Bachelor of Fine Arts (York University)
Katie Thurman is a singer, pianist, accompanist, and teacher based in Toronto. Her passion for music has been with her since childhood, and she is excited to have recently completed her undergraduate degree in music at York University.
Trained classically in piano, she continues to explore other styles including pop and jazz, as well as write her own compositions. Her vocal training is in both classical and musical theatre styles, as well as lengthy choral experience both in and out of school.
Katie spent 6 years singing with WIBI A Cappella, a collegiate-based group, during her time at York, and is proud to have competed with them twice in the ICCA (the very competition the Pitch Perfect films were based on!). Currently, she sings with the Toronto-based That Choir.
Katie loves all types of music, but spends most of her time listening to pop, indie, and alt-pop records.
Katie also writes her own songs and is working towards putting together an EP. Aside from music, Katie’s other passions include baking, film, and psychology. She loves teaching and is always pushing herself to grow pedagogically and musically!
Get to know Katie…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: baking, watching movies/TV, writing, yoga, hiking
Musical influences: Classical: Natalie Dessay, Maria Callas/Pop: Arcade Fire, Lana Del Rey, BANKS, Florence & the Machine, Rhye
Favourite food: Pasta
Least favourite food: Seafood
Favourite music: pop & alt-pop, indie/folk, dance, and all things Celtic
Favourite song: currently “Favourite Boy” by Half Moon Run
Favourite movie: Eighth Grade
Favourite movie music: A Single Man, music composed by Abel Korzeniowski?
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Les Misérables
Best quote from your teacher: Vocal teacher: “Just go for it! We want to hear ‘Katie-and-a-half'”.
Favourite quote: Motivation comes from work
Favourite book: The Handmaid’s Tale
Best thing about teaching at ABC: I like sharing my knowledge with students, and I learn from them too!
Latest Homework from Katie
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Saturday, May 24
Jack
We started on Back in Black today! Got Jack to play the most common Rock n Roll beat and although I had to play the RH hi hat for him, he did a good job keeping the time and grasping the idea of a rock beat. We will look into Drum Fills next week!
Nova
Congratulations on a beautiful recording of Cupid 50/50! The recording is now uploaded to the drive in your homework folder. After practising with accompaniment a few times you were able to grasp how the syncopated rhythm grooves with the accompaniment. Memorisation is clearly your strong suit but learning to read notes fast will also be crucial to learning music going forward!
Will look to do sight reading exercises with Nova going forward every lessons. Also bring in a tune that you like (drums or mallet) and we will look to dissect it!
Aleksander
Great job with Living on a Prayer! We are down to the final section of the piece! We worked on Guitar solo section today and the thing tricking you is to fast changes between ride and crash cymbal. Work on that in isolation, not too fast nor too slow! Do it right in time. Read the second page by yourself and we will try to play through next class!
Tracie
During warm up today we spotted an elbow skewing movement outward movement that we look to fix. I have uploaded a video of me playing the throw stroke for you to compare to the skewing movement. Try to observe that through a mirror and think a throwing ball motion to try and fix it. Once you feel natural with it, add the sticks in then do some pad work!
Last Nite is coming together nicely! Great job developing a stronger and stronger rhythmic sense of the groove here. Remember if you can recite/sing it, you are not that far from being able to play it! Try to bridge the transition smoother at home. We will look to figure out the rest of the song next lesson.
Jonah
Jeffrey stepped in to sub for the lesson today and suggested to perhaps working on some note reading exercises with Jonah. We have also discussed to do drums online and keyboard when in person. On the drums week I propose to assign simple theory homework, and on the keyboard week we will try to start with some sight reading exercises. Also had them start Log Cabin Blues. If Jonah likes the tune we can continue working on it. I will like to develop mallet dexterity with him through the tune.
Jared
We will look to continue with Silhouettes next lesson. Apologies that I had to miss your lesson!
Preferred Books for Katie’s Students
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Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Primer Lesson Book introduces the keyboard, note values, and the grand staff. Students play in C 5-finger scale patterns, develop recognition of steps and skips, and learn letter names independent of finger number. Musicianship is built through the use of dynamics and coloristic experimentation with the pedal. The book is organized into units which represent the major concepts and skills. As new units are introduced, earlier concepts and skills are constantly reviewed.
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.
RCM Voice Repertoire
A Comprehensive Voice Series serves as the official resource for voice assessments of the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. Featuring an outstanding selection of voice literature and supporting materials, this series offers a truly enriched learning experience to help ensure student success. As in previous editions, Resonance encompasses a rich and varied selection of Repertoire, Vocalises and Recitatives that students of all ages and voice types will find appropriate to their musical interests and level of technical ability.
Vocal Workouts for the Contemporary Singer
The vocal workouts in this much-anticipated follow-up to Peckham’s The Contemporary Singer are based on Berklee College of Music’s highly effective vocal method. This volume will help vocalists develop the voice through good vocal health, warm-up exercises, advanced techniques, stage performance advice and more. Includes companion online audio for ultimate interactive education!
Alfred's Teach Yourself to Sing
Learn to sing and open up a brand new world of musical knowledge with this exciting method from Alfred Music. Beginning with the fundamentals, you will learn about equipment used by singers, vocal health, and getting acquainted with reading music. You will then move right along to breathing, vocalizing, proper warm-ups, and singing songs, lesson by lesson, all while continuing to increase your knowledge of reading and understanding music. You will learn to sing an array of musical styles including pop, jazz, classical, and musical theater. Near the end of the book, you will be introduced to the idea of individual interpretation, which will help you color your songs with your own unique style. The book features a chord and scale chart for reference during and after your lessons.
