My goal as a music educator at St. Petersburg College is to provide higher education students with leadership, mentorship and quality instruction in order to promote personal and professional growth, so students can ultimately add to the body of research and knowledge in the field of music. I have served as a music educator both privately, at a four-year university, and for non-profit organizations, and I yearn to share my experiences with students in hopes of inspiring them to strive for their utmost excellence, and to use their creativity to make a positive impact on the world. Higher education in music provides students with an opportunity to pinpoint their strengths, develop sustainability of their talents, and to enable them to further develop their skills through practicum and research studies.

By serving as a facilitator of learning, it is my honor to be a direct part of a student's growth process, and in turn, to also prosper as a researcher through my encounters with students. Music and Aural Theory are vital components to any musician's success and true understanding of their instrument, and they benefit both degree seeking students and students looking to improve or enrich their skills. I believe in music and aural theory's weight and validity to all musicians, regardless of whether their track is performance, education, composition or musicology, and whether their medium is classical or contemporary music. The deep history encompassed in music theory provides a backdrop for understanding the origins of music and its chemical make-up, and enables students to demonstrate their understanding through analysis, dictation, sight-reading, and memorization of formulas and methodology. In addition to creating an environment where students can enjoy putting their theory knowledge and skills into action through study and demonstration, I also believe that music theory can and should be inviting, easy to understand and fun, even for musicians who are new to theory, or intimidated by its complexity!".

Biography: Lyric coloratura soprano Taryn Livingston Lumia resides in Tampa, Florida and holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Teaching college music since 2008, Ms. Livingston served as an adjunct professor of music theory at the University of South Florida prior to joining the SPC faculty, where she teaches Music Theory I-IV and Aural Theory I-IV online. Taryn is currently Director of Music at Tims Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lutz, where she leads hymns, performs solo music with guitar, piano and organ, and leads the Tims Chancel Choir. She also worked as the ELITE Center Director at Music Showcase academy in Brandon, and has taught private music instruction since 2005. College Honors include a Graduate Assistantship in Opera and Music History, the Excellence in Music History Award, Excellence in Opera Award, a Music Talent Grant and the Graduate and Professional Student Council Award.

Opera roles include Mademoiselle Silverpeal (Der Schauspieldirektor), Frasquita (Carmen), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance) and Lolo (The Merry Widow) with the St. Petersburg Opera Company, as well as Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Pamina (The Magic Flute) and Micaela (Carmen) in opera scenes. Additional performances include working with the Florida Orchestra and participating in festivals, concerts and community outreach while a member of the University of South Florida Chamber Singers ensemble and the Bel Canto Women's Choir. Ms. Livingston is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Society for Music Theory, and has also studied and performed at the Vianden International Music Festival and School in Luxembourg and at Sherrill Milnes's V.O.I.C.Experience opera training program in Tampa.

In addition to teaching and classical performance, Taryn has performed in the contemporary music scene since she was a small child, specializing in popular music, country and Contemporary Christian. Performances include singing the National Anthem for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tampa Bay Lighting, the International Softball Federation, and at charity benefit concerts. Taryn has also given concerts at the Florida Strawberry Festival and Nativity's Novemberfest in Brandon, and enjoys volunteering at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon as a part of the Lifeteen Band, where she sings and plays piano at church services and outreach events.