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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Assignments from March 20th
Hello Everyone!
I hope you all enjoyed your March Break!
Noreet:
Today we sight-read Mr. Haydn’s Theme and reviewed the meaning of transposition and modulation; when the song starts in one key and ends in a different one. Noreet can continue to practice the right and left hands of Mr. Haydn’s theme separately until she feels confident to try playing hands together. Noreet is able to find the first note of the song, if she forgets, please remind her that the ledger line in the middle of the staff is always middle C. Noreet can also feel free to go back through her book and review previous songs we have studied together. This is in anticipation of an upcoming student recital – I will have more information about this in April.
Vida:
Vida can continue to practice “Green Frog Hop” and “Theme and Variation”. Play with tempo this week; “Green Frog” can be played quickly while “Theme and Variation” should be played at a moderate tempo. “Green Frog Hop” is to be played no faster than 185BPM, this is fast enough for Vida’s liking but not too fast that we miss out on the melody. “Theme and Variation” is to be played at 120BPM on the metronome. Have her play along with the metronome at least once to internalize each tempo. Pay close attention to the running eight note figure in the Variation, please help Vida to ensure all eight notes are played evenly, that none of them “stick”, and that the phrase is played smoothly throughout. Record this one when Vida is ready so that she can hear the melody of the song – if the melody is unclear have her play it slower. Finally, help Vida practice her sight-reading with “Under the Sea”.
Eva:
I’m sorry we missed you today. Eva can continue to practice different rhythm patterns on the piano. She can also write her own rhythm pattern if she would like. Please help her to write these out if she wishes and ensure she uses the correct names for each note. See the flashcards in Eva’s google drive folder to help this process.
Christian:
For this week, warm up with the “French Minuet”. Play this entirely with one hand (even the one bar indicated for the left hand). You can alternate playing this with the right and left hand. Play it as quickly as you are comfortable with, being mindful of your fingerings so your fingers do not get tangled up when ascending or descending. Continue to practice the chord progression for “How Long Will I Love You”. Use the bottom note of each chord to map out where your fingers land for each chord – this will help with faster transitions between chords. When confident playing the pattern of the chord progression, try adding in the roll. Review the first two phrases of the right hand, watching out for where the melody is in stepwise motion or leaping intervals. You can also read more of the piece to challenge your sight-reading.
Happy practicing everyone!
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.
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.
