Teaching Experience
I have taught piano since I was 14 years old. It wasn’t necessarily what I intended to do at that time, but people who heard me perform would ask me to teach their children and I was too embarrassed to say no! I have taught ever since. While attending Western Washington University, I was asked to teach the Aural and Keyboard Skills class for music majors, which was a privilege. I taught two classes per week for one year, while I was an undergraduate.
I enjoy teaching my students so very much. It is such a joy to get to know them as individuals and watch their progress as the years go by. I gain lifelong friends as they grow. It makes me very happy to see them obtain a skill that will give them a lifetime of music to enjoy.
Piano Literature
The foundation for my teaching is classical music. I feel that is the best possible education a piano student can have. But it doesn't mean that my students don't play other genres - they do! I have many students who love jazz, rags and other styles of music. (I, myself, sing and perform jazz music.) I use method books, along with supplemental books, approximately for the first two years. A couple of the methods that I like to use are the Frances Clark Music Tree Series, Celebration Series from the Royal Conservatory of Music and Succeeding at the Piano by Helen Marlais.
Technical Studies
Students are given scales, arpeggios, technical exercises such as Czerny, Hanon, Fingerpower by Schaum to learn and practice. The student will do some improvisation, learn how to supply their own harmonies to a melody line, work on sight reading, ear training and music theory.
Computer Station
After the student's private lesson is over the student goes to the computer station where they will use software such as Music Ace or Interactive Musician to reinforce what they are learning in music theory, listen to a classical cd, a music history cd or a music game.
I enjoy teaching my students so very much. It is such a joy to get to know them as individuals and watch their progress as the years go by. I gain lifelong friends as they grow. It makes me very happy to see them obtain a skill that will give them a lifetime of music to enjoy.
Piano Literature
The foundation for my teaching is classical music. I feel that is the best possible education a piano student can have. But it doesn't mean that my students don't play other genres - they do! I have many students who love jazz, rags and other styles of music. (I, myself, sing and perform jazz music.) I use method books, along with supplemental books, approximately for the first two years. A couple of the methods that I like to use are the Frances Clark Music Tree Series, Celebration Series from the Royal Conservatory of Music and Succeeding at the Piano by Helen Marlais.
Technical Studies
Students are given scales, arpeggios, technical exercises such as Czerny, Hanon, Fingerpower by Schaum to learn and practice. The student will do some improvisation, learn how to supply their own harmonies to a melody line, work on sight reading, ear training and music theory.
Computer Station
After the student's private lesson is over the student goes to the computer station where they will use software such as Music Ace or Interactive Musician to reinforce what they are learning in music theory, listen to a classical cd, a music history cd or a music game.
