Wendi Griffiths- voice
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every student walks through the studio door with a unique voice waiting to be discovered—and my job is to help them find it.
For me, teaching isn’t about producing carbon-copy musicians. It’s about meeting each student where they are, celebrating what makes them light up, and gently stretching them toward what they don’t yet know they can do. Some students thrive on structure and scales; others come alive through storytelling and improvisation. The best teaching, I believe, makes room for both.
My approach rests on a few simple convictions:
Joy comes first. Technique matters—but so does the sparkle in a student’s eyes when they finally nail a passage they’ve been chasing for weeks. I work to keep that spark alive, because students who love what they’re doing practice more, persevere longer, and carry music with them for life.
Every student is a whole musician. I teach the notes, yes—but also the history behind them, the theory that holds them together, and the story they’re telling. A student who understands why a phrase swells will play or sing it with far more heart than one who is simply following instructions.
Mistakes are how we grow. Lessons at my studio are a safe place to try, stumble, and try again. I believe students learn fastest when they feel free to take risks, and I’m right there cheering them on through every wobbly first attempt and voice crack.
Connection is the foundation. I take the time to know my students—their favorite pieces, their busy seasons, their big dreams. That relationship is what turns a weekly lesson into something students genuinely look forward to.
Above all, I hope to give my students what music has given me: a lifelong companion, a way to express what words can’t quite reach, and a little bit of magic to carry with them wherever they go.
Biography
Wendi has been making music for as long as she can remember—and honestly, she can’t imagine her life without it. Whether she’s teaching, performing, or humming along to a favorite song, music is where she feels most at home. And she believes everyone deserves to find that same joy.
Over the years, Wendi has had the privilege of performing on stages across the country in recitals, operas, oratorio, and musical theatre. She has also had the joy of watching her students blossom—from nervous beginners to confident performers taking the stage with shining eyes. Those moments are the ones that fill her heart right up.
Wendi has earned a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from the University of Utah, a Master of Arts degree in music and arts administration from Florida State University, and is currently completing her dissertation for her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Iowa. She’s spent countless hours honing her craft. But what she is most proud of is the warmth and connection she’s built with her students. Every lesson is a chance to explore, laugh, and grow together—and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
When she’s not at the studio, you’ll likely find her singing with her husband (also finishing his doctorate right now), baking, reading fantasy novels, or playing cozy games on her Nintendo Switch.