Take your violin or singing performance to the next level!
Program Overview
Are you searching for guidance to help you or your child maximize their potential for an upcoming audition, exam, or competition? If so, then the Intensive Performance Preparation Coaching Program is for you.
This program is designed for students seeking short-term, focused coaching for an upcoming performance.
The objective of this program is to guide students to realize their fullest performance potential by identifying areas of their playing that need improvement and provide targeted strategies and support to advance their skills and build confidence.
Coaching sessions are tailored to each student’s unique needs and can be scheduled on an as-needed basis in advance of a performance event. I coach independently or in close coordination with a student’s current teacher. I am set up to coach both in-person and virtually. I have worked with students worldwide, including the United States, China, and The Middle East.
“We had such a positive experience working with Carmen on an intense accelerated schedule in preparation for a violin exam. Carmen was able to assess our gaps, provide an action plan and coach accordingly to get us exam ready in 9 days! Carmen’s technique, enthusiasm and feedback really kept our child motivated. Our child was able to go into the exam with confidence and passed with flying colours.”
Areas of Focus
The overview below provides some examples of areas that can be covered in the Intensive Coaching Sessions.
- Violin -
Helping a student understand how to work collaboratively with their accompanist
Coaching student/accompanist rehearsals to ensure secure ensemble
Score study in preparation for collaborative piano and/or orchestral solo performance
Musical elements such as style and phrasing
Technical issues such as bowing, fingering and intonation
Sound quality and projection
Practice planning and strategies
Memorization, performance presentation, and performance mindset preparation
Setting objectives
- Vocal -
Helping a student understand how to work collaboratively with their accompanist
Coaching student/accompanist rehearsals to ensure secure ensemble
Musical elements such as style, phrasing and vocal colours
Technical issues like pitch and breath support
Stage presentation, expression, dramatic choices and performance presentation
Vocal placement and projection
Practice planning and strategies
Memorization and performance mindset preparation
“We have had an excellent experience working with Carmen for in-person and remote private coaching sessions. Her skilled guidance significantly advanced our child’s ability to prepare for competitions, festivals, and the Advanced Solo Performance with Orchestra Summer Program at Choate Rosemary Hall. Especially, her years of professional guidance to our child played a solid foundation for his portfolio of violin performance, which is one of the key factors to his success in the application of boarding high school in the States.
Carmen is an attentive and engaging teacher with an ear for technical and musical detail. She possesses an aptitude for identifying areas which need improvement. She then works meticulously with a student, providing targeted strategies and feedback to help facilitate growth.
We were further impressed by Carmen’s ability to coordinate and work collaboratively with our child’s unique, long-distance learning setup. We live in the Middle East, our child’s other primary teacher is located in China, and Carmen is based in Toronto. Carmen’s ability to work as a collaborative partner and her targeted, precise, intuitive, and encouraging approach advanced our child’s skill and confidence by providing a broad, enriching musical experience.”
Performance Coaching Options
Option 1 – Online or in-person 1:1 coaching
Option 2 – Video evaluation
“Last summer, our girls, aged 11 and 14, were very successful in their remote online violin RCM exams for Grades 7 and 9. Both studied intensively with Carmen at the beginning of July until the end of August. Lessons were twice a week.
Carmen is a wonderful teacher. She is always patient with her students and takes into account their distinctive personalities in her approach. Our older child responds to gentle encouragement while the younger thrives on structure.
Carmen effectively coached each girl according to what they needed. Both girls are very proud of their accomplishment. Thank you Carmen, for guiding these young musicians to be the best they can be! ”
Consultation and Rate
All students interested in the Intensive Coaching Program are encouraged to contact me to set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation session.
During the session, we will discuss your goals, and I will listen to you perform in order to identify areas that need improvement. We can then work together to determine a mutually agreeable plan moving forward, after which you can decide if you would like to schedule additional sessions.
Intensive Performance Program rate is dependent upon request.
