Nora Theberge is a twenty-year-old jazz vibraphonist from New Hampshire. She is a vibraphone jazz performance major in her junior year at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University with a minor in public relations. This program provides her with the opportunity to meet and gain experience from fellow aspiring jazz musicians and respected professionals. Her mentor and teacher, Tony Miceli, is one of the main reasons she came to Philadelphia.
When she isn’t playing or listening to music, Nora loves to tap dance and is currently a dance captain for Temple Tappers, a student-run tap dancing team at Temple University. She also enjoys video games, reading, and hanging out with friends!
10 Questions with Nora Theberge:
1. What do you like to listen to?
Jazz music is my favorite genre, but I grew up with funk, R&B, & folk. For everyday music, indie and alternative are my default genres when I’m not listening to jazz. I love artists such as Laufey, Hozier, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Philip Labes, Samara Joy, and many more.
2. Who are some musicians or bands that have influenced your playing?
My introduction to jazz was through Ella Fitzgerald, so she has always had a special place in my heart. In terms of vibraphonists, Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson were large inspirations and influences.
3. What advice would you give your 9-year-old self?
I would tell her that she shouldn’t worry so much about being judged for doing things a little differently than all the other kids.
4. How long have you been tap dancing, and what connections do you see to your playing?
I have been tap dancing since I was three years old, so about seventeen years. I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was because of the percussion and rhythmic aspect of it. I started to think of it as another instrument in the way I was able to express rhythms and ideas with different sounds. I’m so happy I was able to continue tapping when I got to college with a student-run tap dancing team called Temple Tappers! I currently am one of the dance captains, and I love being with people who love to tap like me.
5. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
My favorite part of Philadelphia is the active jazz scene. There are constantly jams to attend and live jazz music around the city. After growing up in a small town in New Hampshire, I love living in the city; there is always something going on, which I find exciting.
6. What is your process for practicing improvisation?
My process for practicing improvisation is by looking through the chord changes first and then figuring out which scales can be played over each chord. I like to focus on creating melodies that are “singable,” which simplifies my musical ideas so I can build from there. Lastly, I listen to what other jazz musicians have played over those chord changes to gain inspiration.
7. Do you have any hidden talents?
I don’t think I have any hidden talents, but a fun fact is that I can recite all the lyrics to most VeggieTales songs.
8. What kinds of ensembles do you like playing in?
I enjoy playing in mallet ensembles and small jazz combos. I love the communication that goes along with playing in smaller groups. I think it also gives the members of the groups more freedom with their creative ideas or arrangements.
9. What was one thing about your instrument that surprised you when you started learning to play?
When I started to focus more on the vibraphone in middle school, the motor fascinated me because I liked the idea of controlled vibrato. The motor controls the speed of the discs that spin. They (are) under the bars but over the resonators. It’s such a unique addition to an already pretty cool instrument.
10. Do you have any advice for people just getting started learning an instrument?
Don’t be afraid to play. Sit with your instrument and just play what you feel, play around with notes because starting this early will help your musical composition ideas in the future.
Nora's Recommended Playlist:
