Registered and Cert I. Music Together Teacher
Director & Owner, Music Together Mid Island
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Marnie brings a wide musical background to her classes - she has been a voice, theory and piano teacher for many years in Victoria, and for the last 7 years in the Cowichan Valley. She is a vocal performer (classically trained in Opera, but a true crossover vocalist singing as comfortably in musical theatre/jazz/ rock 'n' roll), and is in her 20th year of teaching Music Together . She was trained to be a Music Together teacher with Music Together Victoria, where she taught for 15 years.
Upon moving up to the Cowichan Valley with her family, she saw a need for the Music Together program/curriculum and started Music Together MidIsland, which serves families in both Duncan and the North Cowichan area.
Music Together Mid Island celebrated their 5 year anniversary this past Summer!
Marnie discovered Music Together with her two youngest children as a participating parent.
Marnie believes that "music is both soul and brain food" that is best first experienced at the earliest age possible. After having spent a decade with her eldest child finding just the right musical fit, she was impressed with the philosophy and the wide range of repertoire in Music Together Song Collections (everything from the expected folk and classical to the unexpected world beat and jazz-influenced compositions).
It was after the birth of her 3rd child that she decided to embark on the journey to becoming a Music Together teacher herself. Marnie brings a delightful sense of silliness to class with her (a definite pre-requisite to being a Music Together teacher!).
As well as teaching Music Together, Marnie has taught voice at various places in the Victoria area including CCPA -post-secondary Musical Theatre College-, Pearson College, and up until recently, served on the faculty at Victoria Conservatory of Music for 24+ years.
Her private voice studio in the Lake Cowichan area is Voice Care Vocal Studio.
She has been a frequent guest soloist at locations all around B.C, as well as in Mexico and Europe. She has her AVCM (voice), and BMus-Vocal Performance from UBC, and was awarded (April 2008) the Certification level 1 qualification from Princeton's Music Together Center For Music and Young Children for outstanding achievement in teaching and articulating of the program. A past conductor of both Adult and Childrens' choirs, Marnie has been the Conductor of VIVA children's choir, St. Mary's Children's Choir, Crystal Singers' Womens' Choir, the Victoria Male Voice Choir, and is in her 5th year of conducting with SingVictoria Youth Choir. As of Fall 2018, Marnie has also been on the Board of the BC Choral Federation (BCCF), and is the BCCF rep. for the Central Vancouver Island.
She performs frequently on the Island, often with her trio "On the 'hat" (Malahat) which is part of Augmented Trio Promotions. She, especially likes premiering new musical works of female composers. These composers are generally from the Canadian Music Centre, as well as the Association of American Female Composers. Marnie feels honored to continue stretching the boundaries of her field with these new interesting pieces.
