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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How Group Music-making Boosts Social Skills
There’s a lot of research being done on the use of music for therapeutic purposes. Scientists have found that making music in a group environment can help people of all ages improve their social skills.
Group music-making has been shown to increase the release of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin –chemicals that are often associated with happiness and feelings of well-being. In addition to this, group music-making can help to strengthen relationships which is something that many people seek when they are feeling down or lonely. People who are depressed may find that music provides therapeutic effects because it gives them a sense of contribution and accomplishment – even if it was just adding one note to make a chord fuller or adding one beat to an already existing rhythm pattern.
The Benefits of Socializing and Cooperation
Group music-making is a form of socializing that brings the benefits of cooperation. For instance, if one person in a group is playing guitar and singing, others can play or sing along with that person to create harmony. Playing in groups has been shown to have mental and physical health benefits such as stress relief and increased endorphins. This type of activity allows people to work together in order to efficiently create an enjoyable sound. It’s not just about learning to play an instrument, it’s also about working together with others to create something.
The Power of Group Music-making for Developing Personal Skills
Being in a group while making music teaches you how to collaborate well and work together to bring your ideas to fruition. By creating meaningful dialogue in the group, people also improve their verbal communication skills, which can be applied outside the music-making context when they interact with peers or customers at work or school. Group members learn how each other work and find out what they can do to help each other.
From Kids & Teens to Adults, It Benefits Every Age and Stage
Group music-making has shown to be a very beneficial tool in developing children’s social skills. It can increase their self-confidence and develop their ability to cooperate and communicate with others. Music allows children to listen and share thoughts and ideas with one another in a playful environment and helps them develop new skills that will serve them well in life. Promoting cooperation and teamwork, group music-making has the power to positively change how children interact with one another.
Group music-making is a way to promote social skills development in teens and adults, too! It can be done in a variety of ways, such as community groups, sound-mapping, improvisation, or songwriting. When two or more people perform music at once, they’re creating one piece with their individual skills. For example, someone using a guitar can be the first layer of a song’s texture while someone providing percussion could be the second.
Music has always been about setting the stage for the soundscape that will represent a certain emotional experience and group music-making is no different. It’s just more immersive and interactive than ever before. Group music-making is a great activity for teens and adults who want to connect with another person or people through sound. It’s also great for people who want to learn how to make their own music!
It’s Never Too Late to Learn Music – It’s Good for You!
We often think that learning an instrument is for children and teens, but the truth is that it is never too late to reap the benefits. In fact, it’s beneficial for your mental health and can improve your quality of life at every age.
Learning an instrument can help you cope with stress and anxiety. Proven to lower depression levels, it’s also a great way to meet new people and develop meaningful relationships with them. All these factors make music lessons an excellent choice of therapy for seniors in nursing homes, or any other place where they need rehabilitation care.
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert musician: music will always be present in your life, whether as a hobby or your profession.
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.
