Emily is very much enjoying the lessons and committed to them! We thank you for continuing to be such an excellent teacher and friend to her.
Sally
Kathryn ALWAYS comes out of guitar happier than she went in. I know she really likes guitar, but I think that you are the true star of the lessons. She just loves you, and SO enjoys the hour that you spend together. We cannot thank you enough.
Whitney
You have enriched my life.
Josephine
I'd also like to thank you for all of your support and patience this semester. I have not had a professor that has cared as much as you do. It really means so much to me.
Grant
I love my ukulele lessons with Alicia! She is an inspiring and kind teacher who has made me not only a better and more confident musician but a better and happier person as well! I highly recommend her and after weekly lessons for three years, I keep coming back for more, simply because she is a wonderful and lovely person.
Emily
What makes Alicia a good teacher: If I don’t understand something with the first explanation, she finds another way to explain it from a completely different perspective, and so on until I understand. Until the concept is mine! That’s what sets her apart—a person providing an answer and an extraordinary teacher.
Jennifer
I really appreciate how you encourage us, especially international students, to improve our understanding.
Yana
“They never taught this at Peabody!”
Randa, who sings roles with the Washington National Opera and has a degree from Peabody
“I didn’t know it was possible.”
Said by a DC district court judge, a NASA physicist, and the CEO of a computer security company all could not match pitch, but after two semesters learned enough to join their church choirs
“Wow! I can really do this!”
Cynthia, a professional singer/teacher with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees who had inadequate and stressful training in theory and musicianship. She can now read AND take dictation!
"Sight reading is supernatural!"
Fanfan
"Studying sight singing with Alicia Kopfstein transformed my musical life. Her instruction helped me to develop sight reading skills that have contributed enormously to both my abilities and pleasure in choral and solo singing. Beyond that, Alicia led me to a level of understanding musical structures and concepts that has greatly enhanced my enjoyment as both a performer and a listener."
Dan Silver, President, Vocal Arts DC
"Many thanks! You do the work we all depend on for any level of beauty and integrity in music!"
Mary, a respected and active local accompanist, coach
“I feel like you’re making me too powerful!”
Robin
“I thought I’d never be able to read again. Your method is amazing!”
Melinda, a professional singer/teacher who could read beautifully, but lost her ability after developing epilepsy. Her old method of logically thinking no longer worked. Now she is linking to the feelings and is back to reading with her old facility. She even has been hired at a university in Texas, where she is teaching my methods!
"Alicia takes a subject which can often be intimidating or threatening and teaches it in a logical, thoroughly understandable way. All my students have improved immensely with her and have had a great deal of fun in the process!"
Elizabeth Daniels, MD/DC state governor of National Association of Teachers of Singing, adjunct faculties of Curtis Institute & Catholic University, founding member Vocal Arts Society
“No question but that the singers in the Paul Hill Chorale who have taken your classes have come back better prepared to cope with the difficult scores. I wish more people would take your courses and would stick with them.”
The late Paul Hill, director emeritus of the Paul Hill Chorale
“A must-do for all singers. Your classes encourage good musicianship and increase a singer's value to any choral organization.”
The late Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, director of the Cathedral Chorale Society
“Every year I carefully track the progress of each singer in the Master Chorale. Those who have taken your course made giant strides in their sight reading ability! Their confidence has increased and they have become leaders not followers! Thanks for your contribution to the art and keep up the good work!”
Donald McCullough, director of the former Master Chorale of Washington