About River
Hi, I’m River! I teach voice, guitar, piano, and uke! I graduated from the University of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. There, I studied many different vocal styles, acting styles, music skills, and play and song writing, and this kickstarted my love of composing broader bodies of work. Since graduating, I’ve recorded a concept album for a musical I wrote (called Ghost Town: the musical) which released as part of the 2021 online Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and have done a staged reading of Ghost Town as part of the Polyphone Festival of New and Emerging Musicals. I’ve sung on other composers’ concept albums, performed and helped develop many new musicals, released a single co-written with one of my closest friends, composed scores for a few short films, and I gig in the Philly and South Jersey area.
Being able to share my love and joy for music with someone, and to set someone up on their own musical journey, brings me immense amounts of joy. Music is for everyone, and I hope to help people find that in themselves for a long time!
"Music is for everyone, and I hope to help people find that in themselves for a long time!"
When did you start playing music, what brought you to it?
I’ve been singing since I could make sounds at all! Singing was my first passion and love, inspired by Kelly Clarkson and singing along to the car radio. This love lead me to everything else! I began songwriting at the age of 7, musical theatre at 11 years old, and then began picking up different instruments to learn songs to cover at 13. From there, I learned enough to be able to write songs with those instruments before getting more formal education in my late teen and early college years!
What are some musical goals you hope to achieve in the future?
I hope to release a lot of my original music through the years, and to continue to write as long as I live! I would also love to learn more instruments and even learn more music production as well.
What advice could you give to someone who has just begun learning music?
Take progress videos of yourself often. At the end of the first year, if you've kept up a good practice regimen for you and have done near-weekly videos, you'll be so happy to see how far you come, and that will keep you motivated to keep going!
What other instruments, aside from the ones you teach, have you played before?
I've tried out bass, drums, mandolin, and violin, but I'd say I'm a true beginner at all of them!
What are some of your favorite teaching moments?
I love when a student has the realization that something that used to be really challenging for them is now a lot easier. That's always an incredibly exciting moment, and I love when it happens in lessons so that I can share in that moment and celebrate their hard work!
What is a musical obstacle that you remember overcoming? How did you overcome it?
I tend to be quite the perfectionist, and that has gotten in the way of a lot of practice, writing, or creative sessions in my past. I found myself struggling to practice because of the potential of not being perfect! I started focusing on how happy music makes me feel, and reminding myself that that joy always outweighs the false promise of "perfection". I would always rather practice imperfectly than not practice because I can't be "perfect".
What style(s) of music do you like to play the most? Why?
That's a tough one! I love playing folk music with fun finger picking patterns and rock music because of how I get to use my voice. I love exploring as many styles as I can!