B.Mus (Carleton)
Master of Music Therapy (Laurier)
Priya Shah is a Calgary-born and Toronto-based vocalist, instrumentalist, improviser, music therapist, and contemporary composer. In Calgary, she sang in the Mount Royal Children’s Choir and had the opportunity to perform with Amy Grant and at various festivals across the city. She joined a vocal jazz group in high-school and soon developed a love for scatting and improvisation.
Holding a Bachelor of Music with Honors in Vocal Performance from Carleton University, and a Master of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Priya has combined her love of performance with engaging in music with people of all ages and abilities. Since moving to Ontario, Priya has performed in bands and as a solo singer-songwriter and vocalist/improviser in Christine Duncan’s ‘Element Choir’ (Ottawa Chamber Music Festival), Kultrun World Music Festival (Waterloo), and Between the Ears Festival of Music and Sound (Kitchener-Waterloo). Priya is a member of two new music groups ‘On the Spot Collective’ and ‘Thelectric Breeze,’ the latter of which received a grant from the City of Ottawa to create an interactive outdoor concert leading up the Canada 150 Celebrations. Priya is an organizer of the Waterloo Region Contemporary Music Sessions, a festival for emerging and early career composers, performers, and improvisers.
Priya uses a person-centered approach to teaching. She believes in teaching the fundamentals of singing and focusing on proper technique while striving to identify and build on students strengths. Priya teaches a variety of styles including jazz, pop, rock, folk, soul, RnB, and musical theatre. In addition to voice, she plays the piano, guitar, ukulele, and accordion.
When Priya is not teaching, she works as a music therapist, performer, festival organizer, contemporary composer, and yoga instructor. She continues to write and compose original music. Priya is currently working on an EP to be released in late 2018.
Get to know Priya…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Reading, going on adventures in the woods, and spending time with friends and family
Musical influences: Bjork, Sade, Michael Jackson, Portishead, and everything I hear around me!
Favourite food: Chocolate
Least favourite food: N/A
Favourite music: Mood-dependent, or Disney J
Favourite song: “Vienna” by Billy Joel, “Thank you for the music” by ABBA
Favourite movie: Alice in Wonderland
Favouirite movie music: Harry Potter
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Thoroughly Modern Millie
Best quote from your teacher: “imagine who you are singing to”
Favourite quote: “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note – it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.” – Miles Davis
Favourite book: Selected Short Stories by Mulk Raj Anand
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Getting to share my passion for singing!
Latest Homework from Priya
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Nov 21-28
Ezra
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 min every other day
What to practice:
-scales (C, G, and D major, both hands separate and then both hands together, 1 octave)
-“Windmill” song in your book
How to practice it most effectively: for “Windmill,” practice both hands together in small sections (4 bars at a time) slowly
How parents can support practice: set a timer for 10-15 min and encourage to practice 1 or 2 sections of the song only
Melody
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 min every other day
What to practice: “Fur Elise” right hand only, page 1
How to practice it most effectively: practice in small sections slowly (2-3 bars at a time)
How parents can support practice: set a timer for 10-15 min and encourage to practice RH only page 1 slowly and follow the music
Kevin
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 min/day
What to practice: Scales (C, G, and D majors and their relative minors: Am, Em, and Bm) 1 octave only, hands separate, hands together (if you have time) & chords for “Enjoy the silence” and melody for chorus only (in RH)
How to practice it most effectively: listen to the recording to get the timing
Next week we’ll continue with “Let It Snow”
Carol
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 min/day
What to practice: warm-ups, listen to “Christmas Waltz” by She and Him, practice the verses and chorus for “Everywhere”
How to practice it most effectively: each time you practice, dedicate yourself to one task only (e.g. just listen to “Christmas Waltz” and practice the melody, or just sing “Everywhere”)
Nov 14-21
Ezra
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes every other day
What to practice: Major scales (C, G, D) & the song “Windmill” (RH only for now)
How to practice it most effectively: Practice with a metronome if possible (you can find one online if you don’t have a physical one) set to a slow speed (approx 56 BPM)
How parents can support practice: encourage to find a consistent time every other day to practice (e.g. before/after dinner, before/after finishing school homework) & encourage to practice small sections before piecing together the entire song!
Samara
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-25 minutes every other day
What to practice: Major scales (C), chords (in root position) for song “When I was your man,” and the song “Firefly” first half only. Write down musical ideas as they occur; it’s ok to write them with letters for now – we will eventually get it all on staff paper!
How to practice it most effectively: for “Firefly”, do each hand separately first, and then try to put together. For “When I was your man,” practice the chords and singing with the song on Youtube at 1/2 speed, and then full speed.
How parents can support practice: encourage to practice “firefly” and improve sight-reading abilites. Encourage to write down musical ideas as they surface because this can be used for songwriting material!
