Rockdale teachers are the real deal—we make sure of it! We select our teachers here carefully (think CIA application process but harder), making sure that our team meets three key criteria:
Today, we’re chatting with Ashley, our new voice and performance teacher!
We talked with her about how she got her start in music, her teaching philosophy, and what she’s listening to lately.
What was your motivation for becoming a teacher?
After so many years of performing, auditioning, and learning the business and producing side of music and musical theatre, I started feeling the urge to find a way to give back to aspiring singers and actors. I had some wonderful technical teachers along the way in my career, but when I was younger I lacked the performance coaching and confidence building mentoring that I was lucky enough to receive later in life. I’m excited to instill not only vocal technique to young performers but also give them the tools to take up space and feel confident about their unique contributions to whatever industry they end up in.
How long have you been performing?
I have been performing since I was in middle school. I started in school choir, community choirs and Delaware All-State Chorus. At 15, I fell in love with musical theatre and became obsessed with listening to Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Wicked, Rent, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Chicago. I studied classical voice at the Wilmington Music School (now known as the Music School of Delaware) throughout high school. After, I attended New York University, with a major in Vocal Performance (Classical Voice) but in my sophomore year, I transferred to Musical Theatre. After graduating, I spent over a decade auditioning and performing in professional regional theaters and even created my own cabaret with a dear friend and fellow musical theatre performer, Jenna Pastuszek, called Double Treble. During COVID, the theatre industry shut down and I moved back to my hometown of Wilmington, DE to regroup. With all the newfound time on my hands, I used the lockdown opportunity to return to my love of piano. I started recording covers of my favorite pop songs and posted on Instagram every Monday as a way to keep myself accountable toward my creativity and commitment toward getting better at playing piano and singing simultaneously. Starting in 2022, I have been playing gigs at local bars, restaurants and venues around DE/PA as a soloist, in acoustic duos and bands focusing on popular music.
What advice would you give to a new music student?
Practice is everything! When I was younger I was TERRIBLE at practicing. I hated not being “good” at something right away. Proficiency takes time! There is no shortcut to being like the people you admire the most. Even if an aspect of music comes naturally to you, practicing is always going to improve your performance and your overall confidence about your craft. Also, getting in front of people is the best way to test your nerves and help you get more comfortable sharing your talents freely.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching at Rockdale?
I love being able to coach young people to feel more confident in their vocal abilities and generally helping them feel more confident in their bodies and presence on stage. When it comes to performing on stage – whether it be in a musical, a play or a rock band performance – the singer’s ability to captivate through confidence is really most of the game.
What have you been listening to lately?
Maren Morris has a new album coming out so I have been listening to her new songs from that! Also I’ve been really into Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.
What’s a fun fact we might be surprised to learn about you?
I feel like I shared so many fun facts already LOL, but…I guess that I have a 2 year old daughter that loves to do vocal warmups with me!!
Any recent projects you’d like to share?
I am part of an awesome female music coalition called The Women’s Musician Coalition @womensmusiciancoalition. Also, feel free to follow me on Instagram to check out one of my live performances! @ashley_sweetman. I post my show schedule there, as well as my website, www.ashleysweetman.com