Danielle Hurtig
About
Danielle Hurtig, Soprano, Violinist, and Violist is a Suburban-Chicago native who has lived and breathed the musical arts for 25 years!
Danielle holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, having studied under the tutelage of Soprano Dawn Harris. While studying voice at Illinois, Danielle also trained in Piano and Vocal Pedagogy.
Opera holds a dear place in Danielle’s heart – she is a coloratura soprano and loves all things Mozart. Even though opera is the genre Danielle typically performs, she has a deep love for musical theatre, pop and especially classic rock. Favorite past operatic roles have been Yum-Yum/Peep-Bo in Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” (above), and Polly Potter in the Marx Brothers comedy, “The Cocoanuts”.
In addition to her love of the vocal arts, Danielle has flourished as an orchestral violist and contemporary electric violinist. She studied under the instruction of violist Karen Summerville, having discovered strings as an elementary-aged student joining her school orchestra. Danielle has played in many community and church orchestras, in addition to contemporary praise and worship teams.
Danielle feels most at home in the teaching studio. Working with students to discover their love of music and to find their voice is one of her life’s joys. She has taught private lessons in her own home and at several music schools in the Chicagoland suburbs for the past 10 years. Danielle’s goals for all of her students are to help them flourish on their instrument by learning proper technique, rooted in the classical tradition and healthful usage, allowing the student to excel in whichever genre of music they most love. Above all, fun is the most essential component of learning an instrument!
Teaching Style
I aim to use a relational approach with my students - I use a nurturing, encouraging approach and demeanor so that my students feel comfortable enough to be their true, unfiltered selves! I take music and what I do very seriously, but I love to have fun and be lighthearted. I work with students to set goals so that they are actively engaged in their musical journey. These goals set the pace for the student's journey, but also give a clear benchmark for progress that is made.
Curriculum
Violin/Viola - Suzuki Violin/Viola School (Level dependent on student age/experience); Introducing the Positions; Wohlfart Sixty Studies for Violin/Viola; repertoire assigned as needed
Piano - Faber Piano Adventures (Level dependent on student's age)
Voice - I do not use a method book, as each singer has a unique trajectory in their vocal journey. I work with vocal students to determine their preferred genre(s) of music and then assign repertoire based on goals, vocal ability/range, and any performances for which a student may be performing.