Katherine Werbiansky
Master of Music from Northwestern University
Voice Instructor
|
Katherine believes that singing is a beautiful marriage between physicality and the nature of human emotions, and her goal is to help singers equally explore both. Katherine teaches all genres and styles of music for all ages, helping singers develop healthy voice habits that are enhanced by creativity and emotion. Katherine has extensive experience and training to support her trans and non-binary students both in singing and speech.
Why do you sing? I was an extremely shy child, but I knew had a voice inside of me screaming to be unleashed. Singing gave me a space to explore and express my feelings when I could not explain myself verbally. I still find that quality to be true as an adult. Why do you teach other people to sing? Singing is the murmuring of the soul. I feel that everyone should have the ability to have a cathartic experience through the power of song. I love guiding singers to discover the space where emotional freedom and technical expertise meet--that, to me, is where art is born. It's amazing to see my students truly create and play in that space and feel great about having found it. How do you describe your lessons? My lessons are all about experimentation, exploration, and playfulness. We will make some crazy sounds together, but I promise they all have a purpose! |
What makes your teaching style unique?
The beautiful thing about singing is that no two voices are alike. My teaching style is all about getting students to find their most authentic sound. This means stripping away any affectations or preconceived notions of what a "good" voice should sound like, and truly embracing their completely unique and one-of-a-kind instrument. (Hence the crazy noises and exercises!) I try my best to meet my students in the space where they have found that balance between emotion and technique, and help them discover everything they can do in that space. What is your favorite teaching tool? I love to work with straws and mirrors. Straws are a super easy way to get voices warmed up and aligned. It's a simple tool that students can use at home while doing other tasks. As for mirrors, sometimes singers don't realize what is physically holding them back ( ex. Tight mouth, poor posture, collapsed ribcage) until they sing in a mirror! What are your favorite teaching moments? When we've done all the technical work and lined up the instrument and then the sound that emerges is pure emotion, it's truly beautiful. The color of my student's voice reflects the color and mood of the music, and it happens naturally and spontaneously. Those moments are blissful for both me and my student. |
