1. VOCAL COACH AND PIANO TEACHER

1. Bloom School of Music

   

   Laura Porter

   Owner, Bloom School of Music & Dance

   Elisabeth is a music teacher that kids and parents love immediately. She knows how to connect to her students and has a great retention rate. Her students always have superb performances at recitals. She is a wonderful solo performance coach and helps her students to attain the confidence they need to shine on stage. She is a lovely person and truly cares about the work she does with children.

   February 21, 2012, Laura was Elisabeth's client

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3. Vocal coach and piano teacher

   Musical Beginnings Music School

   

   Matte Wicklin

   Marketing Strategy, Advertising, Brand Communications. Available for consulting.

   Elisabeth started my kids on piano when they were 7 and 5. She made it fun for them by playing with them, in addition to their work on their pieces, and I was surprised that she included theory instruction. She customized her approach for my son who played by ear. It got him hooked, and at age 12 he's playing jazz piano with a middle school ensemble - and reading music very well. My daughter at 14 no longer plays piano, but the experience helps her with her singing and theatre activities.

   July 8, 2012, Matte was Elisabeth's client
   

   Tony Shen

   Working for the benefit of people through ministry and social change

   Elisabeth is a wonderful piano teacher. She taught our son during his first two and a half years of playing the piano, from age six and a half to almost nine.

   She is patient and kind, teaches so that a young mind can really grasp both

   the theory and practice, and is firm so the child knows what is expected of him, both during the lesson and while practicing during the week.

   July 7, 2012, Tony was Elisabeth's client
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   Debbie Andorka

   National Board Certified Teacher/Trainer/Professor

   Elizabeth has been an incredibly creative and wonderful voice coach and piano music teacher to both my daughter and myself. She is so personable and has been genuinely delightful every time she has worked with both Christina and myself. We are so grateful to have her expertise and experience as a trainer and teacher. Please email me at dandorka4@att.net if you have any questions. Debbieless

   July 6, 2012, Debbie was Elisabeth's client
    
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   Lenzi Phillips

   Hospital & Health Care Professional

   After working with Elisabeth for a month, I was a little surprised to see such

   fast results. She helps you to relax while building a level of confidence and

   self-esteem. I remember when I sang my first soprano note with ease hahaha I could'nt believe that came out of my mouth; I was excited! Mariah Carey hear I come!!!!!

   July 6, 2012, Lenzi was Elisabeth's client

    

   

    

    

   Risa Winograd

   Partner at Fragner Seifert Pace & Winograd LLP

   Elisabeth works very well with children and helped my daughter develop her

   skill and style. She is very knowledgeable and very personable.

   July 6, 2012, Risa was Elisabeth's client

    

    

    

    

     

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October 2009

Christina was six years old when she started piano with Elisabeth and later switched to voice lessons.  Christina is now a beautiful young woman entering college.  Elisabeth has not only been Christina’s voice teacher, but she has been her mentor in life.  Elisabeth taught Christina how to walk in her first high heels and how to sit down as a lady.  She taught Christina poise and gave her confidence that mirrors Christina’s graceful manner today and which was reflected in the many solo performances Christina gave at her school.  Christina and I are both grateful to Elisabeth for the warmth and love she’s given us over the past twelve years.

Debbie Andorka-Aceves, Mother of Christina Aceves, Culver City, California

September 2008

Dear Elisabeth,

Just a note to thank you so very much for your guidance in Ariana Rassouli's singing for the past three years.  With your superlative coaching she has progressed so beautifully for such a young child.  Ariana just loves you, so naturally, she is very responsive to your gentle manner of teaching (and sense of humor!).  Last Christmas when she sang “Oh Holy Night” before a large church audience, the audience was absolutely mesmerized and astounded by her performance -- she hit those high notes like a “pro.” My favorite is “Wish You Were Somehow Here” from Phantom of the Opera.  Can’t wait for the next concert!

Her presentations before other audiences have always perked her up afterwards. 
Do I need to say she performs so beautifully in her piano concerts too? 
Elisabeth, you need to take many bows for her other fantastic musical
performances.  Thank you so very much, and God bless you.

Gloria Sanborn

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February 11, 2009

I have four children, ranging in ages between 5 and 13, and they are all taking voice lessons from Elisabeth.  The youngest just started and is loving every minute of it.  The other three have been taking lessons for almost three years.  Over these three years, I have watched Elisabeth mold their voices into beautiful instruments with her gentle instruction and her caring, positive attitude.

Each one of my children has such a different style of voice and Elisabeth has skillfully honed in on what they need to learn.  She has nurtured their strengths and weaknesses with understanding and has challenged and developed their limited skills to so much more.  With Elisabeth encouraging them all the way, I have watched my children grow in their musicality and style, perform with confidence and really enjoy what they sing.

She is a wonderful teacher and our family wholeheartedly recommends her.

Mary Claire Phan

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To Whom it May Concern:

I highly recommend Elisabeth Ekornes as a music teacher.  My daughter, now 9, has been taking piano with Elisabeth for 2 years; my son, now 7, for 1 year.  My son’s progress studying with Elisabeth has been exponential compared to his learning with another teacher the year before.  Elisabeth is effective in addressing my kids’ very different needs:  While my daughter is a good sight reader and a shy performer, my son’s approach is more exuberant, intuitive, and by ear.

Working with kids, Elisabeth has a great balance of being approachable and fun as well as focused and firm. She’s very affirming of everything they do right, which makes them feel good and motivates them.  She also has a very well-rounded approach of having them play exercises/assignments, listen, do theory work, and play improvisationally along with her.  They especially love improvising, and it gives them a taste even with their limited skills of how great it feels to make a big, expressive musical sound.

As a parent, I always feel welcome to sit in on lessons, and Elisabeth is good at communicating their current challenges and assignments.  It has been easy for us to reschedule lessons when calendar conflicts have come up for either of us.

Please feel free to contact me for any further insights about my experience with Elisabeth as a music teacher.

Matte Wicklin

Please feel free to contact Elisabeth through the Contact Us page for more information.  Please leave your phone number so she can contact you directly.