CMZWAHLEN STUDIO At COTTON PLACE

CMZWAHLEN STUDIO At COTTON PLACE

5.0(1 review)

About

First, my students make my service stand out. When they arrive, they can't wait to sit at the piano and don't want to leave.

I am a classically trained pianist. I studied with Ocy L Downs, the Grand Dame of Piano in Portland, ME. She emphasized technique. I also studied with Maria Balling, an Austrian Professor and adjudicator in Boston, MA. Before WWII, she was a protege of Toscanini.

Although I am classically trained, I do not teach one method to all my students or limit them to one musical genre. I emphasize technique and fingering; it's your roadmap on the keys. Learning artistry means using expression to tell a story with sound. Playing technique without artistry is the same as listening to someone read a story in a monotone.

My students successfully auditioned to play the keyboard for their school's jazz band and performed in other school ensembles and musical events. They prepare for a fall and spring recital. When one recital ended, they asked when our next one was. They loved it!

Since 2006, I have enjoyed working with children, teens, and adults of all abilities and personalities. I have successfully worked with students who struggle with attention deficit by making up exercises or games to help them focus. I have also worked with stroke victims who, at one time, played the piano and wanted to play again. It works. When a student who couldn't focus one day sits at the piano and performs the entire piece by memory, the smile on their face says it all.

What I enjoy the most about my work is watching my students learn to love music. I often hear a parent say, "Before you were my son or daughter's piano teacher, I had to drag my son or daughter to the piano to practice. Now they are eager and go by themselves." My joy is teaching students the music they love and never thought they could play.


Highlights

1 employee
18 years in business
Serves Mont Vernon , NH

Payment methods

Cash, Check, Paypal

Social media


Specialties

Years experience

No formal training, No formal training; some self-taught experience, 0 – 2 years experience, 2 – 4 years experience, 4+ years of experience

Able to read music

Student can read music, Student cannot read music

Lesson length

30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes

Student's age

5 – 10 years old, 11 – 13 years old, 14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Student has instrument

Students who have a piano, Students who have a keyboard

Interested musical styles

Classical, Jazz, Pop, I can make recommendations

Photos and videos


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    SB

    Sarah B.

    Carla is a wonderful person who I admire deeply. She has the ability to teach students from a wide range of skill levels and ages. She is extremely patient and understanding. I started taking piano lessons with her about 14 years ago when I was about five. As I got older, I switched to taking art lessons with Carla because my heart wasn’t really in the piano playing. I think we both really enjoyed the years of art lessons, and I still treasure all of the skills I’ve obtained from it. When I was 17, Carla would make the 1+ hour drive to our house every week to give piano lessons to my 15 year old sister, and I began to miss it so I took up piano lessons again with Carla. I’m very grateful for my years working with Carla and I highly recommend her to other students.
    ... Show more
    April 28, 2019

    Frequently asked questions

    1. We discuss their prior piano skill level and look at their music books they bring

    2. We talk about their favorite musical genre.

    3. I ask that they play one or two of their pieces. As I listen I can assess weaknesses and strengths.

    4. If the student is a beginner, we look at beginner books. Before the lesson is finished the student will have played a short tune.  

    Begin classical piano age 6                                                Long Beach City College Piano Performance                       

     Studied with Ocy L. Downs, Portland ME                            

    Studied with Maria Balling, Boston, MA          

    Participant National Piano  Competitions                            

    Fifteen Years of experience teaching piano                            

    Played music with a trio, violinist, cellist, me, Pianist      

    Fifteen years on staff pianist First Christian Church Wolfeboro, NH                                                                

    Pianist for weddings, funerals and other events.                         

    Accompanist  


    Services offered

    Piano