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Training: Adaptive Music Instruction

Julia Urbank

Assistant Director, Willow Street Chorus • Piano / Voice / Adaptive Music Program
Originally from Northampton, MA, Julia earned a B.M. in Vocal Performance and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from UMass Amherst and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in school, Julia served as a Teaching Assistant for Music Theory and Aural Skills and sang multiple opera roles. Julia strives to inspire joy and love of music in a stress-free environment. She believes that music can be a transformative force for people of all ages when they are given the freedom to be creative and express their authentic selves. Julia is a teaching artist in CMSS’s Adaptive Music Program and in our Little Notes Early Childhood Music program.

Learn with me if…

If you want to build a healthy, sustainable vocal technique that lets you sing your favorite songs.

Julia’s Student Testimonials

“Julia es una profesora excelente y enseña canciones bilingues es muy linda. Nos encantan las clases se nota la planeacion y la transicion de las actividades de la clase es muy divertida . Julia has a great energy es muy alegre.”

“Always on time and keeps the class moving at a steady pace, We love the classes, they are so much fun with a variety of songs, instruments and props”

“Leora loves how Ms. Julia ” goes into the closet” and brings out all kinds of cool musical learning instruments. I love how she engages everyone and creates such a positive, uplifting and comfortable atmosphere perfect for fostering learning and making the kids feel safe to learn and participate!”

 

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a woman with long light brown hair smiling strumming a ukulele

Language: English

Online Lessons: Makeup lessons only

Trainings: Adaptive Music Instruction, Early Childhood Instruction, First Steps in Music, Multicultural Learning Through Creative Expression, Music Technology, Neurodivergence & Autism, Piano Learning Community, Vocal Learning Community

Sammi Shea

Clarinet

Sammi Shea is a Massachusetts-based clarinetist and music educator. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studied clarinet with Romie de Guise-Langlois, and of Longy School of Music at Bard College in Cambridge. During her years as a musician, she has traveled to play in the 2018 edition of the Tournament of Roses parade, the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA, and the SONAD Project in Marlborough, New Hampshire. Her teaching career began in 2017 with private clarinet lessons, and she is currently an elementary music teacher in the West Springfield Public Schools.

As an educator and musician, Sammi believes that music needs to be accessible for everyone, because no matter who you are, everyone likes music in some capacity. She believes that, even if you can’t play an instrument in a band or sing in a choir, you can experience music and keep it as an integral part of your life. Her long term goals include pursuing a PhD in Music Education and developing an accessible general music curriculum for substantially separate music classes.

Learn with me if…

If you believe the process is just as important as the final product! Asking questions, trying new things, and reflecting on what you have done, you can grow as a person and musician which are all part of the process.

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Language: English

Online Lessons: Yes

Trainings: Adaptive Music Education Independent Study, Adaptive Music Instruction, ADHD Informed Instruction

CMSS Perform-A-Thon