Susan Robbins, Piano Teacher
About
I work as a musical coach to bring out the best pianist and musician in each student. I'm very proud to teach at a first-rate school, with excellent pianos and teaching standards. You can read more about me at my website...
http://www.susangalerobbins.mymusicstaff.com/
My students range in age from preschool to senior, and range from beginners to late intermediate. I have experience with autistic and disabled students.
My songs and piano compositions have been performed in central Arkansas. I teach composition, including song-writing.
As a member of the local, state and national music teachers association, I know many teachers and am current on all the scholarships, festivals and master classes available for students.
I'm on the Board of Directors of the Music Teachers Association of Central Arkansas (MTACA) and am involved in planning their activities. I was their President from 2015-2017 and 1st Vice-President from 2013-2015.
I enjoy meeting students of all ages and their families. It's very enjoyable to see and hear my students develop into pianists and musicians. I enjoy listening to them play and learning from their questions and comments.
Sometimes my students bring in or tell me about music I've never heard before!
In order to teach my students, I'm always learning and writing new music. I like exploring and discovering new pieces.
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I ask the student or parent what their goals are for learning piano, whether they have a piano or keyboard (and if not, help them find one), and find lesson books that are appropriate for their age and experience. If the student has had lessons before, I'll ask him or her to play something for me, to see what level they're at.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
- Six years of private piano lessons with Jean Wentworth (an International Naumburg Competition winner) and one year with Sarah Marks Trinkaus.
- Piano teacher since 2008 and with the Adventures in the Arts Faculty since 2015.
- Composition lessons with Dr. Robert Boury and composing since 2013.
- Active in MTACA (the local music teachers association) and organizing music festivals: President 2015-17, Playathon Chairman 2018-present. Co-Chairman LRMC Jr. Federation Festival 2021.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Adventures in the Arts rates:
Weekly or biweekly lessons, 16 weeks per semester. (Tuition is pro-rated starting at week 5.)
Fee per lesson:
30 minutes = $30
45 minutes = $45
60 minutes = $60
Add $25 registration fee per semester.
How did you get started teaching?
While at a music store looking at piano method books in 2008, I realized how much I enjoyed them and that I had the training and ability to teach piano. I began teaching part-time and eventually went full-time. I support myself with my teaching.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with pre-schoolers through seniors. I prefer to teach students age 6 and up, who can read, count, and have at least a 30-minute attention span. I sometimes have students who are autistic or have physical disabilities, for example with vision problems or arthritis.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
On April 24, 2021 I helped organize a Junior Federation Festival at a church in Little Rock, where students played two pieces from memory, and received written comments from a judge. Because we'd been having virtual lessons, I hadn't seen or heard my students play in person for over a year. So even though we all wore masks, it was wonderful and emotional to see them and their families in person again!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would say, after finding teachers on Lessons.com, go to MTACA.org to see if they're members of the local music teachers association, which includes the best teachers. (If they are, they'll probably also be members of the state and national associations.) Meet with the teacher in person or online before making a decision.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Students should think about:
Do I want to take lessons in person or online?
What kinds of music do I like, and do I want to play piano arrangements?
How much time do I have for practicing each week, and how much will the teacher expect of me?
Do I want to play in recitals or make audio or video recordings of my playing, or not?