Learn How to Create Music at the Piano

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Learning to play the piano can be challenging, but I strive to make it a fun challenge!  The journey to creating music at the piano is best nurtured by a long-term student-teacher-parent relationship. One of the ways I like to nurture this development is to make sure that each student is provided with focused, clear and well-defined practice procedures during their lessons.  When my students attend their lessons or classes, my number one goal is that they experience creative music-making in some way.   Secondly, we must begin the process of learning the music together in the instructional time so that the “away” practice is accomplished with little or no mistakes.  Practice time should increase a student’s confidence, provide an efficient method of reaching goals, and become an enjoyable activity

Components of Private Piano Lessons

Each student attends a private lesson each week, and is guided through a curriculum of music reading, technique, musical expression, theory, ear-training, sight-reading, improvisation and performance skills.  Private lessons offer individualized instruction at the pianist’s own pace, and increased lesson times are required when a student reaches a more advanced level. All of these musicianship skills are further reinforced with off bench activities during the lesson time. Performance classes are also offered every year to provide students with group interaction and recital skill acquisition.

Practicing Between Lessons – A Learned Skill

Each student will set a goal for practicing each day based on what their curriculum and repertoire necessitates for progress. Assignments are entered on Tonara, a music education platform app that allows connecting with students in-between lessons. Students can access audio and video demonstrations to help in their practicing, as well as send messages to me when they have questions during the week. Specific assignment activities are written in Tonara as a guide of what to practice each week. Students may also choose to participate in the reward system for earning points each week.

Accelerated Group Lessons

Each summer, students may have the opportunity to participate in an accelerated curriculum of music reading, technique, musical expression, theory, ear-training, sight-reading, improvisation and performance skills.  Students learn the repertoire during an hour class and complete guided practice as a part of the ensemble time, progressing as a group.  Students move through their method books at a much faster pace, and enjoy the social aspect of learning with other children their age in a supportive environment! Group Lessons are offered based on enrollment and when there are student who are recommended for this format.

Philosophy of Teaching:

Engaging lessons – Literacy-based approach – Personalized Learning – Development of problem-solving skills – Development of long-term relationship with learning music and playing the piano

My Goal:  Creative music-making in every lesson and music students who become excited about the learning process = independent learners who love to share their musical gift at the piano = lessons that last!