About Ginelle
Ginelle (Lovingly addressed as Ginelle Teacher) has always been a passionate artist, learner and teacher. She believes in passing her knowledge to others and she feels it is the best way to touch someone, they will always remember you.
She was born in a Musical Family, with her Father – Mr. Frederick Michael Coutto and Mother – Ms. Catherine Balbina Coutto being avid singers and dancers and her dad playing the Ghumat (Its a membranophone instrument from Mumbai and Goa, India)
Music always played at home and Ginelle grew up listening to Western Classics, Country Music, Singers like Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Engelbert Humperdinck, ABBA , The Beatles etc. On her 1st Birthday, among her many gifts, she was gifted a Xylophone and further down, she continued to play many persuasions and instruments. She started her formal training in music when she was 8 years old, where she mastered the Plectrum Guitar, and completed her course with her last and most favourite Music Teacher till date, Sheldon Menezes.
Ginelle played for the Glory of God and sung and played for the Choir at her Parish – St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai, as well as played the Flute and Guitar at school and was incharge of her school band (Divine Child High School, Chakala , Andheri East, Mumbai)
She gained a lot of recognition and went on to pick up other instruments along the way. She currently plays and teaches over 39 instruments .
Ginelle has always been passionate about languages and art. She is a self trained artist. She learnt basic French in Junior College ( St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai) and then went on to do her one year French Diploma at the Mumbai University (2010 -2011) where she stood 1st overall, in the French department and completed her higher levels in the language from L’ Alliance Française Mumbai (2016 – 2018). Having her flair in languages, she thereafter, went on to self-learn many more languages.
Ginelle is a self trained Belly Dancer and also went on to give her exams at a Belly Dance Institute in Mumbai.
Academically , Ginelle has been good student, scoring good grades all her life. She always had a passion for Science and went on to complete her Graduation in Biochemistry and Botany (St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai) in 2010. After this, she did her B.Ed ie Bachelors in Education in Science and Maths from St. Xavier’s Institute of Education, Mumbai. It was here that she was spotted by Mrs. Ruth Mehta (Trustee at Tridha Waldorf School, Mumbai) at the Campus Placement and started her Waldorf Journey as a Class Teacher at Tridha from 2012 to November 2015 and also went on to teaching Music to Grades 2 to 7 and teaching ChalkBoard Drawing to the Class Teachers at Tridha School.
Following this, she also taught at Inodai Waldorf School, Mumbai from 2017 to November 2019. Here she taught Music from Grades 4 to 9, trained the CSETT (Waldorf Teacher Training Course) Candidates in Music for 3 Years and also trained the Kindergarten Teachers in Vocals and Recorder for a few months.
Now, Ginelle has decided to dedicate her life to Constant Learning and Teaching. She also mentors Music Teachers at various Waldorf Schools globally and through Kriya Waldorf Inspired, empowers many underprivileged and deserving students and people, along the way.
What Our Students Say
Delnaz Edulji
Guitar and Spanish StudentI joined Kriya in 2018 and it's been a splendid journey. I was looking for a Spanish teacher and a friend of mine recommended Ginelle. It was a delight to have someone with such enthusiasm towards her work, teach me. I started with Spanish and then also joined guitar with her. Ginelle is gifted with talents and it's so amazing to see her share it so selflessly with others. Seeing my interest in drawing, she also guided me to create some amazing pieces of art, that were appreciated by all. Today, Ginelle is not only my teacher, but also a great friend!
Paridhi Agrawal
French and Guitar StudentI started class at Kriya as a eleven year old, eager to learn French. We began with simple pronunciations of letters and words and somewhere along the months, listening to other students playing their instruments (who came before and after my class), gave me a strong desire to learn music. I then began with guitar, an instrument that held fascination for me ever since I first heard it as a four year old. My journey has been beautiful, filled with laughter, love, learning and new people. I have lost, forgotten and been left behind, but I found my way back, thanks to this beautiful human, who has always been there for me with a big smile on her face, Ginelle Teacher!
Fleda Fernandes
Fleda Fernandes (Belly Dance Student)I've been a student with Kriya for a long time now. A few years ago, I took up to learn an art I was the most challenged at and terrible in, something I always ran away from. But today I can gladly say that dancing and to be specific- Belly dancing is something I enjoy the most. The kind of patience and understanding Ginelle has with a student like me is totally commendable. The flexibility of timing helps people like me with full time jobs and studies pursue things we have been putting away for the longest time. I can totally vouch for the fact that learning an art or skill is like 'the Friday night' of our monotonous routines. The teacher- student bond is more like friendship and the classes are more like a looking- forward- to-fun time.