B-Sharp Piano Studio

After studying piano for 10 years growing up in a small town in Minnesota, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Music Major, from Arizona State University. Have been teaching piano privately for 38 years. I'm also an active member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA) and Phoenix Music Teachers Association (PMTA) where I not only regularly attend conferences and professional workshops, but have the benefit of mentorship from other piano teachers. It is also through these associations that I can offer my students opportunities to perform, compete or enter into an evaluation program for piano students.

$30/30-minutes $40/45-minutes $50/60-minutes

I began teaching piano immediately after graduating from ASU in 1984. Although it's hard for me to remember my first students, I do remember how much I loved taking piano lessons starting from age 8 through age 18, practicing my lesson every day and performing in recitals and competitions. I knew I wanted to share that and my passion for music, particularly the piano, with with others. I want my students to love music and playing the piano as much as I do.

The majority of my students are in elementary school, a handful of students are age 5, about a quarter of my students are in middle school or high School. I also have a good number of adult students (in their 20's, or recently retired, and one student who was 92), many who were beginners and are now playing in concerts and recitals. Some students prefer to just learn to play their favorite pieces, others wish to participate in performance events, and some enjoy the structure of competitions or evaluation programs. While I never set a limit for any student, I have not had students who were graduating high school and preparing to enter as music majors in college.

Imagine a symphony of grand pianos, two students playing together at each piano, and the conductor directing them. The pianist s are in groups, some made up of young beginner students, some are Middle School age students, some are high school students, adult students, adult family members, and even teacher groups. There are 15 songs performed by 200-400 performers over a period of 1 hour concert to an audience of 650 attendees, two times in one night. The energy is electric. This is what is called the PMTA Piano Ensemble concert and it has been going on for 71 consecutive years. A remarkable tradition. I love this concert. It provides the piano student with an opportunity to experience social and collaborative performance. I have been co-chair on this committee for 10 years, performed in it myself for 10+ years, and had many students participate in it. Students perform in it for 20 years and more. There are two adult students who have been performing in this concert for 33 or 34 years. Come join the fun!

My advice would depend on the student's age and goals. If the student is 5 or under, my advice would be to the parent (s) to provide a very musical environment at home, play music of all genres, dance and move to the music, nurture the child's natural imagination and creativity through storytelling through music. If the very young child is going to start formal piano lessons, the child will need much support from the adult at home. For elementary age students, learn to be patient while they learn to practice, and learn to prioritize all the diverse activities children have these days. If the child is to learn to play a musical instrument such as the piano, he must learn to make a commitment to learn and stick with it. For the middle schooler or high school age student, I try to help them find a connection through their piano music. That might be a connection with the popular culture, it might be a connection in the history of piano music such as classical music, and or it might be a social connection such as participating in piano ensemble or entering in piano competitions, recitals or evaluation programs. Again commitment is so important. For my adult students, I tell them that adults actually can learn much faster than children, because they have better control of fine motor skills, counting, memory of music they've heard throughout their lives. But adults' biggest obstacles are impatience and distractions. For this reason, I often recommend beginner adult students make a commitment of 3-4 months, setting some short term goals and a bigger end goal (mind if like signing ip for a community vollege class). Then we can reassess at the end of the term. In summary, my goal for all my students is that, at minimum, if they don't already love playing piano music that they learn to love it. I also want them to be able to read all kinds of piano music, and learn enough theory to play basic music by ear. I hope they will learn to perform with and for others. But if they are content to play piano just for themselves, I am happy with that, too.

What type of piano or keyboard must I have at home? Why is my goal? Why do I want to take piano lessons? Do I just want to learn to play a song or certain songs? If so, what are some songs that I like? Alternatively, what is the genre of songs that I like? Classical? Pop? Jazz? Should I take one lesson each week or two lessons each week? What if I miss lesson? Can I reschedule? Do I have to practice at home? Can't I just come and learn at the piano lesson? How much practice time at is necessary? What does a practice session at home look like? Do I have to practice everyday? What happens if I don't get to practice very much between lessons? (For female students) do I really need to cut my fingernails in order to play the piano? Do I have to play scales and chords? Do I have to perform and recitals? How does the teacher bill? Tuition? Hourly? Monthly?