Every month, we like to spotlight one of our incredible Elemental Music teachers. Some of them have been teaching with us for close to a decade while others might be in their first year of working for our organization, but there is one thing that all of our teachers have in common: their dedication to the young musicians in our programs.
This April, we are thrilled to introduce our Broadway Choir Director Kelly Adams in her very first season with Elemental Music. Her depth of teaching experience and passion for our Broadway students is truly inspiring. We are excited to hear our students shine in their upcoming performances under Kelly’s guidance. Get to know her in our interview below!
Elemental Music: How did you get started in music?
Kelly Adams: I grew up in Hawaii and my first musical experience was a French choir at my private school, Le Jardin Academy. From there, my sister (20 months younger than me) and I performed in musicals together and eventually formed our own songwriting group that we still maintain today, called Karmina.
EM: What inspired you to go into music education?
KA: In 2005 I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry from USC, and I quickly realized that I needed to diversify myself as a musician. I received my Masters in Music Education from USC two years later, and from there was recommended for my first teaching position in Watts. I really started to love teaching after I became certified in the Kodály Approach, which focuses on music literacy through folksongs/games
EM: I know this is your first season teaching with Elemental Music. What is your favorite thing about working with our Broadway choir students so far?
KA: I love the students at Broadway SO much! It amazes me how easily they learn music, which I think has to do with the fact that they're bilingual. I'm in awe of the incredible individuals they are, and honored that I get to guide them through their first musical experiences.
EM: What are your hopes for the Elemental @ Broadway choir programs in future seasons?
KA: I would like to work on more partner songs, rounds, and 2-part songs with my older group. They are so close to being able to sing in 2-part harmony successfully, and I hope that with a little more preparation we can get there. I also hope to make the KASC Honor Chorus Festival, which I happen to be the guest conductor of this year, a yearly tradition! Bring on the fun!
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
KA: My favorite musical memory was flying to Prague to record an orchestra on songs that my sister and I wrote for our upcoming record, Queens of Heart. We were working with film composer John Powell, so of course the music had to be cinematic! I was 9 months pregnant with my first daughter and a week away from not being able to legally board an airplane (the cut-off is 35 weeks), so part of me was holding my breath that I didn't give birth on the airplane. We were in the Dvořák Hall, and listening to a symphony of strings play orchestral arrangements on music that I wrote with my sister was a second to none experience. I still get a little misty-eyed thinking about it.
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
KA: Be kind to yourself. The world needs kindness and compassion, and we're only going to get there if we're gentle with ourselves.
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add, that you think might be interesting for our community?
KA: I was born in Germany and my favorite colors are my daughters' birthstones, aquamarine and opal. Also, my daughter Rudi is a student at Broadway Elementary!