Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Interview with Ilanna Tariff
F E A T U R E
Interview with Ilanna Tariff
How old were you when you first became interested in music and when did you start piano & voice lessons?
As soon as I could talk, I was singing. I come from a very musical family so I was always surrounded by it. My grandfather was a professional singer who toured singing with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. I remember when I would go to my grandparent’s house, they had an organ and I loved to plunk on the keys and sing with my Grandpa. I have a vivid memory of him picking me up on the fireplace like it was a stage and playing the organ while I sang Disney songs. My mom was a singer and performed in musicals where she got to perform as her dream role: Maria in The Sound of Music. Even my dad was a musician and minored in clarinet performance at school. All of my siblings and I had to take piano lessons as a kid and then we could decide if we wanted to continue. One of my brothers went to school for percussion performance on a full-ride scholarship! I started piano lessons when I was 4 years old. My teacher constantly called out sick or just didn’t show up, so I taught myself the whole book on my own. There was a teacher in town, Abby Thomsen, who only took on older students because she had high expectations. Luckily, she let me do a trial lesson and then I began taking lessons with her from age 5-18! Once I got to middle school, my parents let me take voice lessons. Peter Thomsen (Abby’s husband), was the high school choral director and I really wanted to take private lessons with him. He had a long waiting list, but once I got to 8th grade, I was able to take lessons with him. The Thomsens became like second parents to me. I was at their house 2-3 nights a week, whether it be for lessons or performance class. They were my musical inspirations and I am so grateful for them every day of my life.
Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?
No. My dad and my sister were teachers and I did NOT want to be a teacher. When I was applying to college, the TV show Glee had been very popular and everyone was auditioning for Musical Theater college programs. I just wanted to perform. My senior year I was a Teacher’s Assistant for the Grammy Award Winning Music Educator, Kayla Werlin. Honestly, I took it as an easy “A” but Kwerl inspired me to be a teacher in the classroom. She made such a difference in my high school career and then getting to see the classroom from her perspective was a completely new concept for me. The other reason I wanted to become a teacher was because of my brother. Both of my brothers had learning disabilities and one also had some physical disabilities. He was bullied, teased and even locked in lockers. The only place in the high school that he felt safe was the band room. Once I got older, my brother told me that being in band and the band teacher, Mike Mucci, saved his life by giving him a space where he could be his true self. When I was in high school, I also was in band class with Mike Mucci and he inspired me to be a better musician, too.
What do you enjoy most about teaching young musicians?
The two things I love most about teaching are when a student tells me that they feel safe and when a concept clicks for a student after a lot of difficulty. As I said in the previous question, my brother told me the band room was the only place he felt safe in high school and I strive to have a classroom like that. I want my students to be true to who they are and to not be afraid to make mistakes because mistakes mean that you’re trying. That’s why when a student is able to comprehend a concept after much difficulty, it is such a great feeling because I know I helped them achieve their goal.
When you’re not teaching with Note-worthy, what might you be doing?
During the day, I am the High School Choral Director at Burncoat High School in Worcester. Burncoat is a magnet high school for the visual and performing arts. Additionally, I conduct the Minuet level of the National Children’s Chorus with their Boston division. The National Children’s Chorus is a Grammy award winning ensemble. If I ever have down time (which is a rarity,) you can find me with my dog, Minnie, drinking Starbucks, watching tv and planning my next vacation!
Where have been some of your favorite performances?
When I was 17, I had the privilege of performing in The Vatican in Italy. I wish I had that opportunity as an adult because I truly did not grasp how incredible that was. I halso performed in Prague, which was beautiful! I’ve performed all over the United States in MA, NY, TX, CO, RI, and CA. In California, I had the amazing opportunity to perform with The King’s Singers.
What are some random facts about you?
-I am from Longmeadow, Massachusetts
-I am gluten, dairy and oat free (not by choice)
-I am obsessed with Disney
-I have been to 6 other countries
-My favorite musicians are P!nk, Sara Bareilles and Bowling for Soup
-I can say the alphabet backwards
Learn more about our Music teacher Ilanna Tariff in her Teacher Page.
