Helen's motto as a teacher and as a student of life is "learn it, love it, live it." She believes that everyone has the power and the potential to make something great of themselves, and music is just one of the stepping stones that can be used to realize a person's full potential. After studying voice and psychology at George Mason University, she soon became aware a growing need among most music students: the need for expression and creativity. It was not enough to simply teach the fundamentals of an instrument and hope for expression to simply appear — expression and the act of creating must be nurtured from day one.
Lessons with Helen are a collaborative and insightful way for all ages to learn voice, piano, and general music. Helen's teaching style blends technique with artistry, fundamentals with creativity, and work with fun. Her approach to teaching is based on the individual student, not the instrument they wish to learn — each student is a masterpiece of his or her own making, and must be treated as such. Standard methods of teaching need not apply where Helen is concerned. She picks and chooses from the best methods out there to tailor each lesson plan to her individual student. The student's goals, dreams, wishes, styles of learning, and general demeanor are all part of her approach to teaching.
At every step of the way, Helen encourages her student's natural ability to create to shine through using whichever musical medium they choose — vocalizing, piano playing, rhythmic piano playing, or a synthesis of any of the above. Her goal is to make each student feel comfortable not only with their musical selves, but with themselves as well.
She currently travels to students' homes, bringing her methods and her instruction with her so that she may teach anywhere there is a piano and student willing to learn. This is a great way to accommodate this area's busy lifestyle, as Helen teaches your child (or yourself!) in your home.
Some of her favorite methods for piano include Bastien's Invitation to Music for younger children, and Bastien's Older Beginner Series. She has also used Faber and Faber, Hal Leonard, Thompson, and Alfred series in her individualized instruction, and will often borrow from all series to achieve a comprehensive musical education for her students.
To complement her teaching — because every teacher is a student of something else — Helen performs regularly with her duo/trio Snaps for Santoro at various venues around town, and can be found online at www.helentheresa.com. She is a student of the jazz style, and enjoys continually learning and listening to the jazz greats to get a better feel for their artistic expression. She hopes to go back to school for a Master's Degree in Music Therapy in the very near future to continue her work as a music educator.
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