Shirley Perkins

Voice, Chorus

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Education
Dalcroze Elementary Certificate - Julliard (2007)
Certified Kodaly Teacher, Level  III,  NYU  (2005)
NYU - Master of Creative Arts In Edu. (1985)
Pace University - BPS, with honors (1978)

Continuing Studies
Certified Kodaly Teacher Level III  from NYU, 2005
Dalcroze Elementary  Certificate awarded by The Dalcroze Institute at The Julliard School (Bob Abramson, Master Teacher) (2007)

Related Training

Voice
Antonia Lavanne  (Mannes School of Music - 1986-2013)  
Edvin Szamosi (Budapest and NYC, 1991- 2011)
Acting for Opera (Janet Bookspan, Julliard, 1986 -2000; Richard Getke, NYC City Opera, 1995-2016)
Acting for Singers: The David Craig Studio.

Related Professional Activities

American Institute of Musical Studies, Graz, Austria - Faculty member (taught Movement for Singers)
Certified Yoga Instructor,  Sivananda Yoga Institute. 

Sample of Favorite Roles Performed

Mozart:  Donna Elvira & Donna Anna (The Marriage of Figaro); Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte); Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute)
Puccini:  Musetta (La Boheme);  Butterfly (Madame Butterfly)
Verdi:  Mrs. Ford (Falstaff)
Leoncavallo: Nedda  (I Pagliacci)
J. Strauss:  Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus)

My Classes
I have a great love of children’s authentic movement, sounds,uriosity and questions. I am fortunate to be trained in both the Dalcroze and Kodaly Methods, which are developmental approaches, rather than being based on  subject-object. Concepts are presented in a developmentally appropriate approach vs. expecting children to intellectualize about something that does not exist in their own experience. 

 I am happy to say there are many positive results with my students: they sing well, and they also learn critical thinking skills in listening: discrimination of differences in pitch rhythm, beat, tempo and dynamics. 

 Meaningful learning is also fun, and many songs are initially learned through games; later the musical skills are made explicit. Children’s socialization is advanced. For example , forming a circle and passing an object on the beat of a song are challenging tasks involving a multiplicity of demands, involving social cooperation as well as many individual left and right brain skills.

Teaching Singing!
Singing is life.  Singing is letting go, not holding back the breath. The expression is in the breath.  Beautiful singing is pure exhalation. It is imagination on the breath. Breath is life. Don’t hold back the breath, let go of the fear, breathe out!

Performance Project
I have sung Schoenberg's complete "Pierrot Lunaire," in a series of recitals in Merkin Hall, with an ensemble of distinguised faculty members.

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Our Registrars are here to help you find the perfect class or private lesson! 212 501 3360 or lucymosesschool​@kaufmanmusiccenter​.org.

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