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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Homework Assignments for the Week of November 16th, 2025
Josh
Recommended minutes to practice: Enjoy your trip!! Before I see you next, try to figure out the next song you want to learn.
What to practice: “Spaceman” by the Killers, “Sunflower” by Post Malone
How to practice it most effectively: try to review these songs once before our next lesson to jog your memory.
How parents can support practice: help Josh pick his next song!
Shayne
Recommended minutes to practice: I know Shayne doesn’t have a drum set to practice on yet, so I’d recommend just listening to some songs he might want to try out.
How parents can support practice: Help Shayne pick some new songs for next week.
Noah
Amazing job this week. I feel like we’re done with “Bring Me To Life,” you’re playing it really well.
What to practice: Come up with something you feel curious about to learn next week – doesn’t need to be song, can just be a technique or groove.
Here are the Latin drum set grooves we were working on sight-reading last week:
Finn
Recommended minutes to practice: review Gorillaz’ “On Melancholy Hill” at least once this week and try to think of a new song to play!
What to practice: play along to the songs we’ve been working on – “On Melancholy Hill”
How parents can support practice: help Finn come up with a new song to start learning next week / for the new year.
Mateo
Recommended minutes to practice: Try to review “Your Love” at least once this week if you can! We will review “La Playa” next week.
What to practice: try to play at full speed, and see what you can do to keep up speed when your right foot or right hand get tired, taking some notes out but keeping the essence of the groove together.
Jared
Recommended minutes to practice: great job with the fills this week! Lots of back to back fills to remember, you did great.
What to practice: listen along to the song and try to be able to play the fills as they come along, especially the new ones on the last page that we just learned.
How to practice it most effectively: break down the feel of each fill, and figure out how to recreate them in a way that’s your own!
Koel
Amazing job this week! We will review “Bring Me to Life” maybe once next week, but try to find something new to look at – can be a song, groove, technique, or concept. I’ll try to come up with something new to bring in next week as well.
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.
