Phil Parmelee Music

I have found that the most important issue is to quickly learn who a student is, what they are expecting, what is their motivation and their goals, and what traits they possess that will help or even hinder throughout the process. Once I establish that, I know how to plan and what I can expect through the years of lessons with them. Building a comaraderie quickly with the student is also key. I want the student to feel I am "with" and are on "their side", as it were and will support them fully.

I have a BA in Music Composition from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. Piano was my major until my 4th year when I added composition to the mix. My mother was the church pianist and my father, the church organist for over 20 years. Music was a large part of my growing up. I didn't take formal lessons until college, I began playing the piano or organ for churches starting at age 13 and continued for a total of 50 years.

After college, I became intrigued with the idea of becoming a piano/organ teacher. I had learned to play on my own until college, but learned a lot about teaching as much as playing from my instructors in college. While still in my college town, I overheard two people talking in a music store, one of them stating that "so-and-so" was the only teacher who still taught in the home. My antannae went up and the idea of traveling to the students was born. That all was in the late 70's and I began teaching upon returning to Michigan in October of 1979. I simply put hand written notices on bulletin boards all the city at various times, but it is word-of-mouth that has really fueled the continuation of students over the 42 years.

I have worked with students as young as 3 or as old as 90. Most have been children, but I enjoy teaching adults just as much.