Comments from students and student families
--"Our kids have studied with Mary for many years. Mary teaches how to feel and understand the music along with the technique and theory. She tailors her teaching to how our kids learn and enjoys understanding them as individuals. Not only can our kids play beautifully but we believe that they have grown by how Mary helps them approach challenges with music that they can apply to other aspects in their lives." --TMW
--"We are very fortunate to have such an accomplished and dedicated music teacher in Santa Rosa. Mary has been teaching my two daughters piano and voice for three years and their improvement has been phenomenal. She is precise and technical in her teaching, yet engages the girls in a thoughtful and positive way. The semiannual recital and reception is especially enjoyable and a wonderful performing experience for the students." --JHO
--"Mary was an exceptional teacher. As a vocal coach she emphasizes proper breathing, vowel shape, healthy range growth, and posture. Her study was a space of safe experimentation and growth which made me look forward to my lessons beforehand, and relaxed, more confident, and enthusiastic about my progress afterwards. Mary has an approachable, warm, relatable personality. As a coach, she is easy to talk to and welcomes any and all questions and concerns. Her extensive knowledge of vocal technique and performance is impressive. I’m am so happy to have worked with Mary, her expertise and emphasis on healthy singing only lead to positive things both in my singing and everyday life.” --GH
--"We found Mary when my daughter's former teacher moved away. It was a tricky transition, because my daughter was a teenager with lots of time commitments, so needed a teacher who encouraged her to stretch herself musically and technically while not putting undue burdens on her. Mary handled the job with finesse, grace and a sense of humor. Now my daughter is so glad for those years she took lessons from Mary--and I am too! "--AH
--"Mary Beard is an AMAZING teacher! I studied classical piano with her from middle school to high school, and then made a switchover into classical voice. She is helpful, compassionate, knowledgable, and much more. Pick an adjective. When I moved away for college, she helped me transition to a different voice teacher, and gave me lessons again my summer after freshman year. She is a truly remarkable woman!" --JJH
"I came to Mary as an older adult. Over the years I had studied with several teachers with good reputations, but when I began with Mary I realized I had never learned real vocal technique. Suddenly I'm finding I have a voice I never knew was there. And it keeps on getting better." CG
--"We are very fortunate to have such an accomplished and dedicated music teacher in Santa Rosa. Mary has been teaching my two daughters piano and voice for three years and their improvement has been phenomenal. She is precise and technical in her teaching, yet engages the girls in a thoughtful and positive way. The semiannual recital and reception is especially enjoyable and a wonderful performing experience for the students." --JHO
--"Mary was an exceptional teacher. As a vocal coach she emphasizes proper breathing, vowel shape, healthy range growth, and posture. Her study was a space of safe experimentation and growth which made me look forward to my lessons beforehand, and relaxed, more confident, and enthusiastic about my progress afterwards. Mary has an approachable, warm, relatable personality. As a coach, she is easy to talk to and welcomes any and all questions and concerns. Her extensive knowledge of vocal technique and performance is impressive. I’m am so happy to have worked with Mary, her expertise and emphasis on healthy singing only lead to positive things both in my singing and everyday life.” --GH
--"We found Mary when my daughter's former teacher moved away. It was a tricky transition, because my daughter was a teenager with lots of time commitments, so needed a teacher who encouraged her to stretch herself musically and technically while not putting undue burdens on her. Mary handled the job with finesse, grace and a sense of humor. Now my daughter is so glad for those years she took lessons from Mary--and I am too! "--AH
--"Mary Beard is an AMAZING teacher! I studied classical piano with her from middle school to high school, and then made a switchover into classical voice. She is helpful, compassionate, knowledgable, and much more. Pick an adjective. When I moved away for college, she helped me transition to a different voice teacher, and gave me lessons again my summer after freshman year. She is a truly remarkable woman!" --JJH
"I came to Mary as an older adult. Over the years I had studied with several teachers with good reputations, but when I began with Mary I realized I had never learned real vocal technique. Suddenly I'm finding I have a voice I never knew was there. And it keeps on getting better." CG