B.Mus (Humber) in-progress
Adina is a singer-songwriter based in Toronto completing her Bachelor of Music degree at Humber College in vocal performance. Trained classically in piano since the age of 5, she has branched out into pop and jazz as well.
Vocally she is well-versed in many genres including jazz (she loves to scat!), musical theatre, pop, singer-songwriter, country, R&B, and acappella. She has 7 years of choir experience in both chamber and jazz styles. Adina has been writing and singing original songs since the age of 12, and has two singles as well as an EP out on all platforms under the artist name Adina V.
She has performed all across southern Ontario singing with the Toronto All-Star Big Band, as well as at various venues in the GTA with her own jazz duos and trios. As a member of the Cawthra Park Chamber Choir she performed at Roy Thompson Hall with the TSO for two years in a row. At Humber College she is part of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble led by Lisa Martinelli; this group performs advanced repertoire at events like the Ontario Vocal Jazz Festival.
Adina has been teaching music for the past 7 years and loves helping students meet their personal goals while fostering a love of music that lasts forever!
Get to know Adina…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: reading, puzzles, video games, painting
Musical Influences: Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Doris Day, Joni Mitchell, Taylor Swift, John Mayer
Favourite Food: Pad Thai
Least favourite food: eggplant
Favourite music: Indie rock and folk
Favourite song: All I Need by Jacob Collier ft. Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
Favourite movie: Matilda
Favourite movie music: The Pirates of the Caribbean theme
Favourite Musical: Dear Evan Hansen or The Last Five Years
Best Quote from your teacher: “It’s an amazing and wonderful experience to be able to be intentional about, in the moment, making music”
Favourite Quote: “Even as we are, we are becoming”
Favourite Book: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy – Stieg Larsson
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Sharing and fostering a love of music with students of all ages
Latest Homework from Adina
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Wednesday January 6, 2021
It was really nice to meet everyone today. I’m looking forward to making music with you!
Dvorah
This week, let’s get really comfortable knowing where C is – try to find every C on your keyboard!
When we play piano, our fingers have number labels: 1 is thumb, 2 is pointer, 3 is middle, 4 is ring, and 5 is pinky. Try playing 1-2-3-4-5 for RH (right hand), 5-4-3-2-1 for LH (left hand) on C-D-E-F-G. We call this “C position”. Saying the letters out loud as you play is a great way to learn them. For Frère Jacques, try playing with all 5 fingers in this new position instead of with just your pointer finger. For the one note outside C position, use LH to hop over!
Row, Row, Row Your Boat will use LH in C position and RH on the next highest C (just one note). LH plays 5-5-5-4-3-3-4-3-2-1, then RH plays its C, and finally LH plays 1-3-5-1-2-3-4-5. We will start learning to read the music for this song next week. Here is a google link to access & print the sheet music: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16jkDS55RtjN_bXWmgGDH8gFE4oXF635Q/view?usp=sharing
Marco
Let’s add a short warmup to your practicing this week – in C position, we will step from C up to G and then back down using all 5 fingers. Do your best to connect the notes (so one finger can’t let go until the next finger has pressed). In general when you play, be careful that you aren’t slamming your wrist down so hard – your fingers should be the ones doing the work!
Mister Bluebird – When playing through this song, do it first without singing the lyrics so you can focus on your fingers and notes, and then add the singing. Remember the trick in the 4th bar – we don’t step down to C, we actually step up to E! The corresponding theory page for this song is p.27, if you could also please fill that out.
The Dance Band – In this song we learned about time signature – because 4 is our top number it means we will count 1-2-3-4 and then restart at 1 after each bar line. Instead of singing lyrics with this piece, let’s sing our counts out loud instead.
Alice
Vocal – When doing your breathing “candle” warmup, once you empty your air completely try to drop your jaw and get a nice full breath in after (avoid gasping). In Someone You Loved, let’s make sure we take deeper belly breaths between phrases – specifically in the pre-chorus and chorus (from “Somebody to heal, somebody to know…”). This week think of some new pop songs you might like to sing!
Piano – My Invention uses the F, C, and G that we have learned so far and has a lot of patterns! Look out for bars that look similar to help you when reading this one.
There is a warmup as well as My Invention for piano this week. One hand at a time, we will do the C position 5-note scale (C-D-E-F-G up and back down); try to connect between the notes, using “sticky fingers” (so one finger can’t let go until the next finger has pressed).
Preferred Books for Adina’s Students
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Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book 1A
This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book Level 1A begins by teaching basic keyboard topography and fluent recognition of white key names in relation to black keys. It focuses on simple rhythms and prepares students for intervallic reading with entertaining songs that focus on “same,” “stepping up” and “stepping down.” It then introduces lines and space notes in treble and bass clefs, melodic and harmonic intervals of 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths, and graduates to reading on the grand staff. It also introduces the flat and sharp signs. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. Songs Include: Balloons * Batter Up! * The Donkey * A Friend Like You * Hand-Bells * A Happy Song * Horse Sense * Totem Pole Song * It’s Halloween! * Jingle Bells! * Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * July the Fourth! * Just a Second! * Love Somebody * Merrily We Roll Along O’er the Deep Blue Sea * Mexican Hat Dance * My Clever Pup * My Fifth * My Robot * Old MacDonald * Old Uncle Bill * Play a Fourth * Raindrops * Rain, Rain! * Rockets * Rockin’ Tune * Rock Song * Sailing * Sea Divers * See-Saws * Skating * Who’s on Third? * Willie and Tillie * Wishing Well * The Zoo
Alfred's Adult Basic All-In-One
Alfred’s Basic Adult All-in-One Course is designed for use with a piano instructor for the beginning student looking for a truly complete piano course. It is a greatly expanded version of Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course that will include lesson, theory, and technique in a convenient, “all-in-one” format. This comprehensive course adds such features as isometric hand exercises, finger strengthening drills, and written assignments that reinforce each lesson’s concepts. There is a smooth, logical progression between each lesson, a thorough explanation of chord theory and playing styles, and outstanding extra songs, including folk, classical, and contemporary selections.
The Brown Scale Book
This essential resource includes all major and minor scales, triads, arpeggios, dominant sevenths, and chromatic scales organized by key. A favorite for decades, The Brown Scale Book belongs in every student’s library.
The Real Vocal Book
The Real Vocal Book has many of the selections from Volumes 1 and 2 of the instrumental Real Books, but now with complete lyrics added to the pre-existing melody line. This edition features 300 essential songs arranged for low voice, including: Alfie * All of Me * Autumn Leaves * Bewitched * Bluesette * Don’t Get Around Much Anymore * Fever * Georgia on My Mind * Misty * Moon River * My Funny Valentine * Satin Doll * and more. Looking for a particular song? Check out the Real Book Songfinder here.
