Teaching
Vocal Pedagog, Voice, Piano, Flute, Composition & Group Music Lessons Instructor
Shooka Afshar is currently a voice, piano and the flute faculty at the Chestnut Hill School .
Parallel to her vocal studies, Shooka had additional studies in the Dalcroze method at Longy School and she incorporates the Dalcroze method in her lessons.
Shooka has a vast experience in teaching kids of ages 15 months old-adults. She applies Dalcroze methods in her teaching, especially in group classes, helping the students learn music through fun and joyous activities, as well as creating constructive musical challenges for them. Shooka teaches the classical technique to her voice students and helps them train their voices to pursue their desired singing direction. She uses a broad vocal repertoire in her lessons including musical theater and Disney songs. In fact she encourages her students to bring their favorite songs to the lesson. She focuses on breathing technique and provides her students with the latest voice and tension releasing exercises. Shooka’s approach in teaching the piano is focused on correct hand position, phrasing and understanding of the music. She provides her piano students with standard hand exercises and proper pieces. Sooka teaches all genres in her flute studio. Some of the books she uses,are the Suzuki Flute Series and Marcel Moyse exercises. Shooka incorporates fun activities in her private lessons so that her students will learn the music with happiness and joy. Through such activities the students learn solfege and theory both directly and indirectly.
Teaching Philosophy
"In my teaching studio, music, joy and happiness are inseparable. Learning a musical instrument is about enjoying every moment of it: easy moments and frustrating moments. That is when one becomes a creative virtuose musician."