As soon as I could talk, I was singing. I come from a very musical family so I was always surrounded by it. My grandfather was a professional singer who toured singing with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. I remember when I would go to my grandparent’s house, they had an organ and I loved to plunk on the keys and sing with my Grandpa. I have a vivid memory of him picking me up on the fireplace like it was a stage and playing the organ while I sang Disney songs. My mom was a singer and performed in musicals where she got to perform as her dream role: Maria in The Sound of Music. Even my dad was a musician and minored in clarinet performance at school. All of my siblings and I had to take piano lessons as a kid and then we could decide if we wanted to continue. One of my brothers went to school for percussion performance on a full-ride scholarship! I started piano lessons when I was 4 years old. My teacher constantly called out sick or just didn’t show up, so I taught myself the whole book on my own. There was a teacher in town, Abby Thomsen, who only took on older students because she had high expectations. Luckily, she let me do a trial lesson and then I began taking lessons with her from age 5-18! Once I got to middle school, my parents let me take voice lessons. Peter Thomsen (Abby’s husband), was the high school choral director and I really wanted to take private lessons with him. He had a long waiting list, but once I got to 8th grade, I was able to take lessons with him. The Thomsens became like second parents to me. I was at their house 2-3 nights a week, whether it be for lessons or performance class. They were my musical inspirations and I am so grateful for them every day of my life.
Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?
No. My dad and my sister were teachers and I did NOT want to be a teacher. When I was applying to college, the TV show Glee had been very popular and everyone was auditioning for Musical Theater college programs. I just wanted to perform. My senior year I was a Teacher’s Assistant for the Grammy Award Winning Music Educator, Kayla Werlin. Honestly, I took it as an easy “A” but Kwerl inspired me to be a teacher in the classroom. She made such a difference in my high school career and then getting to see the classroom from her perspective was a completely new concept for me. The other reason I wanted to become a teacher was because of my brother. Both of my brothers had learning disabilities and one also had some physical disabilities. He was bullied, teased and even locked in lockers. The only place in the high school that he felt safe was the band room. Once I got older, my brother told me that being in band and the band teacher, Mike Mucci, saved his life by giving him a space where he could be his true self. When I was in high school, I also was in band class with Mike Mucci and he inspired me to be a better musician, too.
What do you enjoy most about teaching young musicians?
The two things I love most about teaching are when a student tells me that they feel safe and when a concept clicks for a student after a lot of difficulty. As I said in the previous question, my brother told me the band room was the only place he felt safe in high school and I strive to have a classroom like that. I want my students to be true to who they are and to not be afraid to make mistakes because mistakes mean that you’re trying. That’s why when a student is able to comprehend a concept after much difficulty, it is such a great feeling because I know I helped them achieve their goal.
When you’re not teaching with Note-worthy, what might you be doing?
During the day, I am the High School Choral Director at Burncoat High School in Worcester. Burncoat is a magnet high school for the visual and performing arts. Additionally, I conduct the Minuet level of the National Children’s Chorus with their Boston division. The National Children’s Chorus is a Grammy award winning ensemble. If I ever have down time (which is a rarity,) you can find me with my dog, Minnie, drinking Starbucks, watching tv and planning my next vacation!
Where have been some of your favorite performances?
When I was 17, I had the privilege of performing in The Vatican in Italy. I wish I had that opportunity as an adult because I truly did not grasp how incredible that was. I halso performed in Prague, which was beautiful! I’ve performed all over the United States in MA, NY, TX, CO, RI, and CA. In California, I had the amazing opportunity to perform with The King’s Singers.
What are some random facts about you?
-I am from Longmeadow, Massachusetts
-I am gluten, dairy and oat free (not by choice)
-I am obsessed with Disney
-I have been to 6 other countries
-My favorite musicians are P!nk, Sara Bareilles and Bowling for Soup
-I can say the alphabet backwards
Learn more about our Music teacher Ilanna Tariff in her Teacher Page.
