Mission Statement/Teaching Philosophy
Creating music with your voice is a highly personal experience and a wonderful adventure.
I believe that we all possess the innate ability to express with our voices if given the tools and a safe and supportive container to build our skills and our confidence.
As singers, our bodies are our instruments, and because of this, singing can be a vulnerable experience. No two bodies or voices are the same. That makes each of us an incredible, beautiful, unique instrument. And because singing can be so deeply personal, it is important to discover your voice in a safe and encouraging place.
Our vocal instrument is part of our body, and because of this, the health of our instrument is directly tied to the health of our body. It is therefore important to develop healthy practices that will support us holistically and not just with the technical aspects of our voices and our sound.
Though it is of course possible to sing well under many circumstances, I believe that our bodies must be aligned, healthy and in good spirits to fully embody our musical potential. I believe that along with learning healthy vocal technique, it is also important to practice mindful self care and develop practices that support the mind, body, heart and spirit. We are then tuning our voices to create song and develop a body of musical repertoire as well as tuning in to our body on a holistic level.
Finding and expressing our authentic voice musically is a powerful vehicle for using our voice to express in our daily lives. Exploring your voice in this way can be a powerful tool to create confidence and personal power in your daily life. It is my goal to facilitate this growth with you, and to do this in a joyful way.
Biography
Education
Master of Arts in Vocal Performance Practice, University of California, Santa Cruz
Bachelor of Music, University of California, Santa Cruz
K-12 Single Subject Music Credential, San Jose State University
Teaching Experience
Over 20 years experience teaching in a variety of settings and capacities, including:
- private voice lessons for both children and adults
- directing/teaching multi-leveled ensembles in middle school and high school, including men’s, women’s and mixed ensembles, concert choir, and vocal jazz groups
- vocal and music direction for youth, teen, and adult musicals
- vocal coaching for musical theater and individual vocal coaching and support for students prepping for auditions and performances
- vocal and classroom music, grades 4-5
Performance Highlights
Opera San Jose, Cabrillo Stage, Scotts Valley Performing Arts, West Coast Voices,
a multitude of personal creative projects.
Personal Projects and Interests
Zina is the proud parent of a vivacious daughter who (surprise!!) loves singing and performing. She is also the author of a soul-inspired personal growth blog entitled Soula Mama. Zina is also working on many creative and transformational projects including building a beautiful and unique sound healing and vocal activation practice designed to help women release and heal through their voices, designing workshops and retreats, and redesigning her life for greater freedom, purpose and joy. She loves singing, creating beautiful spaces, gardening, exploring the healing arts and healing properties of plants and sounds, surfing, and being in nature.