About
Music has always been a part of my life experience. I started studying the piano when I was 7 years old. I had an inherent desire to cultivate a relationship with this instrument. I often liked to compose my own melodies. I began receiving training at a conservatory around age 7. In high school I was in the concert band playing along side my peers. I studied music therapy at the college level for a year and in that year, I learned in greater depth the value music brings to individuals as a medicine, an ally, an expressive outlet, and a language to speak when words seem to fall short. I have been teaching private lessons independently since 2008. Later on, I was hired by 3 different private music schools where I formally proved myself as a competent instructor to be a part of their staff. I have worked with individuals of all ages in an instructional capacity. I believe that anyone can learn to play music and I encourrage my students to keep an open mind about their abilities and relationship to the instrument. Much can be accomplished utilizing the right approach and with the correct motivation. Teaching for me is about connection, expression, and developing life-skills through the study of an instrument that I love. I do not want anyone to be deprived of access to music education, especially due to reasons pertaining to logistics, monetary constraints, or faulty assumptions. During these turbulent times where people feel safer at home, I am willing to drive to the homes of my students offering them comfort and convenience. My services are also competitively priced. That said, please note that the prices for my services will take into consideration the total distance as well as the length of the total lesson.
I love sharing joy. I enjoy being able to engage with the very thing I love every day. I enjoy being able to connect with people from all walks of life through the gift of music. I love the art of sharing knowledge through teaching skills because it is as though I am providing people the keys to self-empowerment, self-discipline, realizations of dreams, confidence, self-expression, joy, and mental agility. Connecting with my students is paramount to me. I never feel that the time I invest in others is ever a waste and I enjoy seeing growth develop in all the many ways that it can manifest itself. Teaching also inspires me to be a better performer and to explain the same topic in more than one way. I pride myelf on having worked with individuals of all ages and various skill levels and being able to reach each person in a way that is unique to them. A community is built through teaching and playing music. It is home to me and it is a home that provides much value and continues to grow.
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Rebecca C.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first step when evaluating a prospective student is to understand what they know about the instrument and what their short-term and long-term goals are for learning. I usually do this within the context of a 30 minute consultation so that I can get to know them and build a degree of initial rapport. I want to know what their interests and ambitions are. I also focus on what they know, gauge anything that may need to be further clarified later, and get a sense for what they really want to learn and then we build from there together.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My musical journey started early in life. Formal lessons were a part of my weekly routine from age 7 to age 20. I attended Westminister Conservatory in Princeton New Jersey. I have done several recitals and camps during my time at the conservatory. It was there that I learned about the discipline of music. I experienced several different teachers with different instructional styles. In high school, I joined the concert band to experience the resonance of playing with other instruments and people in a group. After high school, I began offering my own private lessons at an elementary school in Pittsburgh, PA in 2008 while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree. I ultimately obtained a Masters degree in Educational Psychology in 2013, which I feel has contributed to my instructional repertoire helping me to integrate the most current teaching apporaches and techniquies. I view learning as a structured discovery process. I find that quality instruction all pulls from the same methods regardless of what you are teaching. My teaching style is very adaptable to meet what works for the individual. Music is very interdisciplinary. It draws upon lanugage, history, mathematics etc. Thus, I strive to integrate all aspects into the educaitonal experience that I cultivate. My experience in education has taught me to not allow learning to become dry or redundant. I do everything in my power to engage the learner in a fun and dynamic exploration of the instrument.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My average rates range from $30 a half hour to $60 an hour. Rates may vary slightly based on individual need and circumstances. Amount of time per lesson, frequency of service, financial restrictions, and total travel distance (on my part) are all variables that I take into consideration when determining the cost of service.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have also worked with children with Autism as a musical instructor. I have worked with children who are gifted. I have worked with children who have diagnosed emotional and attentional difficulties. I have worked with adults coming back to the instrument or learning the instrument for the first time. My eldest student was 70 years of age while the youngest student I have worked with was 4. Everyone comes to the piano at different ages and different stages and they bring their own unique experiences to the keyboard.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would advise the student to work with someone that they connect with and feel comfortable with. I would advise them to consider the type of style they want to learn and to choose an instructor with that type of background. I would also caution them that being proficient in playing an instrument is not a selling point for instructing on how to play an instrument. Not all performers will make skilled teachers. Find someone who teaches to you and can relate to you and your experiences as a student. Relating to the student is very important to teaching.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
1. What are your expectations for learning?
2. What are your personal strengths and limitations?
3. What are you committed to learning specifically? (goals)
4. How much is too much? How little is too little?
5. How much time you have per day or week to practice?