On Stage, Charlotte In Home Piano Lessons, In Home Singing Lessons, Music Lessons, Childrens Theatre, School Of Performing Arts, Performance, Childrens Theatre of Charlotte

Jonathan Caudill, B.F.A. Director of Artistic Productions Instructor: Voice, Theatre, Piano	Jonathan has a Bacherlor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina and currently pursuing a graduate degree from instituto fillipini in Asolo Italy. Jonathan is trained in both the classical style and musical theatre. He has performed leading roles in operas: Sam (trouble in tahiti),Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni) as well as Musical Theatre: Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Lt. Cable (South Pacific), Lockstock (Urinetown), Smudge (Forever Plaid). Jonathan was awarded the 2008 Male Actor Award and continues to perfom and teach in Opera for Youth programs. Jonathan has attended and worked with the Asolo Music Festival in Italy under the direction of Michael Harper and other premier opera singers from La scalla and La Fenice. He has also has studied with the members of the Stanislavsky Opera Company, Christine Andreas, and Michael Valenti. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Jonathan approaches teaching with the energy and experience found in the Alexander technique and speech level singing. Pushing for simplicity and artistry are his primary goals when working with students. With knowledge in both the contemporary and classical, Jonathan strives to bring the best of both worlds to each of his lessons. Jonathan has high expectations and provides constant focus on mastery, technique and self identification. Consistent completion of weekly goals and a drive to walk away from every lesson learning something new is expected. Jonathan comes highly recommended for students eager to learn and love having fun discovering the world of music.
Jimmie Chavis, M. A. Instructor: Guitar Electric Guitar Song Writing	Jimmie has a B.A in English Literature from Drury University in MO. and is working on a Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from UNCC. He has been playing the guitar for over twelve years and originally learned technique, his own playing style, and the foundations of music theory from a classical guitarist with the Army Band. Jimmie is a teaching artist, writer/composer and performer. He has a way of teaching the vital fundamentals of the guitar as well as the art and craft of writing songs. He knows how to initiate each student's creative potential. Jimmie currently plays guitar with the worship team at Center City Chapel in Charlotte and he plays guitar and sings lead vocals with The Tyndall Effect, a Charlotte based band. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:
Angela Epting, M.A. Director of Ed. Curriculum Instructor: Commercial Voice, Beg. Piano, Songwriting	Angela has her Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Arts Management from Newberry College and a Masters in Music Business and Songwriting from Berklee School of Music. Along with her knowledge of voice, stage performance, and songwriting skills, Angela has extensive knowledge of various musical instruments (including band instruments) and various genres and has been teaching for over ten years. Angela teaches both classical, musical theater, and commercial voice. Angela has experience in classroom planning, group lessons, as well as non-profit fundraising. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Voice lessons are taught by the use of Technique and Theory while encouraging student creativity through a variety of musical genres. I teach vocal control and breathe support as the foundation of a powerful voice for all types of singing. All lessons are taught from a "hands off" approach, where the student is always the one in control of their instrument. Completed homework assignments are required weekly to enhance student improvement. Students ages 10 and up preferred. Lessons also available in beginning piano, guitar and songwriting.
Corey Rich Instructor: Electric Guitar, Beg. Piano	Corey has been playing guitar for over 14 years under the direction of renowned Charlotte guitarist Dustin Hofsess of GreenLight andAutomatic Chi and has been teaching for the last several years. Corey is known among the kids for his ability to "make noise" through rock genres yet still displaying lots of patience. He follows heavily in the music genres of Rock, Classic Rock, and Heavy Metal. Although these are his favorite, he is always open to new sounds. Corey also likes to jam with other local musicians and friends often and is the coolest instructor in town! TEACHING PHILOSOPHY Corey’s teaching philosophy is overall helping the student to become a better musician and to unleash his/her creativity. He believes music theory is the basis of being a great guitarist and can also help the student learn his/her own personal goals and interests. Playing the music that is interesting to the student is also very important to Corey. Most of all, Corey loves to laugh, have a good time, write songs, and jam with his students.
