TC295: All About Synesthesia with TopMusicPro Member Kelly Jenkins

My guest, TopMusicPro member Kelly Jenkins, is a music educator, stage musical writer and arranger, owner of a hybrid studio just outside Boston, and a synesthete. In this episode, were going to talk about the wonders of synesthesia. We'll unpack what it really is, how to spot it in our students if they have it (or us for that matter), how to use it as an advantage for our students, but also how to unleash some synesthesia magic for students who don't have it.

• Kelly shares the interesting story of how she found out about her synesthesia.
• Is it possible to develop synesthesia or is it something you are born with?
• Famous synesthetes and what they do.
• Kelly describes how she sees color in music.
• How students can improve their study of music through color connections.
• The lessons she has learned through observation of students’ learning styles.
• She shares more of her experience as a TopMusicPro teacher, what she loves about membership, and the positive outcomes that it has had in her life and teaching.

Related: How a Top-Level Pianist Returned to Teaching and Built Her Music Coaching Business Using TopMusicPro

Today’s Guest

Kelly Jenkins lives outside Boston, Massachusetts where she teaches a hybrid studio of 62 students, ages 4 to 74. Growing up, Kelly trained with a classical piano teacher through high school and went on to study with a Van Cliburn finalist from the Cincinnati Conservatory. Teaching piano since 2007, Kelly enjoys using improvising, creativity and paying attention to each student’s unique learning style to help each one develop their own gift of music. When she’s not teaching, Kelly can be found writing and arranging stage musicals with her lyricist/co-writer, who also happens to be her awesome mom.

Today’s Sponsor

Forte is a free alternative to Zoom, optimized for music lessons with industry-leading audio quality. Forte has been used and loved by The Royal College of Music, Berklee College of Music, and Curtis Institute. It is designed to put you and your teaching style at the center of the educational experience. And the best part? It’s free forever for teachers, and it’s incredibly easy to use. Just send your personal studio link to your student, and with one click, you are teaching. No hassles, no downloads, no gimmicks. Just music. Start teaching with Forte today at fortelessons.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

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