The Whole Performer Studio currently offers private voice and piano lessons in Ringgold, Georgia. Lessons are taught out of the choir room at Ringgold United Methodist Church. The Whole Performer Studio hopes to also offer dance and theater classes in the future.
The Whole Performer Studio tries to take a holistic approach in teaching and learning the performing arts. I believe the arts are beneficial for our minds, bodies, spirits, and communities, and I believe all of the different kinds of arts are interconnected.
Body
Making music both requires a healthy body and shapes a healthy body. Many people spend hours a day slouching in a desk, but good alignment is key to making music. In music lessons, we practice this through stretching and relaxing the body, using things like the Alexander technique and Yoga. Breathing is also important for making music. It relaxes the mind and body, and it is the fuel for singing. In music lessons we learn how our breath works and we practice good breathing habits. We also learn to calm our nerves and regulate our bodies through breath. All of these things are also beneficial for simply living.
Mind
Creativity keeps us youthful. When we learn to make and read music, we are essentially learning another language. We also use math for rhythms. Memorization is a skill that artists must continually develop, whether it’s short term memory used to echo patterns or long term memory used to perform without sheet music.
Spirit
Personally, I am a Christian, and this is something I almost can’t help but exude when I create art. When we create, the things we value and believe are revealed to the world, however obvious or subtle we choose to present them. Performing and creating is also one of the main ways I express worship. I fully believe God created us to create. The arts are such a tangible way to worship- we use our voices and bodies, and each expression is unique to each and every individual.
Community
The arts bring us together. We work together to make art. We cross cultural, religious, and generational boundaries to share art. I hope to foster a sense of community in my studio by providing opportunities for collaborative projects, and I hope to provide opportunities for sharing art such as recitals, visiting nursing homes, and preparing students to sing for their school and church events.