Tori Trahan
Lesson Feesfrom $25.00 / 30 Minutes
Promotions Available
About
Hello!
I'm currently a graduate student, finishing up my Master's of Music in Voice. I discovered a love for music and singing at a young age and, although my original dream in elementary school was to be a pop star, I set my sights on Opera when I began studying classical music in college. Over the course of both of my degrees, I've thoroughly enjoyed teaching voice lessons, and discovered a passion for passing on knowledge and helping others. As my graduate studies are coming to a close, I've decided to continue with tutoring and teaching online so I can help even more students, no matter the geographical distance.
Some fun facts about me: I'm a Mezzo-soprano. My favorite TV show is How I Met Your Mother (bonus fun fact: I was in a production of Così fan tutte modeled after HIMYM-- it was a blast). My favorite opera is Il barbiere di Siviglia, but my favorite performance of an opera that I've been in was Hansel & Gretel. My hobbies include reading, writing, yoga, and running. I'm currently working on my French and Italian language requirements for my degree. Like many other musicians, I'm an avid coffee-drinker. And lastly, I'm looking forward to working with you!
First and foremost, I believe every student is capable of achieving their goals. There is no helpless or hopeless student; it's simply a matter of uncovering misunderstandings and finding different tools and paths-- what works for each individual student. With this approach, when a student finds themselves running into a problem, I aim to shift the focus from feelings of shame and frustration to, instead, curiosity and joy so we can experiment and discover what works for them.
My students enjoy a relaxed and accepting environment, able to openly verbalize their struggles so I may better help them reach our mutual goal: their success. I believe a student's weekly lesson or tutoring session should be a highlight, rather than something to dread-- we will work hard, but the student should leave feeling they've taken steps forward, or at least discovered what the next steps will be.
MM Voice at Indiana University (in progress). Studied Vocal Pedagogy with Dr. Brian Horne. Studies Private Voice with Wolfgang Brendel || BM Vocal Performance at Sam Houston State University (2019). Studied Private Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, and French Diction with Dr. Deborah Popham. Studied English, Italian, and German Diction with Dr. Rebecca Renfro. Studied Music Theory/Musicianship with Dr. Kevin Clifford, Dr. Kyle Kindred, David Ikard, and Dr. Colin Davis. || Graduated from Spring High School (2015). Texas All-state Mixed Choir Alto II (2014 & 2015). || more experience and credentials listed on Performance Resume.
Each student's curriculum will be shaped based on a combination of the skill set they already have, and what they want to work towards. These lessons will be planned with your individual goals and circumstances in mind.
Regarding lesson materials: if you have something specific you'd like help with (an aria, a song, All-State music, a homework assignment, test prep, etc.), I will be better able to help you if you can share it with me before the lesson. If you aren't sure what to send, feel free to ask me!
Singers
I will do my best to provide scans and PDF files of any scores or materials you might need, but if you're interested in growing your own library, I recommend starting with 24 Italian Songs and Arias, Gateway to German Lieder, The French Song Anthology, and/or The G. Schirmer Collection of American Art Song. These would be a great place to start exploring repertoire books, but you can absolutely start with others if they catch your eye. Keep in mind that they're published in different editions for different voice types, and you should select the one you feel best describes your voice (or I could advise you after a few lessons). I would advise checking out a copy in your nearest music library before purchasing if possible.
For singers at the high school level and beyond interested in learning more about the science of singing (with some exercises to help you discover things yourself), I recommend James McKinney's Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. For singers that will soon be pursuing classical singing at the collegiate level and beyond, I recommend Scott McCoy's Your Voice: An Inside View (keep in mind that it is used in college courses, both undergraduate and graduate).
Music Theory Students
I recommend and will be using Tonal Harmony by Kostka et al. (7th ed), but it won't be necessary to purchase the text if it's out of budget. Alternatively, if you are enrolled in a theory class that requires a different text, we can work out of that.
Diction Students
I recommend Diction for Singers by Wall et al. (2nd ed) as it contains multiple languages and a beginner-friendly introduction, however having your own copy will not be required for lessons. Additional resources include dictionaries in foreign languages with English translations (i.e. a French-English dictionary).