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!
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Build your kids positive emotions, self-esteem, and logical thinking through music practices
Enhance your child’s emotional well-being, self-esteem, and logical thinking with Music Practices. Fun music curriculum boost kid’s positive emotions. Did you know that music lessons can also be a powerful tool for enhancing logical thinking and problem-solving skills?
In this blog post, you’ll explore how fun music lessons for adults, and music lessons for children can help build positive emotions and boost your little one’s logical thinking abilities.
Positive Emotions through Music Practices- the Connection
Before diving into the world of logical thinking, let’s first understand the emotional impact of music. Music has an incredible ability to influence our emotions. When kids listen to catchy tunes or play a musical instrument, children’s brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with gladness and reward. This is why music can instantly lift kids’ spirits and make your children feel happier.
Emotions in Harmony
From the moment they hear a catchy tune, children c
Music is a powerful tool for nurturing positive emotions
an’t resist moving to the beat. Music elicits an emotional response, bringing joy, excitement, and even calmness. Encouraging kids to explore these emotions through music helps them learn to recognize and express their feelings.
Fun activities like dancing, clapping, or playing musical instruments in a group setting foster a sense of togetherness and emotional connection. This early social interaction contributes to the development of empathy and communication skills, which are essential for emotional intelligence.
Music as a Stress Reliever
One of the ways music contributes to positive emotions is by reducing stress. Playing an instrument or even just listening to soothing music can lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress. As stress levels decrease, feelings of happiness and relaxation increase.
Learn more about private music lessons, and fun music curriculum, programs tailored for all ages at https://www.music-lessons.ca/toronto/contact-us/
Logical Thinking and Music: the Connection
- Pattern Recognition: music is full of patterns. When children learn to play a musical instrument, your kids are essentially decoding complex patterns. This practice can translate into improved pattern recognition skills, which are essential for logical thinking and problem-solving.
- Sing-Alongs: engage in sing-along sessions with catchy, age-appropriate songs. Encourage your toddler to sing along with you, teaching them new words and melodies.
- Mathematical Thinking: many aspects of music, such as rhythm and timing, are deeply rooted in mathematics. Learning to read music creates an understanding of its mathematical underpinnings and sharpens your children’s analytical skills and mathematical thinking.
- Creativity and Problem Solving: music encourages creativity. When kids are enrolled and involved in music programs tailored for their age, or they improvise during a performance, children are engaging in creative problem-solving. A lot of these processes are done with others which means they are also developing valuable collaborative and cooperation skills. This process can help preschoolers to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions in other areas of life, which they will need as professionals and in their personal interactions for the rest of their lives.
- Concentration and Focus: Learning a musical instrument requires, and actively develops concentration and focus. These skills can be transferred to other tasks, improving little one’s ability to concentrate on tasks, or challenges and find logical solutions.
Check out our fun music curriculum at ABC Academy of Music (Music School at)
https://www.music-lessons.ca/toronto/contact-us/ and get your free demo class that suits your busy lifestyle.
Let your child experiment with sounds and rhythms.
Making Music even More Fun
Try these tips to get more out of your family’s musical journeys and experiences:
- Musical Story time: combining storytelling with music by reading books that include songs or using musical instruments to enhance the story’s atmosphere.
- Dance Parties: having spontaneous dances, where you and your toddler can move to the rhythm of different songs. Dancing promotes physical activity, coordination, and emotional expression, and bonds the whole family.
- Instrument Exploration: provide your toddler with simple musical instruments like maracas, drums, or xylophones and let them experiment with sounds and rhythms.
- Music Classes: enroll your toddler in a music class designed for their age group. ABC Academy of music classes and programs incorporate singing, dancing, and playing instruments in a well-structured and educational environment, according to your little one’s age.
Music is a powerful tool for nurturing positive emotions and logical thinking in children. Through fun music practices, music lessons, and tailored music programs for kids of all ages. They can explore their emotions, boost their confidence, and sharpen their cognitive skills. So, why not make music a part of your children’s daily routine and watch them grow into more emotionally intelligent and logical thinkers?
Private music lessons for children, and tailored music programs for babies and toddlers, is a journey filled with joy, learning, and harmony.
Contact us to enroll your child and embark on a melodic adventure, book your free demo class today https://www.music-lessons.ca/toronto/classes/ Abc Academy of Music (Music School), looking forward to seeing you!
“PS SECTION”:
DID YOU FIND THIS INTERESTING? Check out our post
“Music an enjoyable way to boosting memory, attention, and social skills in preschoolers”
**Link is in Progress**
Additional Reading for Your Interest:
Child development and early learning (4)
Musical Storytelling with Children Literature
Preferred Books for Katie’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
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.
