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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Dalia — Oct 6th
Hi Dalia!
Great work today. Your homework was well done, and you were getting better at the challenges I kept giving you in class!
Here is what to play this week.
Strumming Patterns
Play the following SP’s. Do each one over the following chords. One SP on only one chord at a time.
- The challenge with each of these is to remember to restart them with a down-strum. — Watch your RH (Right Hand) when playing these. Make sure to restart each SP with a down-strum every time!
Last week
“Pineapple Rest Rest!” — D DU rest rest
“Watermelon Che-rry!” — DUDU D D
“Apples Peaches Plums and Pears!” — DU DU DU D
This week
“Pineapple Pear Rest!” — D DU D rest
“Pineapple Rest Pear!” — D DU rest D — I named it differently in class; this name works too
- The idea is to keep learning to silence the strings. Or as we say in guitar: mute the strings
- Well done on this today!
Try all the above SP’s on the following chords.
Last week
This week
- Aim to hold down each of these frets nice and strongly
- Curl your fingers onto the frets
- When in doubt, adjust the ukulele up so that your left arm and hand have plenty of space to hold down the frets nice and strongly
- For the Am (A minor) chord: If finger 2 is too challenging, then feel free to play it with finger 1
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Just pick twice on each of the first 2 notes.
- Fret 0 on the E string
- Then fret 7 on the E string
- Picking is done with a smaller movement of your RH. Push down through the string with mostly your thumb
- Make sure to have the pointed part of the pick be the one plucking through the string
Additional notes
- The LH (Left Hand) nails need cutting to be able to hold down frets properly. Please do that as soon as possible. — Having RH nails is also not very good if you’re going to be using a pick, like we’re doing. This is not as important as it is for the LH. But if you’re going to be doing lessons with me for a long time, then I do recommend cutting those, too
- Remember to stretch your hands after an ukulele playing session. The 3 different ones I demonstrated today: Fingers back. Thumb down. Wrist forward
Dalia will remember these stretches from class today. The man in this video demonstrates them, too. — If she forgets, have her watch this video.
- The video starts with him showing some other ones that are really good for the arms and the back. Feel free to do these too. But it’s most important that you do the first 3 I described
- He says do them before a session. That’s not necessary. You can do them in between a playing session, if you want. But for sure do them at the end of a playing session
- Watch from 0:00-2:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=1XsLRQFV7rY
Thank you so much, guys! See you in a week!
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.
Music for Little Mozarts
Lesson Book 1
Lesson Book 1 is pre-reading. Concepts taught are: How to sit at the piano; Correct hand position; High and low; Loud and soft (forte and piano); Keyboard topography; Bar line and measure, Quarter, half, whole notes and rests; and Repeat signs.
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.
