Elizabeth B. TakeLessons Instructor Acting, Piano, Harp Carpenter Dr., Atlanta, GA

Elizabeth is originally from Chicago but has been living in the Atlanta area for 2 years.  She is a professional actress and instructor and specializes in teaching acting, characterization, audition technique, monologue preparation and scene analysis.  Elizabeth teaches at several fine arts schools in the Atlanta area as well as teaching private lessons and coaching for auditions and performances.  Past students have gone on to win scholarships to AMDA, SCAD, Piedmont College and other prestigious liberal arts colleges.   

Elizabeth also has extensive training in piano and harp.  She was classically trained in piano starting at age 7.  During college Elizabeth maintained a private studio with up to 15 students ranging from age 3-15.  She has accompanied theatre productions including "The Pirates of Penzance" and is able to coach students for musical theatre auditions. 

Elizabeth has directed several productions including "Bugsy Malone", "Little Women", and "The Dancers".  She served as the musical director for Lionheart Theatre's production of "Tom Sawyer" in the summer of 2007.  She has also served as a technical director for "The Music Man", "Once Upon A Mattress" and "Seussical, the Musical". 

In addition to teaching and directing, she is active in the Atlanta theatre scene.  Past roles include Laura in "The Glass Menagerie",  Betty in "The Foreigner", Mistress Page in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and Meg in "Postmortem".  She played Sarah in the world premiere of "Runaway Bride", a production that received international media coverage from the Associated Press.      

Elizabeth has a degree in Theatre from Concordia University in River Forest, IL.  While at Concordia she taught summer theatre camps and chaired the Concordia Theatre Student Managers' Board.   

I create a fun learning environment for my students.  For acting students, I can bring monologues and material to work on or I can work with you on a specific piece you need to prepare for an audition.  We'll focus on character development, physicalization, dialect and enunciation and proper audition etiquette.  I am available to teach on a regular basis or I can work with you when you have a big audition coming up.

I focus on several aspects of music for my piano lessons, depending on what the student wants to achieve.  For beginner students I teach them to read music, help them develop proper posture and piano technique, work on music theory including sight reading and chords, and develop their rhythm with movement exercises and games.  I make learning fun for children and I tailor the lesson to each student and their strengths and weaknesses!  For more advanced students I focus on technique, musical expression, classical music,  improvisation, playing from chords, and playing by ear.

After working with me piano students will be able to read music, recognize chord structure, play by ear and exhibit proper piano technique.  Acting students will have a grasp on character and scene analysis, audition technique, enunciation and physicality, and feel more confident onstage.   

Character development, Shakespeare, scene study, classical piano, sight reading, music theory, rhythm, ear training

Acting, Piano, Harp