Middle School

My piano lessons from from 6 yrs. old through high school were my favorite activity-- so I kept practicing piano while switching my major to flute, because I was also in love with the orchestra!

I have performed a lot of solo and chamber music on the flute, and now participate in a "piano group" to keep up the excitement of performing on piano. My teaching style is relaxed, but I hear from students that I am also demanding-- mostly it depends on how the student learns, and how much time they can practice (surprise, surprise!)

Lynne Funkhouser has been playing the clarinet since she was eight years old. She began teaching after graduating from the Peabody Conservatory of Music/Johns Hopkins University in 1983. Since moving to San Francisco in 1987, Ms. Funkhouser has played clarinet professionally throughout the Bay Area. She is proficient in teaching beginning, advanced, and professional clarinet and saxophone students. She teaches both jazz and classical styles.

I enjoy helping people who have a strong desire to sing. Previous experience is not necessary. With my knowledge of the body and Alexander Technique I can help undo previous bad habits that may have led to vocal damage and help students discover what is blocking their progress.

Trained in classical piano, I attended college for Bachelors and Masters degrees. I have been a member of Music Teachers' Association of CA for 30 years. My students learn the language of music and participate in recitals, Certificate of Merit, Piano Guild, and any other opportunities they can prepare for. I feel that children can learn to be good at something even if they are not meant to be professional musicians. There are no doctor lessons or architect lessons for children. Piano uses and trains the body as well as the ear, and demands concentration at the level of the child.

I have performed leading roles in Musicals, Operettas, and Operas in the Bay Area with Lamplighters, West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, and Festival Opera.

I have taught students of all ages for 25 years. I am vocal music specialist at Parkmead Elementary, director of Danville Girls chorus (4/5 grades level), direct the Rossmoor Community Chorus, and am soloist for Queen of All Saints Church.

I incorporate the principles of posture awareness (Alexander Technique) in my vocal instruction

I love to work in partnership with singers to help discover, develop and foster their unique voices and musical expression. I teach my students to become excellent at non-judgmental self-observation as they learn to sing with good resonance, buoyant breath management and healthy, efficient vocal fold vibration. This creates playful and empowering experimentation that results in increased self-knowledge, technical proficiency, self-confidence and powerful, authentic expression.

I have been a professional singer and musician since 8th Grade where I was a church organist and cantor. I played in a recording session for Capitol Records in High School which changed my life, and then auditioned at Kent State University in Ohio and received a scholarship for the School of Music. I worked my way through college by singing in local places. Perhaps because my voice teachers were inspiring, I wanted to help young singers to prepare for whatever their goals were. That remains my motivation today.

Having had an active performing career which encompassed opera, oratorio and recital, I am comfortable sharing what I have learned through the years with my students. My goal is always to help each unique student find his or her most free and beautiful voice, and will draw upon a variety of methods to do so. Since my own study focussed on the bel canto approach, that is my first instinct, but I believe in drawing from many different sources depending on individual needs. I love to find answers through the music itself, and enjoy coaching art song and opera above all.