Teacher Background

Amelia Seyssel Parks holds a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance & Literature from Mills College, CA, where she was awarded two scholarships for for outstanding achievement. She is a registered member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), is a member of the European Suzuki Association (ESA - Level Two), is an Associate Member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), achieved Level One certification with the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA), and is a long-time member of the Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA) and its state and local affiliates (NYSMTA & HCMTA).

In addition to her graduate work, Ms. Seyssel Parks' varied background includes workshops, classes and course work in Dalcroze (eurythmics), Alexander Technique, Theater Acting, Early Music Performance, Ethnomusicology, Orff-Schulwerk Applied curriculum, and Musikgarten™ Early Childhood Music curriculum.

VOICE BACKGROUND: Ms. Seyssel's performing debut was in California while studying with Donna Petersen, a San Francisco Opera and Metropolitan Opera Audition Judge for the West Coast. While at Mills College, Ms. Seyssel also studied with visiting professor Jane Manning (London, BBC Recording Artist), a distinguished exponent of contemporary vocal music and author of the book 'New Vocal Repertory'.

Subsequent to concluding her Master's degree, Ms. Seyssel continued her vocal studies at the Manhattan School of Music Vocal Arts Institute, including workshops with Nico Castel, Cynthia Hoffman, Lou Galterio and Margaret Hoswell, and at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, including a vocal master class with Dalton Baldwin. She is currently studying with Joyce McLean of The Juilliard School's Evening Division and is a regular soloist at The Poughkeepsie Reformed Church (Hooker Ave) in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Ms. Seyssel is currently active as a recitalist, specializing in Art Song repertoire of the English, Spanish and French language composers with a special focus on her work with pianist Maria Rivera White — the 'Cantatrice Art Song Ensemble'.

In Summer of 2008, Ms. Seyssel (Parks) began her teacher training work in Suzuki Voice*) (offered in the United States only since 2005) with Katrina Pezzimenti (PPSA & ESA) from Melbourne, Australia. Book Two training with Mary Hofer (SAA) from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, followed in Summer of 2009. She became an ESA (European Suzuki Association) member in 2010 concurrent with her successful completion of additional training under the direction Dr. Päivi Kukkamäki * and the ESA Level One Exam. In 2011 she completed the ESA Level Two Exam and is anticipating completing ESA Level Three Certification in January of 2012.

PIANO BACKGROUND: Ms. Seyssel Parks began her study of piano at eight years old and continued to study independently throughout her college and post-college years. Her background in Piano Pedagogy includes registered teacher training with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and completion of the Bigler—Lloyd-Watts Complete Piano Pedagogy course, as well as many years of specializing in and developing methods of teaching the acoustic piano to the very young.

She independently authored an Early Childhood Music Program combining Musikgarten™ materials with group piano instruction for 3- and 4-year-olds, subsequently also authoring the "Pre-Twinkler Piano" course which was offered at Dutchess Community College Music School from 2000 to 2007. In Fall of 2000 Ms. Seyssel Parks was invited to create and operate the Suzuki Piano School at Dutchess Community College Music School, which she directed and coordinated until Fall of 2007.