*Alicia Keys recently visited the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City, where her music career first took shape.
The trip was featured on “CBS Mornings” and highlighted the singer’s reunion with former music teacher, Linda Aziza Miller, who Keys credits for teaching her how to arrange music.
“She taught me so much about how to arrange music, how to arrange a song. Those are the things that I took, and I put into the music,” the global superstar said, CBS News reports.
Keys’ Broadway show “Hells Kitchen” includes a character named Ms. Liza Jane, who is influenced by the singer’s grandmother, and Ms. Aziza, who serves as the orchestra pianist for the musical at the Shubert Theatre.
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The 16-time Grammy-winning artist, who graduated as valedictorian from Professional Performing Arts Scho, shared advice with the students in a theater class.
“I want you to always be yourself,” she said. “I want you to never forget that the more unique you are, the more you stand out.”
She also joined the students for an impromptu performance of “This Girl Is on Fire.” Check it out in the clip above.
“I’m so happy to see you guys,” Keys told them. “I’m really honored to be here, to talk to you and get a second. Just tell you that I’m proud of you and that, you know, I really recognize you.”
Watch more of Alicia’s visit to her old school in the clip above.
Earlier this year, Keys collected more than a dozen 2024 Tony Award nominations for her Broadway musical.
Vibe reported the critically acclaimed production “Hell’s Kitchen,” inspired by the “Keys’ personal coming-of-age story in New York City scored 13 nominations in all, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
Directed by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, “Hell’s Kitchen” chronicles the journey of its lead character, Ali, whose rebellious spirit is maintained by her overprotective single mother.
“Ali is lost until she meets her mentor: a neighbor who opens her heart and mind to the power of the piano,” according to a description of the play from its official website.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Alicia Keys Nets 13 2024 Tony Award Nominations for ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Musical
