Kylie Irvin

Mrs. Kylie Irvin is a native of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. and moved to Asheville, N.C. to continue her lifelong journey in music education and performance. Kylie has a diverse musical background in several instruments including trombone, piano, guitar, voice, and flute. She received her undergraduate degree in music education and studied instrumental conducting at the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College. Kylie was drawn to the music scene in Asheville in 2015. Since then, she is grateful for the many experiences directing rock bands and musical theatre, performing in local bands, serving others with music therapy, and teaching elementary music with Buncombe County Schools and Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Each new opportunity has given her insight on how to instruct students of all different ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Currently, she serves as the program director at Asheville Music School, the board of Girls Rock Asheville, instructs a brass band with her husband, Samuel Irvin, through the LEAF schools and streets program, and teaches private lessons at AMS and her home studio. She incorporates her daily meditation practice into her life as a musician, and encourages her students to use music to practice mindfulness.

LESSONS WITH KYLIE

Kylie’s priority as a teacher is to balance enjoyment and challenge in every lesson. She asks her students to express their musical goals periodically so that she can be an efficient and devoted teacher. She finds it deeply fulfilling to research new techniques that will benefit her students. She enjoys teaching ear training with students of all different skill levels. Her structured approach toward aural skills and harmonization has helped those who struggle to match pitch as well as those with advanced capabilities. A typical lesson will involve reinforcement of healthy technique, music theory study, refining repertoire, and creative exploration such as improvisation or songwriting. She is experienced in many genres such as classical, jazz, broadway, and rock, and uses classical and contemporary methods to help students to achieve their musical goals. Kylie urges all of her students to use mindfulness to deepen their joy of music and actively advocates that the study of music can lead to a more conscientious and emotionally intelligent society.