Piano and Voice Teacher
Charlottesville, Virginia
My name is Katherine “KaeRenae” Mitchell, and I delight in teaching students of all ages the joy of creating music. My musical experiences range from teaching in my home studio to conducting University of Virginia students to directing numerous choirs for all ages. I have been teaching piano and voice for over twenty-five years and have over thirty-five years of conducting experience. Being an excellent teacher of piano or voice requires unique skill sets and acute awareness of an individual’s personality and learning style. I give each student my full attention and am truly joyful when s/he progresses!
During lessons I often use simple movements or percussion instruments to help the student embody the rhythm of the music. Humor is valuable when encountering a particularly challenging passage. My familiarity with notation software (Finale), and with recording software (Garage Band) enables me to provide a broad range of musical experiences, musical selections, and immediate feedback.
I encourage students to explore and create while also learning the basics of note reading, technique, ear training, theory, and expression. My training in theory along with my composition and arranging skills are invaluable when assisting students with their own creations.
I employ a variety of methods tailored to the individual, and I include diverse repertoire. Exploration, imagination, play, and creativity go side-by-side with performance, technique, ear training, theory, and expression. There are opportunities for group sharing, individual performances, and competitions.
In summary, I:
- tailor my mentoring to the individual
- include diverse repertoire, with the primary focus being on classical music
- teach music theory to augment the lesson, and the student’s understanding of music
- focus on technique and musical expression
- encourage exploration, imagination, and creativity
Sharing my love of music is a gift, and I hope to inspire others to create, appreciate, and enjoy music for a lifetime.
In addition to my studio work, I am the Director of the Virginia Women’s Chorus at the University of Virginia.
On a personal note, I am blessed to be a mother of three wonderful adult children and I treasure our times together. I have two daughters-in-law, or as I prefer, daughters-in-heart. Being with my family and friends, arranging and writing music, creative writing, gardening, dancing, hiking, jogging (kind of), and making crafts are some of the other activities I enjoy. I earned a BA with high distinction from U.Va. and have a Master of Arts degree. More importantly I have many years of experience working with all ages and abilities. I have studied many modalities of music and healing, worked with various voice teachers and vocal techniques, and have most recently studied with Grammy award winner David Darling in his program designed to emphasize the joy of creating music.