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Voice Private Lessons

 

Kim Rushing

Voice, Piano

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Tues. day, Thurs. eve., Sat. day

Levels Taught: All
Ages Taught: 14 and up


Kim sings all pop and jazz styles, has sung professionally worldwide in diverse venues for thirty years, and toured internationally with three-time GRAMMY®-winner and jazz legend, Jon Hendricks. She graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and also has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. Kim loves to work with students of all levels, and takes into account the learning style and personality of the individual student. She helps students develop a relaxed, natural tone through healthy vocal technique, and works to build their ear training, music literacy, and “real-life” musical skills to strengthen their confidence as musicians.

 

 

Tai Shan

Voice, Guitar, Songwriting

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Monday-Wednesday

Ages taught: 6 to adult

Levels taught: Beginning to Intermediate

 

Teacher Biography: Tai Shan is a songwriter known for unusual chord voicing, wide sweeping melodies, and detailed lyrics. She graduated cum laude with her B.A. in Music from Cornish College of the Arts, and has performed throughout the West Coast and on nationally released CDs, international videos, and local TV and radio stations. Tai’s teaching often focuses on a combination of singing, playing, and songwriting, and she encourages students to record their songs onto CD. She specializes in folk, rock, and jazz styles, and has won praise for her supportive approach – as one student stated, "Tai gave me the courage to go out and perform.” Visit Tai's website.

 

 

Peter Spencer

Voice, Guitar, Electric Bass, Songwriting

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

Ages Taught: 8 and Up

Levels Taught: All Levels


Teacher Biography: Peter Spencer was a founding member of the Greenwich Village Songwriters' Cooperative and contributing editor to the group's magazine Fast Folk, now being distributed through the Library of Congress. He is also a renowned fingerpicker and songwriter whose work combines jazz, blues, and folk in a unique way. Peter's lessons follow a path defined by the desires and directions of the individual student. His goal is to create players and singers who can have fun making music with their friends, their families, and in public, with a wide range of pieces available for them to play. Visit Peter's website.

 

 

Laurie Riley

Voice, Harp, Guitar, Clawhammer Banjo, Bodhrán

Teaches at Dusty Strings: Saturdays

Ages Taught: All

Levels Taught: All

 

Laurie is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter; her repertoire is drawn from many cultures and eras. She studied voice and vocal performance from age 5, and has taught voice since 1980. Laurie has played harp with the Chieftains, sung with the Masterwork Chorus at Avery Fisher Hall, and been featured on American Airlines in-flight music and on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”. She believes that your singing voice is your most powerful way of communicating, and that learning the secrets of good vocal production can be life-changing. Laurie helps students learn to use their whole body as a musical instrument, expand their range and lung capacity, improve tone and volume, and enunciate clearly and sing expressively.