skills:  listening and ensemble playing skills, solid awareness of rhythmic pulse and tempo, selection of repertoire for a specific audience or event, audition skills, and creating a demo tape/CD.

• Participation:   All students are encouraged to participate.
• Recital Repertoire:   Performers present 2-3 pieces in contrasting styles.  All selections are presented from memory.
• Audience:   The audience at Sound Krayons' student recitals consists of friends, family and members of the community.  Audience participation in sing-alongs lead and accompanied by students has become a traditional part of Sound Krayons Music recitals.
• Tickets:   Information available upon request..

FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING RECITALS
Click Here