Piano Lessons With A Professional Musician

Piano Lessons With A Professional Musician

5.0Exceptional(7 reviews)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

I offer in-studio lessons and virtual lessons. Virtual lessons are being offered to students 15 and older.

I began playing piano by ear at the age of 3 1/2, listening to The Beatles, Broadway musicals, and other popular songs of the 60's, playing what I heard. By the time I was 15 and started taking piano lessons, my ear was so well trained that my teacher started me with "Fur Elise" by Beethoven, which I had begun teaching myself from hearing it on a movie soundtrack. I had been playing flute for 7 years at that time, and knew the basics of reading music, but had never played written piano music before. My piano instructor graciously allowed me to tackle a piece by one of the Masters right out of the starting gate! After 2 years of Classical lessons, I enrolled as a Music Education major at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where I took jazz piano, voice, ear training, arranging, theory classes, and pop songwriting classes, along with playing piano and singing in many varied ensembles. Through the years following my education at Berklee, I have played in a number of bands, cut a CD which got quite a bit of Northeast regional airplay, taught general music in an elementary school, and have been teaching piano privately, which is what I love most to do. I invite you to allow me to share my over 50 years of learning and playing experience with you or your child.

Teaching has always been my passion, whether my student is 4, 40, or 74. Seeing the joy in a student's face after they have worked on a technique, a small or major piece, or a theoretical concept and mastered it is extremely rewarding. I most enjoy imparting my love of playing, learning, and performing.


Highlights

Hired 16 times
27 years in business
Serves Troy , NY
Offers online services

Payment methods

Cash, Check, Venmo, Zelle

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

Reviews

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AW

Arlene W.

Cant wait to get started for lessons. Will polish previous pieces, learn some contemporary classical ones, learn chords so I can play and sing all kinds of works, composition/theory work. So thankful to have all of this in one teacher.
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June 05, 2021
Hired on Lessons

GM

Greg M.

Great customer service!
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December 31, 2019
Hired on Lessons

AK

Alanah K.

Mary Ann is true musician and, most importantly, a teacher. She is always honest and firm when she needs to be. She is flexible with competing activities and is infinitely patient. If it weren’t for her, my kids would have given up years ago.
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April 11, 2018

JM

Jing M.

My boys have been learning piano with Mrs Barker for 6 months. Mrs. Barker is very patient with them and they have made great progress. I have not heard them complaining about piano lesson and practises which I think it says a lot
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April 09, 2018

CC

Christy C.

My son has been having a wonderful experience working with Mary Ann. He continues to develop challenging technical skills as well as a strong appreciation of music. Mary Ann is always patient and provides clear and useful instruction to her students. She is also available for any questions in between lessons. My son continues to enjoy learning/playing the piano with Mary Ann as his teacher. We would recommend her to anyone interested in learning how to play.
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April 06, 2018

JC

Jenny C.

She is always patient and always trying to get her students to use he or shes full potential
... Show more
April 05, 2018

Frequently asked questions

The most important thing to know before starting is: What does the student want to learn most? Is it pop music? Classical? Jazz? Learning to read staff music or chord symbols?  Interested in learning theory in depth? Ear Training? Maybe a little of everything?  Having a "Meet and Greet" with the student (and parent, if 17 years old or younger) before the first lesson gives the student time to express their desires, needs, and expectations, and gives me time to listen and prepare, and to establish an open, communicative relationship that makes its way into each and every lesson.

I was educated in Classical piano by Marie Antos who was a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary.

I was educated in jazz piano by Craig Najar at Berklee College of Music.

I am self-taught in the areas of popular and rock music.

I charge a flat fee of $140 per month for students taking one 30 minute lesson per week; $210 per month for students taking one 45 minute lesson per month, and $280 per month for students taking one 60 minute lesson per week.

A friend asked me to teach his daughter how to play. I had two small children and was not working, so I began teaching her.  After a while, people started asking me to teach them and word of mouth grew my studio.

Ages 4 through 71; beginners and intermediates; Classical, jazz, pop, rock; those who want to learn to read staff music only and those who want to learn to read chord symbols only or a mixture of both. Some want ear training, indepth theory, but whatever they want is what they get.

A 70 year old student's first lesson.  Her mother was a concert pianist, and had given my student lessons as a child, but it was a difficult situation and the student didn't continue. At the end of our first lesson, she was able to play a very simple song.  Upon completing the song, she looked up to Heaven, called out, "Momma", and began to cry. It was the most touching moment of my career.

Ask questions, lots of them.  I appreciate having a conversation before someone hires me. I want them to be sure that I will provide all that they are looking for, that they will not be disappointed, and that they can be assured of having a relationship with me that goes beyond the keyboard.

- What is the reason you are taking piano lessons?

- What are you hoping to learn by taking piano lessons?

- What genre(s) of music do you most want to be able to play?

- What kind of time commitment am I looking at to meet my goals?


Services offered

Piano