Masha Feygelson is a member of our Piano faculty at the Academy, with many adoring students in her studio. You may be surprised to know that she is also a jazz singer, with a Valentine’s Day themed performance coming up on Saturday, February 10th. Learn more about this talented musician in her interview with our Faculty Coordinator Claire Allen.
CAllen: What’s your favorite part about teaching for the Academy?
MFeygelson: What begins as a simple inquiry with our office about piano lessons, grows into such an enriching learning process and human connection. I’ve met and worked with so many lovely people…it’s really a gift to get to know our community through the unique lens of being a music teacher.
CAllen: How did you first fall in love with music?
MFeygelson: I don’t think there was necessarily an epiphany; being in love with music has been a state of being since earliest childhood. My mother realized this and took me to music classes very early on. Even as a three year old, I walked around singing endlessly. Not much has changed!
CAllen: Tell us about a teaching experience you had that was especially memorable.
MFeygelson: So, so many…it’s impossible to choose. As any teacher will tell you, every day with children is full of hilarious comments and questions and discoveries…and there are a thousand little triumphs along the way.
CAllen: What are some unique things you do when you teach?
MFeygelson: There’s certainly nothing new under the sun, but one thing I always do is encourage my students to sing! With young beginners, we might make up lyrics to accompany their pieces or imagine scenes and stories that could be set to the music. It is extremely helpful for pianists of all ages and levels to sing note names while practicing – vocalizing musical lines helps in building beautiful phrases and aids memorization.
CAllen: Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them. If not, tell us the type of pet you would like to have.
MFeygelson: My closest brush with being a pet owner was about a month ago, when a field mouse was loose in my apartment for a few days, after I tried to domesticate her…I was sad to see her go, but honestly, it probably wouldn’t have worked out. The truth is, I adore animals and would gladly house everyone from rats to cats to lizards – once I live somewhere that can comfortably house all of us. #TeamCat #TeamDog #TeamAnimal
CAllen: What else would you like our community to know about you?
MFeygelson: Singing is my other musical passion – mostly jazz and pop. After finishing grad school last spring, I can finally dedicate more time to vocal studies and performances. I’m very excited for my first full solo concert on February 10th!
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