Viviane Baptista

Viviane has been a music mentor, vocal coach and music teacher for over 35 years; married, with 3 children and three grandchildren. With a focus on education, mentoring and consulting, Viviane has inspired and helped students to develop their artistic side and become professional musicians, who have been accepted into renowned national and international universities. Viviane has also prepared students to obtain certification in Instruments and Music Theory through the Music Development Program, of the Royal Conservatory, which is considered one of the most important music schools in Canada, with international repercussions.

Born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim city, in Espírito Santo, Brazil, Viviane's passion for music came from her late father, professional musician, conductor, instrumentalist and percussionist. At the time of his youth, he was known in Cachoeiro's musical environment as Cacalo Vieira and became part of the musical group called “Os Vigilantes”, where he played percussion instruments, from where he emerged along with who became one of the country’s greatest singers. Years later, his father was a Methodist Church’s worship leader and the Band Director from a group of several churches, having even helped several denominations in the musical area such as Baptist, Presbyterian and Assembly of God churches.

Her mother Lacy, whose name was given by her uncle José Baptista, who was also a conductor, means the combination of musical notes Lá and Si. She owns a wonderful voice and between the 50s and 60s she sang with two legends of the Brazilian music, Angela Maria and Darlene Glória. The musical streak did not stop here, as his aunt Lita Vieira was also a reason for inspiration. A radio singer from Cachoeiro city, she emerged at the time together with who today is considered one of the country’s greatest singers and composers. Not to mention Viviane’s admiration for her cousin Marcus Levy, a professional musician and music producer, with whom she learned her first jazz guitar lessons.

Viviane started playing the guitar at a very young age, between 6 and 7 years old. At the time, her father was a railroader and had been transferred to Ubá, Minas Gerais, where he became the Methodist Church choir’s conductor. Even at such a young age, Viviane always accompanied him, participating in the choir. When she went to youth conferences, she admired the guitarists and thought that one day she would play as one of them. When she got home, she took the guitar quietly, because at that time it was not a cheap instrument and, by the way, his father took 9 hours on the road to buy one! Viviane waited for her father to travel and then took the guitar to train and so with lots of determination, she learned by herself.

One day, her father arrived at the church and saw Vivi, as she was affectionately called, playing for the youth group. It was quite a surprise! From then on, she never stopped. At the end of the services, Vivi went to the organ and because she was short it was difficult to reach the pedals. And so, always insisting on overcoming it, Viviane learned to play the organ. Among young people and adults Viviane was the youngest playing an instrument and always with her smile, which became her signature.

With the move of her family to Rio de Janeiro, Viviane started her studies, now in a professional way, at the Villa Lobos Music School, where she was introduced to classical guitar by professor Gibran, at the time, a musician at the João Caetano Theater. While in high school, she had the opportunity to do scenic arts, as well as being part of the choir conducted by the opera singer Profa. Vanda Zumm. Shortly thereafter, Viviane became the conductor’s assistant and conducted the choir when the teacher traveled to perform in Rome. With these new responsibilities, Viviane gained experience in choir directing and again, still young, there she was conducting the choir in university graduations and in choir meetings. During this period, Viviane began to compose her own music.

Demonstrating a keen eye for leadership and creativity from an early age, Viviane organized a free theater group at school, where she sang, wrote, rehearsed and acted outdoors during recess. This work made her very respected as a musician. What caught the attention of the professionals was the fact that Viviane was so young and had so much talent on the guitar, something unusual at that time. And then, she was introduced to professor Adalto Silva, known as the most audacious flutist in the world, for the way he played “chorinhos” (a Brazilian musical genre) with his transverse flute. Professor Adalto was brilliant in his strategy of teaching theory and in preparing professional musicians and ended up becoming Viviane's first mentor. She accompanied him playing at concerts, conventions, Navy graduation ceremonies, and was invited to play, along with him and to pursue a career as a musician at two TV networks.

Viviane contributed with other organizations, with her musical and theater work, sang and played for radio programs produced by the organization Umbet, based in Germany, both in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Viviane had her weeks very busy with travel and performances and divided herself between her work as a classical guitar teacher at the private Brazilian Conservatory of Music and her singing and piano studies. After getting married, Viviane and her husband moved to São Paulo where, in addition to working as teachers from 5th to 8th grade, Viviane was also a worship leader in three churches during the weekends.

In 1997, the family moved to the USA, where Viviane worked as a worship leader in several Baptist churches in the cities of Framingham and Cambridge in Boston, MA, and later in Florida at the Baptist churches in Deerfield Beach and Boynton Beach. He also served as a pianist at the Floridian Family Church, an American church in Weston and child assistant at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, FL.

In the USA Viviane started her Music Education course at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA, completed her studies in Business Administration at Phoenix University in Dallas, TX. In addition, she began studying Jazz Guitar at Berklee College of Music, participated in Leadership Training at the New England Baptist Convention, worked as a music administrator and teacher at her own school and outside of volunteer work.

With her mind always entrepreneurial and eager for knowledge, Viviane has not stopped there. She started her masters of Music at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth, TX and produced three courses for music teachers offered by her music business.
Viviane had the opportunity to study at great music institutions, to connect with great names in the music industry and to be mentored by one of the greatest leaders in the American music industry. As a result of all this experience, she understands that it is also an extraordinary opportunity to serve and return knowledge. For this reason, she has expanded her area of ​​action and expertise, promoting innovative, relevant and modern courses. Now, her most recent entrepreneurial work is with baby Melody, where she is the co-founder.

​Certifications:
Music as Biology: What We Like to Hear and Why. Duke, NC, 2016
Fundamentals of Music Theory. Reid School of Music Music. Edinburgh University, 2014
Music Industry, Berklee College of Music, 2014
Fundamentals of Regency, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2014
Continuing Education:
Violin. Northwestern University, 2014
Sound Engineering. Rochester University, 2013
Member of: MTNA, TMTA, DMTA, RMC Music Development Program www.rcmusic.com