Palo Alto singing school offers a place where every child can feel like a lead

A recent concert at Lytton Gardens illustrated why Joanna Finnis’ Singing School is so treasured by parents and children from all over Palo Alto. The seniors, who gathered on a warm Saturday afternoon, were treated to a 90 minute revue of songs from the 1950s performed by children who all enthusiastically belted out their rendition of classics like “Rock Around the Clock,” and “You Send Me.” The seniors swayed and bopped along to the music while kids from ages 6 to 13 (mostly girls but a few boys too) enthusiastically delivered their songs wearing polka dot skirts, pony tails and skinny ties.

It didn’t seem to matter to anyone in the room- kids, parents or seniors- that some of the kids were off key or forgot their lyrics. The point of the experience was to embrace the joy of performance and for older people to feel the energy and excitement of the younger generation.

Embracing Imperfection

In a community that seems fixated on excellence and success, Joanna Finnis has created an oasis of positive support where there are no try-outs or “A” team, but a chance for any child, regardless of innate singing talent, to learn how to perform and gain confidence.

“As a performer myself, I know how important it is to feel safe and comfortable when getting up in front of an audience,” Joanna explains. “I focus on building trust with the children and giving them a stress-free place to try singing without worrying about hitting the right notes or always being perfect.”

A singing school with an ‘organic’ start

An accomplished singer and performer, Joanna was the lead vocalist for local band Grounds for Dismissal for 12 years and recently started a new duo called Ession with partner Steve Milne.

She did not intend to start a singing school when she gathered some neighborhood children to record a holiday CD in 2010, but when word got out about how much the kids loved working with her, there was no turning back.

“One mom just grabbed me at school and asked me to sing with her daughter,” Joanna remembers. “I tried to tell her I was not a trained music teacher, but she insisted that I do it anyway.”

Five years later, Joanna has 18 children enrolled in her singing school and a waiting list miles long of parents who would love to have their children work with her. She meets with each child for about 40 minutes a week and produces three concerts a year, plus several CDs with the children.

 

The key is building relationships with children

What’s the secret to Joanna’s magic touch with children? It’s all about building relationships. As parent Ellie Rubin explains, “Not only is Joanna such a talented and intuitive voice coach, but she takes the time to get to know each singer and what motivates them to ensure that the love of music is first and foremost. It doesn’t hurt that she knows how to have a relationship with teenagers and allows a friendship to be at the core of their time together. Our daughter Chloe adores Joanna and has blossomed as a singer and a performer.”

 

Not only singing, but also giving back to the community

If the singing school and her band weren’t enough to keep Joanna busy, she also volunteers to lead the Noon Chorus group at Addison Elementary School, where her two children are in second and fifth grades. Under Joanna’s leadership, the Noon Chorus produces two concerts a year and also serves as the anchor group for an annual trip to AT&T Park, where the Addison kids sing the national anthem for a Giants game.

It all adds up to an incredible contribution to the community, and one that is deeply appreciated by the parents who know Joanna.

“Joanna and her singing program are truly invaluable treasures for our Palo Alto community,” said John and Mary Lynn Fitton. “Through Joanna’s unique blend of guidance, expertise, joyful exuberance and commitment to service, our daughter Ellie has grown and developed. Most importantly, she has had tons of fun as she learned how to present in front of others and give back to her community.”

Joanna’s students have stayed with her for so long that she recently created a separate performance group for her middle and high school girls called The Fireflies, which has performed at the Palo Alto World Music Day and a few other venues.

It’s all about the joy of singing

Asked about her plans for the future, Joanna emphasized that she has no intention of nurturing singing stars or sending her students to Broadway. Instead, she is happy to just keep working with children to build their confidence and see them grow.

“I love what I do and feel lucky that parents put their trust in me, and that keeps me going.” Joanna said. “Once a week, I offer the children a place to forget about their worries, let go and just sing. What could be more fun than that?”