Teacher Talks: Cassidy Vanscoy

We sat down with one of our incredible voice teachers, Cassidy, who not only has worked here for around 3 years, but also was a student with us in the past! Get to know Cassidy, about her teaching philosophies, and more! In Cassidy’s own words, “I love being featured on the blog!”

Question: In your opinion, what makes a good lesson?

Cassidy: In my opinion, I believe a good lesson first and foremost consists of both building rapport with the students as well as building a good environment for the student, an environment where they can feel they can learn but also be themself. Something I always enjoy doing is talking to the student before I actually begin the lesson. I ask how their day was, how school was, and check in and see how they’re doing. After that, I will begin with warm ups to ease into the lesson before diving into the repertoire we’re working on and the technique we might be building. But I think the most important part of the lesson is building a relationship with the student and making sure they’re comfortable and they can be 100% their authentic self!

Q:What is a piece of advice you like to pass on to your students?

C: Your personal best is good enough! What you put into your lessons and what you bring to the table is important. The more you work with yourself to build your own personal goals, that is going to become your foundation for your own musical abilities. Never compare yourself to others! You believing in yourself will help you get to that point. I already believe in you! We believe in you the second you walk in that room.

Q: What was your favorite class in school?

C: Choir! I loved choir. I fell in love with regular choir right off the bat–choral, everything! I did everything I could to do more with it. In middle school, I joined the Summit Choral Society to build up that choral foundation and then I did every single high school choir I could do. I loved the Select Ensemble because they did the choral repertoire and the classics. Yes, I also love a capella choirs, musical theater, and show choir when I did it, but it’s always been regular choral choir. Loved it in college, it was my favorite over everything!

Q: Who are some of your musical inspirations?

C: All my directors have been amazing. Honestly, every part of who I am as a teacher is part of something I’ve learned from every choir teacher I’ve had up until this point. 

Outside of teachers, I would say Julie Andrews. I love her! Ever since I saw The Sound of Music, I just knew she’d be a big role model of mine. Also, I’m a big Taylor Swift fan, so definitely Taylor Swift. I’ve listened to her since I was little.

But my biggest inspirations are all my choir teachers I’ve had since 5th grade. I could name them all for you if you’d like! (She did, in fact, name each choir director she had!)

Q: What are some of your personal goals you have as a musician or as an educator?

C: I think my goals are more education driven at this point in time. I absolutely love singing and it’s my favorite thing to do, but for me personally I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I decided to be a teacher in middle school when I had my middle school choir director, Mrs. Starr. And now here we are, I’m doing the thing, which is crazy! Now I’m teaching middle schoolers, the same age I knew I wanted to be a music teacher. It’s absolutely incredible and a dream come true.

My personal goal is to make the world a better place through music. I’m trying to build the musicians of the future and I want to do everything I can so they feel like they can make a difference both musically and as people. I think it’s beyond important to help grow that passion that might already be inside of them for a musical instrument, talent, or ability. One of my most important goals is to help others find their passion for music and to believe in themselves.

Q: What have been some of your favorite performances that you’ve done?

C: Oh my gosh, going to Spain!! I went to Spain with the Bowling Green State University Collegiate Chorale. It was absolutely wonderful! It was crazy because we sang on the streets and sang in various languages. It was so cool to get feedback from so many people who come from different countries. It was so special. How many people get to say they went to Spain with their choir at the collegiate level. That’s probably my favorite chorale experience.

My last performance with the BGSU Collegiate Chorale was also very special. Having that last performance was so special getting to make beautiful music to end my undergraduate career.

Q: What do you like to do outside of music?

C: I love my dog Rosie and going on walks with her! I also love going to markets and festivals and shopping at little boutiques. I enjoy reading, concerts, and just like everybody else, I enjoy watching TV. Big Grey’s Anatomy fan!!

Q: Did music come to you naturally or did it take time?

C: It took time! I was really not good at the start–I couldn’t match pitch, I was never someone who was given solos or the lead. I had to work really hard for it. So I started taking lessons in fifth grade, which is later than some of the students here at LCMS. I ended up absolutely loving it! I originally didn’t even want to join choir! My mom forced me to do it, but I totally fell in love with it. I started voice lessons to make myself better, learn how to sing, and learn how to apply myself. Now here we are 15 years later!

Q: What song is usually playing in the back of your head?

C: Can I say just a hum? Like if you ever just catch me and I’m stuck on a thought, I’ll just hum. And it’s always the same pitch, too! It usually starts as an “um” and then morphs into a hum! If I had to guess the pitch, I would say it’s a G? (She did, in fact, walk to another room with a piano to find out the pitch.) It’s an F. I was close!

Q: If you could learn any other instrument, what would it be?

C: Fun fact! As a music education major, I had to learn all of the instruments. But the one I really wanted to learn that I didn’t get to was the harp! I feel like I could be good at it. It’s just such a cool instrument and it sounds absolutely beautiful.

Q: Do you have a hidden talent?

C: I won’t be able to do it right now, but I used to be able to sing with my mouth closed. It’s not really a talent, though? My not so hidden talent might just be singing!

Q: What is your dream vacation?

C: I really want to go to Austria. It’s one of the music capitals of the world and it looks absolutely stunning. I would love to explore it and be a part it, just experience what musical styles they have over there and the whole atmosphere. And of course, do the Sound of Music tour!

Q: If you could perform with anyone, who would it be?

C: Taylor Swift, for sure! Julie Andrews would be so cool. I would love to do a musical, too. Like perform as Jenna in Waitress or Maria in the Sound of Music.

Q: What’s your favorite concert you’ve been to?

C: Believe it or not, Benson Boone. I’ve seen Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and multiple other groups. But this year I was Benson Boone. He didn’t even do that many flips, maybe 7? But genuinely, I’ve never seen a better performer. He was so engaged with the audience, he went around the entire stage, and I was sitting in the way back and still felt connected. He’s a showman!