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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Saturday, April 26
Tova
Xylo week: Cupid by 50/50 is now fully transcribed for you. Try to find all the notes at home and give your best try to learn the rhythm. When in doubt, try to count out loud in 8th notes (1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n), listening to the recording for answer is our last resort!
Rolls: I would like you to turn on metronome at around 80-90bpm, and play on 1 pitch (middle C for example) then play 1. 16th notes (4 notes a beat), 2. quintuplet (5 notes a beat, alternate between R and L on main beat, RLRLR LRLRL), if feeling capable, sextuplet (6 notes) The idea is to have control over when we are landing our roll and consistency in strokes (both in terms of timing and sound quality) avoid unevenness (e.g. LH softer than RH)
Jared
Bring me to life by Evanescence
we familiar ourselves up to bar 33. Great job dissecting such a complex groove. Work up to speed at home. We will try to play with recording for the section and read on next class. Also still try to spend some time planning the solo. A good solo doesn’t just come out of nowhere, but hard work!
Mario
Warm Up:
Triplet and double was superb today! Definitely seeing immense improvements with the relaxation aspect. We will keep using this as our warm up into the session
Drag: find a sweet spot between the clear three note (LL R) and the “french” way (buzz left R)
play around with both at home. for LL, use the same principle of practising doubles. Aim to do it in one movement instead of two taps. Explore how to recycle the bounce.
My Friend by RHCP
WE have familiarise ourselves with the tough spots in Page 1 and we are absolutely ready to play through some stuff next week. In the meantime, keep practising those transitions in chunks. Small chunks into large, then into phrases!
Start learning second page as we have today!
Do it slow!
Jonah
Material from Hannaford (snare drum and mallet or accessories) – The Simpson:
We explore where can we make good sounds on the xylophone, and the idea of playing on the edge of accidentals (sharp and flats), the tip of the edge has a more open sound than somewhere closer to the nodal point. Avoid nodal point at all cost.
Very tricky passages, but you quickly mastered how to play them. However always remember that to practise efficiently means doing it systematically and always strive to get repetition of the right notes.
Few things to remember are:
- position your right hand mallet below your left on the key so you don’t trip yourself going up the keyboard
- always observe the key signature and sharp flats
- when in doubt, block them in two, play it slow and slowly build up the muscle memory to play the passages
- for the repeating note passage, practise playing it with only RH then introduce LH after (with the idea of RH leading LH)
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.
