My teaching style is designed to foster a life-long love of music. The accomplishment I’m most proud of in my teaching is that the majority of my students remain learning with me for at least five years or more. I am able to maintain and renew a student’s interest by formulating an individualized plan for each student.
My teaching centers around these 5 principles:
1. Your musical journey is all about you
We are all different. We learn in different ways and we like different things. Your path is your own in our lessons. I will be there to guide you but you choose where you go! You will have a say in what kind of musician you want to be, whether or not you want to do exams, what pieces you learn, what learning games you want to play. This is your journey.
2. Music is so much more than reading notes
I want you to become a well-rounded, confident musician. I’ll help you not only to learn, play and understand music but to get creative and explore making your own, whether that’s improvising on the spot or spending time composing your next masterpiece!
3. Music is for everyone
Music is powerful. Music is magic. It gives us a way to express ourselves, to be mindful, to escape, to heal, to grow and achieve. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience it, and I want to create and nurture that for as many people as possible.
4. Partnership makes progress
You are in charge of your progress, and I’m here to facilitate that. Practice is key, so together we will find what works for you and what helps you connect to what you’re learning, so you can keep moving forward.
5. We learn best when we have fun!
Learning should be enjoyable, and the best learning happens when you’re relaxed, when you’re engaging with what you’re learning and when you’re learning your way.
One of my favorite parts of the teaching process is the initial meeting. When you begin studying with me, I will always start with an assessment of the student’s goals and learning styles. Some students are young children for whom the process of learning an instrument will foster the brain development that will allow them to achieve anything. Other students are ambitious adolescents and teens who have a musical foundation and want to see how far they can take their music. And some are adults who want the satisfaction of learning a new, valuable skill.
Here are some of the goals we can set :
- The establishment of a daily practice habit
- The completion of various levels of acclaimed music book sets (Faber & Faber and Suzuki are my favorites for piano)
- The pariticipation in recitals throughout the year
- The completion of an audition for the National Piano Teacher’s Guild (this is a challenging goal for highly motivated students)
- The writing and/or performance of a student’s own composition
- The completion of a full length recital (25-45 minutes of music)
- The audition into a university music program
My job as a teacher is to identify pathways to learning. Then I will provide the skills and motivation to achieve and enjoy music. I won’t hesitate to give students a challenge, even if they don’t believe they ready for it. I’m dedicated to giving each student the best possible musical experience.
If you do not own an instrument but would like to start lessons, I can assist you. Click here for more information. You do not need a full-sized piano to begin playing.