Jill Etter

Jill Farnham Etter has taught voice and piano for 25 years, both in Missouri and Tennessee. She currently teaches voice at three Independence studios: Music Arts Institute, MCC-Blue River, and Steinway Studio in her home. Mrs. Etter has sung in oratorio choirs, such as Handel’s Messiah, both as a soprano soloist and choir member, in Missouri as well as Tennessee. Mrs. Etter has enjoyed vocal coaching for numerous musicals.

Mrs. Etter graduated from Truman High School in Independence, after receiving numerous awards in music, including one ratings (voice and piano) in District and State contests, and participation in District and State Choirs. She won the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Audition in piano.

She completed a Bachelors of Vocal Performance Summa Cum Laude at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. Mrs. Etter also completed an MA (vocal pedagogy and literature emphasis) through the UMKC Conservatory of Music in Kansas City. She studied with soprano Dr. Rebecca Sherburn at the Conservatory, as well as worked with Coach/Accompanists Professor John Mueter, Professor Richard Williams, and Dr. Natalia Rivera.

Mrs. Etter has attended Jacob’s Schools of Music (Indiana University) workshops, “Teaching Sopranos” and “Teaching Men”. She is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), as well as a former member of the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City. Mrs. Etter was a member of Ancora, led by Kristopher Taylor, when they launched their CD, “Blessed Assurance”. In the summer of 2016, Mrs. Etter went to the NATS biennial conference in Chicago. Through these amazing experiences, her teaching has been enhanced and deepened by new understandings of vocal pedagogy. Her personal library of vocal pedagogy books and autobiographies has expanded. Her circle of colleagues has grown to include not only well-known singers and teachers in the Kansas City area, but throughout the United States.

Mrs. Etter’s students have earned high ratings in contests such as District, State, Festival MAI, NATS (high school and college), Job’s Daughters, and Classical Singer. Students have attended music camps such as Lyric Opera Camp, GCB, Simpson College and Torggler Institute. Her students have sung in District Choir, State Choir, State Show Choir, and enjoyed lead roles in their high school musicals. Many students have majored in college with Vocal Performance, Musical Theater, and/or pursued music careers in Kansas City and New York.

Mrs. Etter organizes vocal group classes in Repertoire, Diction, and Drama, as well as Master Classes and Recitals for her students. She accompanies her students on the piano in most if not all of their solo events.

In Mrs. Etter’s studios, she emphasizes a thorough knowledge of the Italian appoggio singing and vowel placement which is vital for voice agility and longevity. Second, a thorough understanding of the song’s precise diction, text, composer, and time period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern) enhance the performance. Exploring the character (answering the questions who, what, where, when, how and why) breathes life into the song.

Mrs. Etter lives in Blue Springs, MO with her husband of 31 years, Mark, her daughter, Rosemary, and their three furry dogs. Her deep love and respect for her students has given her hours of creativity and joy!