Berklee College of Music graduate. Over 7 years of teaching experience the guitar. Former employee at Atlantic Records.

Learn more about Claire

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  My passion for music began as I listened to my grandfather play Led Zeppelin around his house and watched him purchase parts to refurbish old guitars from local flea markets.

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Ella Fitzgerald's music could captivate me all day, every day. While it might eventually drive me crazy, I believe I would still be mesmerized by her remarkable talent and phrasing.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  The most exhilarating, challenging, and fulfilling lessons for me involve delving into the intricacies of performance and musical expression. For me, it's the reason we are there in the first place!

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  Wow! What a fabulous question. Honestly ANY instrument is difficult to master. It takes a lifetime of dedication and usually a commitment to singular genres for extended periods of time. I think guitar is deceptively difficult because it is so diverse and fits in so many genres. I think cello is difficult because of the precise technique required to play with effortless expression. However, I have never played the organ and I have to imagine that using your hands and feet simultaneously to create melodies and groove must be quite the challenge!

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  First: Have fun with the process! Find joy in the mundane. Treat your practice time as a playful and fun retreat from the stresses of your day.
  Second: You have to be a bit delusional to achieve your dreams. One of my favorite quotes is by Michaelangelo: "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Carole King, a beautiful songwriter, and seems like an even better person. I would be beside myself to hear her stories. Joni Mitchell, for the exact same reason as Carole King, but also because she writes songs on the guitar in such a creative manner. Yo-Yo Ma, to learn some technique exercises for cello, but also to discuss his passion for teaching.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  When I was 12, I completely bombed at my recital. I had worked on the song for a year, and I was so nervous that I could barely keep up with it once I hit the stage. It was devastating and embarrassing, but my teachers at the time shared stories with me about how they had messed up on stage. It made me remember to never take myself too seriously, to take my time getting ready on stage, and it reminded me that I wasn't alone! It is almost like living your worst nightmare and being so much stronger for it. I learned more about myself in that performance than any other.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I aim to see the best in my students and whatever they create. When that is the core of the lesson, the rest of the cards fall right into place. I really care to know exactly why each student signed up for lessons and what keeps them coming back. Each lesson is different and curated to the student.