About Vanisha Evans
Vanisha teaches piano, ukulele, violin, and voice! Originally from California, Vanisha has over 35 years of experience in playing music and 25 years of experience as a music educator ranging from teaching instrumental music in a Montessori classroom, band and orchestra at public and charter schools, music for after schools programs, as well as managing youth performers in orchestra. She obtained a majority of her merits at Holy Names University in Oakland, California, including all her coursework for my Master’s in Education, in Advanced Curriculum Studies, a Single Subject Credential in Music, and a Level 1 certificate with the Kodály Method for Music Education. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. She holds an alternative teaching license in Music for the state of Colorado. She has studied clarinet in the bay area with professional clarinetist Rudolf Tapiro, past principal clarinetist of the Oakland Symphony and with Larry London of the Oakland Ballet. In Italy, she studied with clarinetist Carmello Mobilia in Florence at the Il Trillo Music School. Currently in music outside of teaching, she is an active performing musician singing in a funk band and playing piano as an improv musician. She enjoys the healing vibrations of music and finds learning to play her favorite songs by ear on the piano helps her understand it in a profound way and communicate effectively to the audience. Her best qualities as a teacher is creating a positive, supportive culture where students feel safe to take risks. She follows the student and their individual progress and is highly effective at tailoring each lesson to address the immediate needs of any trouble spot(s) by setting realistic goals with achievable exercises and techniques. Her teaching philosophy is broken into three main ideas in music with an end goal of having all students learn musicianship through singing and playing their instrument. In her free time, she is a mother of two boys in 1st and 4th grade. She is an excellent cook and likes to learn about other musicians’ musical journey. She studies the sun, moon and stars as a moonologer and likes to practice mindfulness and meditation. She lovez to play neo-soul music, especially her all-time favorite artists, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder & Elton John.
