Lessons, Masterclasses, and Workshops

If you are interested in signing up for private lessons with AKENYA, please contact: akenya@akenyamusic.com

If you are interested in booking AKENYA to teach a masterclass or workshop, please contact: mgmt@akenyamusic.com

Akenya’s Teaching Philosophy:

My approach is rooted in empowering students by making knowledge

accessible and fun. The goal is to help you trust your own voice and ability,

while providing reassuring guidance and correction as needed. So, a lot of my

teaching style is pretty Socratic in that way. I want you to feel connected to your

own intuition, intellect, and talent when in our sessions. I'm here to help you

access the best of what you have and help build whatever may be lacking. I

incorporate good technique and theory into our lessons without trying to get

overly cerebral. I do like to also instill skills rooted in pattern recognition and

symmetry, tips and tricks to help ingrain concepts in a natural way, highlighting

the interconnectedness and holistic nature of theory, ear training, playing, and

singing and how they all interact.

For singing in particular, I want to help you feel grounded in and connected to

your body—as singers many of our obstacles are psychological. I'm here to help

remove some of those self-limiting beliefs or self-imposed roadblocks through

encouragement and continual support. I'm also more than happy to help heal

trauma from previous teachers or learning experiences; there are no dumb

questions, no stupid mistakes; I am committed to being as patient and diligent

as you need me to be.

Skills And Credentials:

• Voice (20+ years of experience, Classically Trained, Can sing/teach in

foreign languages: Italian, German, Spanish)

• Piano (25+ years of experience, trained in Classical and Jazz and heavily

self taught, played piano in Resavoir from 2018-2023, played for Tasha

2017-2019, played as musical director for Noname 2014-2023)

• Songwriting and Composition (20+ years of experience, Taught course

at Beacon Academy in Evanston, IL, Workshop at Columbia College,

Workshop at Lyric Opera of Chicago, have helped students in private

sessions write and structure their songs)

• Production (10+ years of experience, Taught at Beacon Academy and

Meta Media in Evanston, IL)

• Improvisation (20+ years of experience, Scat-singing coached at Prop

Theater)

• Theory (20 years of experience, TA’d for Ran Blake at New England

Conservatory, taught all levels theory at Chicago High School for the Arts)

• Ear Training (20 years of experience, tutored at Chicago Academy for the

Arts, TA'd for Hankus Netsky at New England Conservatory, incorporated

Ear Training into my Theory classes)

• Artist Development (AD) (10+ years of experience, help artists develop

their true sound, coach in recording sessions, help build stage presence,

confidence, and overall creative direction and refinement. Previous and

current clients that I’ve done AD for include: Jean Deaux, NIIKA, Frances June,

and Daisi)

Genres:

Can do any genre, but I have direct experience and immense

knowledge in Jazz, Classical, Musical Theatre, R&B, Neo-Soul, Pop, Rock, Folk,

Blues, and Gospel

Notable Students:

Omar Apollo, Cam O’bi, Jean Deaux, Hannah Frances, Dried Spider, NIIKA,

Kopano, Soh Darling, Thaddeus Tukes

Studied with:

Dominique Eade, Karen Holvik, Rose Colella, Alyssa Bennett,

John McNeil, Fred Hersch, Dave Holland, Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Theo

Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Tim Ray, Jason Patera

Notable Company Affiliations:

Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Voices,

Columbia College Chicago, Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago Academy

for the Arts, Classick Studios, Beacon Academy of Music, Bucktown School of

Music, Flatts and Sharpe, Meta Media, New England Conservatory, New Music

School, Prop Theater