Music and performing has been at the center of my life since I was little. My parents noticed I had an affinity for singing and natural ability and sought out voice lessons for me at an early age.  I began studying voice at 6 years old, and have continued to train with leading experts since.
 

I began my performance career in pre-school, as my mom will happily tell you the story of how she went to pick me up one day and I was standing on the lunch tables performing for all the kids - at the insistence of the teachers!  I was in my first (non-school) musical at the age of 8 portraying the littlest orphan in the premier of "A Little Princess" and was officially hooked.  I have been lucky enough to continue performing on stages throughout Southern California to this day.

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I began my piano training at the age of 5.  I have to confess, my initial enthusiasm wavered after a year or two and I did take a little break...but when I returned to lessons around the age of 8 I was fully committed!  I had a new goal: to play and sing at the same time.  The first song I ever learned to play and sing was "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan.  I performed this at my voice teacher's recital; for this reason "Angel" holds special meaning for me to this day.  This desire to accompany myself also lead me to pursue learning guitar.  This led to writing my own songs on both piano and guitar, and later forming my own band that played my original music.  Once I found the passion of playing for myself, I was unstoppable.  This is why I firmly believe that if I can help a student to discover their purpose for playing, they will develop the self-motivation required to go from learning the basics of playing, singing, or performing to pushing themselves to achieve even more.

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Though I studied Political Science and was Pre-Med in addition to studying Music & Theatre in college (the result of the desire to obtain a "usable" degree...ha!) I eventually came to the conclusion that music was my ultimate passion.  Right before I was set to begin the med school admissions process I realized that I simply couldn't give up performing and theatre for the next ten year of my life - which is approximately the amount of time it to become a full-fledged M.D.  I made the choice to focus on music and performing, and now can't imagine doing anything else.

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Teaching began organically for me.  Initially friends asked me to help them prepare for auditions, or work on songs for musicals they were in.  Family friends would ask me to teach their children piano or guitar.  When I decided re-focus my life I remembered these experiences and how much I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others,  and I turned towards teaching as a career.  The fulfillment and joy I receive from teaching has only grown through the years.  I love the challenge of getting to know students, figuring out what motivates them, and helping them to reach their goals.  I love working on my own piano curriculum for young beginners.  I feel incredibly lucky to get to do what I LOVE every single day. 

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I now teach out of my studio in Temecula, as well as
studios in Encinitas and throughout San Diego.  I hold
vocal workshops throughout Southern California and look forward to the possibility of traveling more as I teach, and reaching a wider audience of students through Patton Performing Arts ONLINE and my Patton Piano ONLINE programs.  These new ventures will be launched soon!

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To be updated on new classes, workshops, and the online programs to begin in 2019, please sign up below!