Teaching Philosophy
Teresa's weekly private studio roster is full for the school year, however please contact Teresa if you wish to schedule occasional lessons by appointment. There is some summer availability still for consultations as well as virtual and in-person lessons.
ABOUT TERESA'S TEACHING
Teresa has been helping students of all levels gain technical skill, confidence and artistry for more than twenty years in her home as well as in various schools and organizations. Teresa always meets the individual student where they are, to help them build their voices, their confidence, their repertoire and their joy in singing. Serving as Head of Voice at Walnut Hill School for the Arts since 2015, she also maintains a small private studio of students from teens to adults, from her home in the Boston area. A long time member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), she also offers master classes and audition coaching.
With strong kinesthetic empathy (her super-power!), a mother's intuition, and an ear for vocal health, she is passionate about helping her singers be both healthy and happy in all their vocal performances, auditions, and experiences. She has an extensive background in vocal technique, languages, musicianship, acting, stagecraft, dance and movement which she calls upon to help singers improve their overall artistry and polish. She is devoted to helping students identify and release tensions, to efficiently redirect those energies to more efficient, free and authentic singing. She helps students learn how to practice effectively so that they truly progress from lesson to lesson. She is passionate about song texts, and helps students work with the language, so that vocal technique ultimately serves the drama, character, emotion, and story.
Whether teaching classical bel canto, or healthy belting, Teresa guides the students to recognize their own physical feedback, to be able to sing with stylistic appropriateness and excellent vocal health. Teresa is invested in the long term success of her students, and helps then discover a reliable foundation that serves them well in all their future pursuits. Her students have gone on to gain acceptance at some of the world's finest conservatories and colleges, to pursue careers in performance or education, as well as jobs adjacent to or outside of the arts.
Her students have gone on to continue their training at:
Curtis, Juilliard, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman, McGill, New England Conservatory, Cincinnati Conservatory, Cleveland Institute, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, NYU, University of Michigan, Oklahoma City University, Northwestern, Boston Conservatory, Pace, Westminster, Harvard, and more.
Vocal styles: Classical, Legit, Mix Belt, Belt, Contemporary/pop
Teaching Philosophy:
As a teacher, I ask these questions: Who are you? What do you have to say through your music? Why are you the one who has to say it? What's getting in the way?
Each student singer is as individual as their own unique voice. One of my greatest joys is to help young singers discover who they are and free them to express themselves through their own unique, only-one-in-the-world voice.
Throughout all aspects of my teaching, I strive to be encouraging, supportive and truly engaged with my students as mentor, guide, cheerleader, and instructor. Singing freely takes incredible courage - a willingness to be vulnerable and imperfect. I can hear the potential in each voice, for how it will blossom with time and care, and I am devoted to nurturing singers along that journey. It is a great honor to be there with them in the moment of a personal discovery, when they have the confidence and skill to share their gifts authentically and joyfully. To find one's true voice is to find oneself, and I can think of nothing greater than guiding my students along that path.
- Teresa Winner Blume