Dr. Heidi
About
Hi Students,
I teach piano for the joy of it. Otherwise, I am a semi-retired Geophysicist and Mom.
I specialize in kids and adult beginners in the Tahoe-Truckee-Reno area. I teach people to read notated music, but also to play from chord charts and tabs with emphasis on understanding the structure of music and how to fake it when necessary. I prefer to teach people pop, jazz and New Orleans style with only occasional classical pieces. My goal is to get everyone playing music A.S.A.P - preferably with other people. Personally, I play the accompaniment for Silent Movies - so I love music that is dramatic and fun. I am NOT the right teacher to get you through the classical piano pedagogy!
KIDS: I teach kids at my house. I prefer to take them two at a time for a full hour rather than single half-hour lessons. I often have siblings or best friends together. That way the kids have more fun, learn better rhythm - and Mom(s) can get a full hour off to do something useful. I include lots of science, math and writing along with the music. I also have a collection of brass instruments which we play for 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the lesson. The goal is to give kids, particularly charter school kids, a leg up in music so that they can join intermediate or high school bands. (Bands always need brass.)
ADULTS: I specialize in adult beginners or people getting back to music after a long hiatus. I can get you up and playing right away. I teach either out of my house or at your location.
SENIORS and DISABILITY: I really enjoy working with seniors or others who need a musical friend more than standard piano lessons. I'm happy to play and sing with a friend or relative who was musical in their past and can't do it now due to circumstance. Or to find a musical connection with someone who otherwise has trouble making connections. In this case, I travel to their location. This is an inexpensive way to enhance the lives of seniors who live alone, and I'm happy to report back to family.
POLICY #1: I am flexible with scheduling and have a user-friendly cancellation policy. If a kid is having a bad day, don't worry about it as long as you contact me an hour or so beforehand.
POLICY #2: Life is too short to practice music that doesn't excite you.