Melody
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes every other day
What to practice: “Fur Elise” first section (RH only).
How to practice it most effectively: Practice slowly, in sections. Make sure to refer to your music along the way. It’s okay to look down at the keys, especially when you are learning and starting to understand the patterns in this piece! The music is there as a guide in case you get confused at any point – the notes are all there :)
How parents can support practice: encourage to find a consistent time every other day to practice (e.g. before/after dinner, before/after finishing school homework) & encourage to practice small sections. Repetition is key!
Kevin
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 every day or 20-30 minutes every other day
What to practice: Major scales (C, G, D) and accompanying relative minors (Am, Em *hold off on Bm for now) & the song “Enjoy the silence” (chords left hand, melody right hand)
How to practice it most effectively: repetition – also optional to practice along with recording (or listen to recording beforehand) to understand the pacing of chords and melody.
Carol
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 min/day
What to practice: warm-ups (lip trills, meow’s, breathing – sips of breath and exhale tsss)
Sing along with recording of “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac (focus on chorus) – nice open ‘ah’ and supported breathing :)
How to practice it most effectively: Find a time that works for you each day to practice warm-ups. Allow yourself to get into the physicality of singing; relaxed body posture (especially relaxed shoulders, neck, and chest area) and focused breathing in belly and rib cage.
Preferred Books for Priya Students
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Vocal Books
The Contemporary Singer
This comprehensive guide based on the curriculum of the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music is a must-have for every vocalist! Covers all the essentials, including: an overview of the singing process, treating voice as an instrument, tips for getting started and overcoming stage fright, proper posture and breathing, tone, discovering resonance, belting, diction, maintaining vocal health, mic techniques, and exercises for all voice ranges and types on the accompanying CD. Includes lead sheets for such standard vocal repertoire pieces as: Yesterday – I’m Beginning to See the Light – and I Heard it Through the Grapevine.
Vocal Workouts
The vocal workouts in this much-anticipated follow-up to Peckham’s bestselling 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. Also includes sing-along tracks to support your workout. Audio is accessed online for download or streaming and contains PLAYBACK+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right.
Piano Books
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.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
Contents include: Catch a Falling Star * Happy Birthday to You * I Got Rhythm * I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing * Lean on Me * The Lion Sleeps Tonight * The Planets, from Animaniacs * The Rose * and Star Wars (Main Theme).
Faber & Faber Pre-Time Popular
Arrangements of popular songs that beginning players will love to learn, including: The Candy Man * I Just Can’t Wait to Be King * If I Only Had a Brain * Scooby Doo Main Title * and more.
First 50 Classical Pieces
A great collection of must-know classics for all pianists. Each arrangement is simple and streamlined, yet still captures the essence of the music.
Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Level 1 Lesson Book introduces all the notes of the grand staff, elementary chord playing, and the concept of tonic and dominant notes. Students play in varied positions, reinforcing reading skills and recognizing intervals through the 5th. Musicianship is built with the introduction of legato and staccato touches. This level continues the interval orientation to reading across the full range of the Grand Staff. The 5-finger approach is presented here in a fresh, musically appealing way.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Theory Book provides instruction, reinforcement, and creative applications of basic theory concepts. Students will enjoy note-naming with StoryRhymes, explore improvisation, and engage with eye-training and ear-training activities all within a fun-filled context tied thematically to the Level 1 Lesson Book pieces.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Level 2A Lesson Book follows Piano Adventures Level 1. The book opens with a Note Reading Guide and an introduction to eighth note rhythm patterns. Students work with 5-finger transposition, functional harmony, and musical phrases. Exploration of C, G, D and A major and minor 5-finger positions builds on intervallic reading skills that were introduced in the earlier level. Appealing repertoire reinforces key concepts and encourages students to explore musical expression through varied dynamics and tempos. Selections include well-known classics from the great composers and original compositions.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Level 2A Theory Book has thematic tie-in with the Level 2A Lesson Book, inviting students into the pages for deeper understanding. A wide variety of theory activities engage students with eighth notes, phrases, transposition, and 5-finger scales. Composer biographies provide valuable context for Lesson Book pieces while helping students review key concepts.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Level 2A Performance Book offers an array of colorful elementary pieces that reinforce the concepts presented in the Lesson Book. The selections range from arrangements of classical compositions to American folk songs and imaginative originals. Students and teachers will enjoy the wide variety of sounds and musical textures in this collection.
Faber & Faber Piano Adventures
The 2nd Edition Level 2B Lesson Book offers a systematic approach to scales, primary chords (I, IV, V7), and transposition for the keys of C, G, and F major. This new edition features nine new songs, plus enhanced arrangements of favorite pieces from the first edition. The new “Scale and Chord Adventures” appendix offers teachers the flexibility to explore major and minor scale and chord patterns in all twelve keys.
