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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Thursday, April 30th
Josh
Josh clearly practised this past week and made this week’s lesson way more efficient. We were able to get into the pre chorus section, and especially looked at bar 33 and 34 together. I explained to him that it is quite similar to the second bar of the main pattern, but with a different fourth beat pickup. I explained the concept of three stroke ruff/drag and I would like him to follow the sticking notated for him. Our next focus is bar 36 where it matches the lyric “like to say to you but I dont know how”. Continue practising with the score, and also listen to song when needing clarification.
Aleksander
We worked on Bring Me to Life for another week playing with the song. Aleksander showed clear improvement with following the guitar riff, and was able to stay steady throughout. Now I would like him to pay attention to the details, for example the crash cymbal every other bar. Bar 65 seems to be a tricky bar to play, and I would like him to ghost the last 16th on the third beat and start on right hand for beat four. We will choose a new sing next week.
Noah
We worked on an exercise using Stick Control where bass drum is played on beat 1 and 3, hihat on 2 and 4, and the challenge is to stay steady while switching to different stickings. Practising this exercise will make working through Smooth Criminal a lot easier, as it will build the limb independence required. Then we revisited Smooth Criminal. Let’s look to get to Pre chorus for next week.
Finn
Finn is making good progress with Otherside, but I find that at times the playing sounds slightly choppy and stiff, so I tried to use the metaphor of a baseball run all the way to home base to get the idea across. On beat four is the hit, and while you make your “run”, try to stay steady, and connect the runs from base to base as smooth to possible. With that in mind, each beat should connect towards the next, and by beat four, connect back to 1. We will look to apply that concept to different bars of Ofherside next class.
Mateo
This last class we tried to do a run through of Labios Compartidos, and it seems like because Mateo wants to play the whole thing through, he didn’t place enough of an emphasis on the troubling bars while practising. Just like to remind Mateo again to always practise in the small chunks and focus down troubling spots, that way when we do runs of bigger section, we are not tripped up and under prepared for those hard spots.
Koel
We worked on Superstition, familoarising Koel to the swung 16 feel, and worked on the two tricky 32nd note fill. I would like Koel to jam out with some swung 16 material and drop in the fill every few bars.
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.