Colin Ruffer Instructor: Voice, Piano Music Education	Colin is presently attending Winthrop University to complete a Bachelor’s in Music Education in voice and piano. Colin has won many awards at such a young age including the Jullliard School Audition Finalist, NATS, Medal of Honor in the Arts, and the Dean’s List. He is also an accompanist for many local operatic and musical theater performances and churches. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Colin’s teaching philosophy is that all children should have the opportunity to experience music in hopes that something about the wonderful world of music will grab their attention and they will want to continue to want to learn. He teaches a basic classical technique that is then morphed into the preferred style of the student. He loves teaching beginner children and enjoys the challenge of keeping them active and interested! In voice, each student learns the basics of breathing, support, and basic vocal technique. After the student is comfortable with the basics, a more complex idea such as vowel modification and covering a higher range is addressed. Once a basic technique is formed refining musical expression, vocal colors, and song interpretation is added. Each student will do vocal exercises that directly relate to a piece the student is singing or something they are having trouble with. I teach a healthy technique with the goal of vocal preservation and ease of singing. Both classical and musical theater genres are taught. For piano I believe they should be fun and exciting. Each student sets goals for themselves and we should accomplish those goals in a way that the student keeps the spark for learning. I teach a wide variety of styles from classical to jazz to pop, but I do teach a basic classical technique. I love to work with beginners, because with each beginner I can create a new lesson plan, and help develop their love of the piano.
Bridget Ruller, M.S. Ed. Director of Toddler & PreSchool Programs	Bridget Ruller has a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master of Science in Education Degree from Fordham University. She is a veteran teacher with over 15 years experience in the combined areas of early childhood, elementary, reading and gifted education. Her resume also includes an accomplished background in dance and instrumental music. In addition to developing a curriculum that integrates the arts into traditional classroom learning, Bridget has taught after school dance classes, choreographed dance routines, and directed school plays. Aside from teaching, Bridget enjoys spending time with her family; her husband, Doug, her two children, Kayleigh and Joey, and the family dog, Abby.
Stefanie Spruill, B.A. Asst. Director of Toddler & PreSchool Programs Instructor: Voice, Piano, Theater	An Indiana native, Stefanie is a graduate of Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an Emphasis in Musical Direction. While in college, she had the privilege of musically directing and accompanying numerous shows at both the university and high school levels including Ragtime, Dreamgirls, She Loves Me, How to Succeed in Business…, On the Town, Bye Bye Birdie, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Music Man. She also helped co-conceive and accompany several cabarets and variety shows both at IPFW and Ball State University. Stefanie has been playing piano for over twenty years and has a desire to foster a love of learning music in all of her students. She believes that kids will learn best when they are enjoying the learning process. She strives to create an environment where students can learn at their own pace and in a way that will best suit their individual needs and help them to reach their full potential. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Stefanie believes that learning music theory basics is important for every student and will be beneficial for their future, whether they want to stick with piano or branch out and learn other instruments as well. She enjoys working with preschool and elementary age children and thinks that a fun and encouraging environment with lots of positive reinforcement is essential, especially for younger students. Accountability from parents with practicing throughout the week is important to maximize a student's potential. She also encourages open communication between herself and parents to figure out what approach is best for the student. Lessons can be tailored to fit each student's individual age and needs.
Joshua Wentz, M.A. Instructor: Voice, Piano	Josh has been teaching and performing for 10 years throughout the United States and Europe. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum University his Masters in Music Performance from Winthrop University. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Science from Nova Southeastern University. Joshua performs with various organizations such as Opera Carolina, Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, and the Chamber Singers who were recently invited to sing at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. He has sung and played piano for various companies throughout the United States and continues teaching, coaching, and developing students to pursue their dreams and make careers in music. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Using my own methods to teach breathing, support, relaxation (relaxed sound), tone placement, delivery. I focus on intervals and pitch accuracy to give the student an introduction to aural skills/ear training in the younger years. I try to touch on something theoretical every lesson and relate it to the music the student is working on. Floor excercies & breathing excercises are encouraged to help both in and out of the studio. In piano lessons, I spend a little time each week on essentials: scales, arpeggios, chords and inversions, ear training, intervals, etc. I do not feel that these should be exhaustive and hope to only expose the young learner to these techniques and relate them to the lesson and music being learned. Making individualized lesson plans for each student with weekly progress, assigning technical practices for improvement, and incorporating these into the assigned music. Although I will direct students towards a "Classical" path, I will utilize their own interests (Broadway, pop, jazz, etc.) to keep them interested and engaged in weekly progress.