Virtual and Live Lessons
Alicia offers lessons in her lovely home studio and via Zoom, Skype and Google Hangout. Students have taken video lessons from Connecticut, D.C., Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and even France!
Contact and Pricing Info
For information about current rates, scheduling, and to sign up for lessons, contact me by email at a.kopfstein@gmail.com
Sight Singing
I have developed an innovative and inviting method of teaching a subject that is usually taught in a tedious, stressful, intellectually exhausting manner. I explain a concept in clear, understandable terms (everyone understands my explanations!) and then link it to the subjective reaction the music elicits from both the performer and the audience. You will learn to use your own emotions to find the right notes at the right time. You will read and remember difficult passages more securely. You will easily conquer mysterious rhythms. And your interpretations will become more artistic, with more emotional communication and immediacy. You will be making music with both heart and mind. You will even dramatically improve your intonation!
Instead of mechanically teaching the way I was taught, I have studied the most effective pedagogical methods then have designed clear tools to solve whatever problems you encounter. For instance, I’ve created seven different ways of finding the right pitch. By studying with me, you acquire problem-solving tools. Many students bring the music they are singing in choir or as a soloist for the insights I can provide.
In case you’re curious I use three different textbooks, depending upon the level of the student. The first I created for intelligent adults who know little to nothing about music. More advanced students use either Robert W. Ottman and Nancy Rogers, Music for Sight Singing, or Gary S. Karpinski and Richard Kram, Anthology for Sight Singing.
Guitar
My students call me the "technique queen." I’ve made a lifelong study of ergonomics and technique—as a tiny, fragile woman, I couldn’t play if I didn’t have excellent technique. I’ve interviewed the Director of the National Arts Medicine Center, written articles on ergonomics and the guitar, and designed an approach that links ergonomics with the process of selecting a guitar that is found in my booklet, The Healthy Guitar. [link to that info on this site] With my guidance, you will play with greater physical ease, allowing more speed, endurance, complexity, and accuracy. I’ve helped professionals who play guitar/ukulele deal with injuries resulting from technical problems and helped people overcome physical obstacles, such as arthritis and cerebral palsy. I even taught a person who was missing his right hand how to play the guitar.
As a singer of everything from folk and pop to classical, I can help you coordinate singing while accompanying yourself on the guitar. Since I have performed and teach a variety of styles, I can also help you:
- learn to strum and play standard chords
- figure out the best strum to use for a song
- understand how chords take you up the neck
- learn to create chord-melody arrangements
My Class Guitar at American University provides a smorgasbord of genres including classical, folk, rock, reggae, flamenco, blues, and pop. The textbook we use is the Christopher Parkening Guitar Method. For more information, see the syllabus for the course [link to syllabus] and the packet of exercises and songs [link to packet].
Ukulele
The uke is a fun, easy instrument! And if you play guitar, you can play ukulele. The hand movements are the same. Uke is also easier to learn than guitar since it has only four strings instead of six. And a soprano uke fits in your carry-on, so it’s a great travel companion. Some aspiring guitarists chose to start by playing the less-intimidating ukulele.
I can help you:
- learn to strum and play standard chords
- figure out the best strum to use for a song
- understand how chords take you up the neck
- learn to create chord-melody arrangements
- coordinate playing and singing
By the way, if you play ukulele already, it’s simple to transition to guitar. Again, the hand movements are the same, but the guitar will require wider reaches and sometimes more fingers since it has six strings rather than four. For more, please see Guitar.
Jake Shimabukuro, the world’s most famous ukulele artist (PBS even had an hour-long program about him called Life on Four Strings), said "one of the things I love about being a ukulele player is that no matter where I go in the world to play, the audience has such low expectations. [This is] a huge plus for sure."
Let Alicia help you find happiness on four strings!