About
Kathy Crosby is an award winning singer-songwriter and entertainer who has a long history of teaching piano, directing choirs, leading workshops and slow jams, assisting developing songwriters, etc. She is also a GrammyU Mentor through the Recording Academy and the current president of the Oregon Festival and Event Association.
In short—she loves to bring the gift of music to others.
Kathy specializes in beginning piano students, and only teaches live lessons. These take place at the historic Phoenix House located not far from North Salem High School. Students are separated by half hour intervals to allow lessons to come to a natural conclusion.
Call today for more information and to see if this is a good fit for your needs!
503-936-8480
Sharing the gift of music has been a lifelong passion. Along with my husband and music partner, Tim Crosby, I have for decades been teaching individually, leading workshops, mentoring, performing, and simply having fun watching people discover their musical talents.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Getting to know your student is paramont. How do they learn? How long is their attention span? I am big on theory, but it needs to be fun (scale races anyone?). Lessons are a mixture of theory, ear work, book work, and general chatting about questions and whatever comes up.
My practice encouragement is first and foremost to NEVER close the lid on your piano. Walk by and play for 3-5 minutes at a time, and all of a sudden you've practiced for a half an hour! (and often that five minutes will turn into a half hour before your know it)
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been a professional musician since I was the church organist when I was in the third grade, and they paid me $5 per week.
I am an award winning singer-songwriter and performer. For decades I have taught individual lessons, group workshops, performed individual mentoring, and generally shared the gift of music with others at every opportunity along with my husband and music partner, Tim Crosby.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $40 for a half hour lesson payable either in cash or via paypal at https://Paypal.me/phoenixduo
How did you get started teaching?
I worked in a music store several decades ago where a huge part of what we did was assist people with their questions about how to get over hurdles in their learning process.
That morphed into teaching piano and guitar from home once my daughter started school. Over the years I have also taught songwriting, harmony workshops, slow jams, etc.
Now I am focusing mostly on piano. My husband focuses on the string instruments. We also take special requests for workshops and groups.
What types of students have you worked with?
I prefer the younger set, but have students of all ages.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Christmas is ALWAYS a favorite. Students seem to always stretch a bit ahead of themselves in order to be able to play their favorite tunes, which of course moves them further along in their musical journey. Seeing the delight on their faces when they master "Jingle Bells" or their favorite church hymn of the season is priceless!
We have also had the honor of doing a "take over" at the Marion County Fair for the past few years. The final day of the fair (Family Day) our students hit the main stage to show off their favorite songs. They get a full sound system, the experience of performing on a large stage, and a whole lot of support not only from the professional staff but from the general public. It's always an incredible day for everyone involved.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Be specific with what your expectations are if you have any. Some people LOVE the Suzuki method. If that's what you are looking for, request it up front. It will save you a lot of time and effort.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Will lessons be live or virtual? (If live, what protections do you provide and what will the student be responsible for).
Will the teacher have the book(s) when the student arrives or is the student responsible for purchasing them? If so, what are the titles of the books and where is the best place to purchase them?
How often will the lessons be?
How does the teacher prefer to be paid?
Where will the lessons be held and where should you park.
If you have allergies be sure to ask the teacher if they have pets!