Instructor Spotlight: Hannah Nacheman

1. How long have you been teaching at Garden Street?

I joined the Garden Street team in the Fall of 2015.

2. What is your favorite thing about the students at Garden Street?

I love how all of my students come from completely different walks of life, young and old, all united by their love of and passion for music.

3. What initially drew you to singing and playing piano?

I have been singing and playing instruments for as long as I can remember. My dad would always be playing or singing music around the house, so I caught the music bug early. I also remember tagging along to my older siblings' piano lessons and choir rehearsals and begging to join in!

4. Are you practicing any other instruments?

My primary instrument, in addition to voice, is actually the harp. I have been playing since I was about 12 years old, and I love my Lyon and Healy pedal harp. I also enjoy learning new instruments any chance I get!

5. How do you maintain a busy singing schedule with teaching?

While I regularly sing with a couple of ensembles in the city, I have also been excited to participate in some really cool gigs recently. I just performed in an opera chorus of Beethoven's Fidelio for the New Amsterdam Opera's inaugural performance, and have most recently been acting as a "Group Leader", or Associate conductor, for the world premier of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang's "The Public Domain" at Lincoln Center for their Mostly Mozart Festival.

6. Where are you from and why did you move to the area?

I grew up in a lovely part of New Jersey that was surrounded by fields and trees-- I do miss that green! I initially moved to NYC for the wonderful arts opportunities, but moved out to Hoboken to reclaim some of that peace and quiet while still being mere miles from the city.

7. What advice do you have for students for practicing at home?

A scale a day keeps the grumpy teacher away. Ha! But truthfully, practicing will make YOU feel better about the music you make. Sometimes, it's hard to see your progress as you climb the mountain, but the view from up top is fantastic.

8. What would you do if you were not a musician?

This is such a touch question-- it's so hard to imagine a life where I am not living and breathing music. I also have a degree in Psychology and considered going into Music Cognition research (hey, I said it was hard to imagine a life without music...), which is the study of how music affects our brains! I've done research on this exciting field in the past, and am constantly applying these concepts both when I make and teach music.

9. What is one interesting or unexpected fact about you that most students do not know?

I wear many hats-- in addition to teaching, I am an opera singer, a radio producer, a public events coordinator, and an avid dog petter.