Contact:Please contact us for more information at [email protected] .
Montgomery Music School:
Ms. Michelle Scher is our beloved Music Instructor. Michelle will be opening her Montgomery Music School offering to the public starting 2014-2015 school year. Her emphasis will be Kodaly Method, which she implements in our School Music Program as well.
Kodaly Method- The Kodály Method uses a child-developmental approach to sequence, introducing skills in accordance with the capabilities of the child. New concepts are introduced beginning with what is easiest for the child and progressing to the more difficult. Children are first introduced to musical concepts through experiences such as listening, singing, or movement. It is only after the child becomes familiar with a concept that he or she learns how to notate it. Concepts are constantly reviewed and reinforced through games, movement, songs, and exercises.
About Ms. Scher:
Michelle Scher is a conservatory-trained musician, singer and music educator with studies at Indiana University and on scholarship at Mannes College of Music. She received her Bachelor of Music (BM) in Vocal Performance from Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music and her Masters of Music Education from New York University (NYU). Her voice teachers have included Vera Scammon, Antonia Lavanne, Thomas Cultice, Richard Barrett and Rochelle Abkowitz. These teachers taught her a solid vocal technique utilizing the Bel Canto singing approach which focuses on strong breath development, resonant vocal placement, diction and correct vocal style. She has coached with Robert Cowart, Tania León, John Keenan, Elizabeth Mannion, Harry Saltzman and Jorge Parodi. Her performances include operatic roles, recitals, and showcases with styles ranging from Classical to Broadway.
As a NY State certified Music Teacher K-12, Scher taught general music and high school vocal technique classes with the New York City Public Schools for numerous years. Currently, she is teaching general music and private piano lessons at the Montgomery Montessori school along with private lessons. She is an experienced private voice teacher with students ranging from the beginner to the advanced. She coaches singers for auditions, NYSSMA preparation and choral solos. The emphasis of her vocal training is on healthy singing, allowing the voice to develop naturally, without strain or pushing, using the breath to support the sound, with careful vocal placement (resonance) and musicality. This approach can be applied successfully to all musical styles including Classical, Broadway and Pop. She is certified in Performance Wellness, Level II, which is a holistic approach to helping musicians overcome stage fright and stress with healing and transformative techniques.
Her piano studies began at Eastman School of Music Preparatory Division where she studied with the renowned teacher, Marie Erhart Pearson, with further studies at Indiana University and New York University (NYU). Her early piano instruction focused on correct finger and hand position, posture, musicality, and basic music reading and notation, which is her emphasis today. She is additionally certified in the Kodaly Method, levels I & II, a music teaching pedagogy that incorporates learning using the kinesthetic, visual, aural and written intelligences. She uses this training to help students develop an internal, body-centered rhythm and develop excellent sight-reading and sight-singing abilities.
Montgomery Montessori School
Copyright 2010 Montgomery Montessori School, Inc.