About
ATTENTION: If you are contacting me as a Direct Lead, please read the following.
~Consider the distance from your location to mine. My studio is located on Patterson Circle in West Hanover Township. Zip code 17112. Easy access from Colonial Park, Hummelstown, East Hanover, South Hanover, Derry Township. Despite what may come up on Lessons, I do NOT live in Lower Paxton. I am in the township next to it.
~If you do not have a piano, please contact me when you have one. Piano tuners are a good reference source for used pianos.
~My teaching days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Occasionally I will switch a student to Monday. No Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.
~Only serious inquiries, please.
My information:
I have been teaching piano for close to 40 years, from age 5 to adults over 70 years of age.
I have a B.S. degree in Music Education, piano major, from West Chester University and taught music in elementary grades K-6 at the beginning of my career.
My home studio has a Yamaha (U1) Studio Piano and a Yamaha Clavinova. Teaching in my studio grants access to a lot of materials used to enrich lessons, such as recordings and manipulatives.
I taught online lessons during COVID so I am familiar with that technology.
I enjoy teaching one on one. In some instances I have had the privilege of watching kindergarten students mature into high school seniors and it's an honor to assist in their musical accomplishments:
~Accompanying the school chorus
~Playing piano in jazz band
~Playing for their class or in a school talent show
~Playing on the worship team at their church, etc.
I belong to the Capital Area Chapter (CAC) of the PA Music Teachers Association, currently holding the office of treasurer. Our chapter offers our students the opportunity to participate in recitals, our March Music Festival, and our Piano Extravaganza at the Harrisburg Forum (held every 3 years, next one in April of 2025.) Listen to and watch a couple of recordings posted on this website. This is a unique experience not many teachers can offer.
The Capital Are Chapter also offers 3 scholarships to talented students.
~The College Merit Scholarship offers $1500 a year for four years to students who go on to major in music.
~The Summer Music Camp Scholarship offers monetary assistance to students wishing to attend a camp as the title implies. It’s not only for piano.
~The Lesson Assistance Scholarship offers monetary assistance to extend lesson time for talented students or to assist when a family is experiencing financial difficulties.
My goal for my students is to give them an appreciation for a variety of musical styles and to give them the tools to enable them to pick up a new piece of music and play it; in other words, I want my students to become good sight readers.
I also love teaching adults, from true beginners up to the adults who regret having given up lessons when they were kids.
Sharing the joy of music with people and watching the progress they make is an honor.
Someone once said, "Long after the toys of childhood are gone, the gift of music remains." It's one of the best gifts I can help parents give their children.
Highlights
Payment methods
Specialties
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Student has instrument
Interested musical styles
Photos and videos
Reviews
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Wendy B.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
New students and their parent(s) will meet me at my studio to see where lessons take place and become familiar with the surroundings. If the student has had prior lessons, I will ask the student to play their favorite piece so I can evaluate where they are musically.
I will ask questions regarding how the student does in school, which subjects they like (recess is not an acceptable answer! You will find I have a great sense of humor!).
Can the student read? If in Kindergarten, a parent will have to help with writing assignments.
If the child is a 5 year old beginner, I request that a parent sit in on the lesson so he/she knows what the student is expected to do for the week.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a B.S. degree in Music Education with a major in piano and have taught music in grades K-6. I have been teaching piano privately for over 30 years and have experienced a variety of abilities in my students. I adapt my teaching toward the individual student since no two students are alike.
I belong to the Capital Area Chapter of PMTA which furthers the education of its members. You can research our Chapter with my name.Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Tuition is $20 per lesson, most months are $80 with some months having 5 weeks, $100. Payment is due at the first lesson of the month. I will reschedule a lesson if given enough notice. I am flexible up to a point, but I expect parents and students to respect my time.
How did you get started teaching?
I fell in love with the piano at age 5 and after 12 years of lessons decided to major in music. I received a B.S. degree in music education and taught elementary music in the Central Dauphin School District. I eventually decided to teach privately and started doing so in 1984.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with 5 year olds up to over 70 year olds who "always wanted to learn the piano." The piano is an excellent brain exercise for senior citizens.
I have had students with ADHD and emotional problems. I have never had anyone with an extreme learning disability.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I belong to a local music organization, the Capital Area Chapter of the PA Music Teachers Association (CAC of PMTA). CAC holds a Piano Extravaganza every 3 years at the Harrisburg Forum which is a beautiful concert hall and home to the Harrisburg Symphony.
This is a concert with 16 pianos on the stage with 2 students and/or combination of student and parent/teacher at each piano under the direction of Dr. Johannes Dietrich of Lebanon Valley College. We play duet and quartet music. We select music that is recognizable to the audience, ranging in difficulty from elementary to advanced. It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun for the teachers as well as the students!
The one in April of 2022 was held in a different venue because of COVID and construction at the Forum. We will return to the Forum in April of 2025.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for a teacher who matches your objectives. If you have already been taking lessons for a number of years and want to have a career in music, then look for a teacher who only accepts advanced students and has a track record of sending high school graduates off to college as Music Majors.
I have had several of my students major in music but not necessarily go on for piano as their principal instrument. One went on to major in Viola and now is first chair violist and assistant conductor in a New York Broadway show. Another went on to major in Bass and is now the principal Bassist with the Harrisburg Symphony. Both young men are grateful to have a strong piano background.
If you are a beginner and your goal is to make playing the piano a part of your life, then look for a teacher who has experience with different age levels. Most teachers will interview a new student to see if the student and teacher are a good match.
Make sure the piano is the principal instrument of the teacher's expertise. There are too many teachers who excel in one area and teach piano as an "extra". There are also a lot of people who think they can "teach" the piano just because they can play it.
Note to students: Teachers are not miracle workers. YOU have to put in the practice time to get the most out of your lessons!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Do I have enough time to practice at least 4 out of 7 days a week?
Young students should devote 20 minutes a day. This time can be divided. As students progress they will need to add more time. As in other activities, the student will reap the rewards of consistent practice.
Will I go to a lesson even if I feel unprepared?
Skipping a lesson is unfair to both the student and the teacher. Obviously the teacher depends on the student's participation for income. The student is set back another week because if practice has not occured, the student most likely won't remember what was covered at the last lesson.
Am I willing to listen to the teacher to achieve my goal?
The teacher is hired as the expert. Following the teacher's advice will get a student a lot further than not.
Do I have a reasonable goal?
Don't expect to be playing the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata in 6 months. I have students who want to make giant leaps before they are ready. Slow and steady wins the race!
Am I willing to make my lesson time a priority in my schedule?
Well, are you??