About
What's the driving force behind multi-level group piano lessons at the Lancaster Contemporary School of Music?
It's all about making connections through collaborative music making!
Making music together MOTIVATES and ACCELERATES LEARNING.
LCSM provides a space for budding musicians to develop skills and connect with others who share a passion for music and playing the piano.
Discover the EXCITEMENT and CAMARADERIE of group lessons at LCSM!
Here's the back story:
As a young child, Janet, the youngest of four, enjoyed singing and making music at home, and in church. At the age of 7, Janet taught herself how to play her sister’s flute and joined the school band. A year later, Janet began classical piano study with a neighbor down the street. Each week, Janet would walk to her piano lesson with $4.00 cash, given by her parents, to pay the piano teacher for her piano lesson.
Janet continued playing flute, piccolo, and percussion in the school band, singing in the church and school chorus, and playing keys in the 20 piece school jazz bands. She also started a small jazz combo to perform at her high school graduation, and continued her classical piano study while making waves in the pool as a medalist in State Swimming Championships all four years of high school. Janet was selected to be a vocalist in All-State Chorus, and toured Europe as a vocalist with American Music Abroad.
At the collegiate level, Janet studied piano, voice and percussion, while earning her undergraduate degree in music education at West Chester University. .
While at WCU, Janet taught piano at the WCU community music school, and taught percussion at summer music camps in Delaware and Virginia. After graduating from WCU with concentrations in piano, voice, and percussion, Janet followed her military spouse to NJ and VA, where Janet maintained a private piano studio while teaching vocal and instrumental music in public school settings.
Janet’s piano teachers include Cindy Emory, Linda Downes, and WCU piano professors Dr. Robert Schick, and Dr. Robert Pandening. Janet studied flute with Walter Shuirman and L. Jerome Rehberg, vocal study with Pat Downes and Dr. Lois Alt, and percussion study with Joe Goebel.
Janet's varied music ensemble experiences inspired her to promote collaborative music making in her teaching studio as it promotes accelerated learning and increased motivation.
Many of Janet’s piano students graduate from her teaching studio and continue playing piano for self enjoyment, while others have earned piano performance and music education degrees from Temple University and West Chester University, and work professionally as Freelance and Collaborative Pianists, Public School Music Educators, and Church Organists in Southern California and South Central, PA.
While maintaining a vibrant piano studio in New Holland, PA, Janet volunteers as a church musician, and is a supply percussionist and pianist for the New Holland Band, Lancaster County , PA.
Janet currently serves as the President of Lancaster Music Teachers Association (2020-present) and is a member of PMTA and MTNA professional music teaching organizations.
Specialties
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Student has instrument
Interested musical styles
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Piano lessons REDEFINED at the Lancaster Contemporary School of Music provides a space for budding musicians to develop skills and connect with others who share a love of playing the piano.
For a musical experience your child will love, we make music together.
The best way to be engaged in any activity is to share it with others! Within a group, students experience:
accelerated learning
peer motivation
teamwork
joy in making music together
greater opportunity for creativity
Beginner - Early Intermediate level students meet in a group once a week.
Intermediate - Advanced level students meet individually once a week, and meet in a group once a month.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania B.S. Music Education, Piano Major, Voice Major, Percussion Minor
Musikgarten training and certification
Continuing Education through various professional music educator orgainizations: Music Teachers National Association, Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Lancaster Music Teachers Association, The Inner Circle, TopMusicPro, Vibrant Music Teaching, Ultimate Music Theory.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
New Student Registration Fee: $75
Weekly Group Lessons (Beginner-Intermediate): $135/month
Weekly Private Lessons (45 min.) with Monthly Group Lessons (60 min.) INTERMEDIATE Level: $165/month
Weekly Private Lessons (60 min.) with Monthly Group Lessons (60 min.) ADVANCED Level: $199/month
How did you get started teaching?
Janet, the youngest of four children, grew up in a musical family, and enjoyed singing and making music at home, and in the children's and youth choirs at church. Every member of her family learned to play at least one instrument, and at the age of 7, Janet wanted to play the flute like her big sister, so she taught herself how to play! How exciting it was when the school band director made an exception to allow her to join the school band early! Janet wouldn't have to wait until 4th grade to join the school band! Janet continued playing flute in elementary, middle school, and high school bands, and while earning her undergraduate degree at West Chester University.
At the age of 8, Janet started piano lessons with the lady who lived down the street. Each week, Janet would walk to her piano lesson with $4.00 cash, given by her mother, to pay the piano teacher. As she continued in piano study, Janet enjoyed singing in church choirs and school choruses, and playing keys in the middle school and high school jazz bands. Janet also played percussion in the high school marching and symphonic bands, and played keys in a jazz combo her senior year in high school. Janet had the honor of participating in the Delaware All-State Sr. Chorus, and toured Europe as a high school vocalist with American Music Abroad.
While earning her Bachelor of Science in Music Education at West Chester University, Janet began teaching piano lessons at the community music school, and instructed high school drumlines in Delaware and Virginia. After receiving her undergraduate degree from WCU, Janet maintained a private teaching studio while working full time as an Elementary Classroom Music Teacher, and part time High School Drumline Instructor in DE public schools. Janet soon married her college classmate, Richard, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force Band as Percussionist and Keyboardist. While stationed at McGuire AFB, NJ, and Langley AFB, VA, Janet taught all areas of music education in the public schools, including Elementary Classroom and Vocal Music, Middle School Band, High school Vocal/Choral Music, Percussion and Drumlines, and private piano and voice lessons.
Janet's many expereriences and favorite memories of making music with family, friends, and students, has inspired her to promote collaborative music making in her teaching studio, which has had a positive and far-reaching effect on each and every one of her students.
While maintaining a vibrant piano studio in New Holland, PA, Janet volunteers as a church musician, is a supply percussionist and supply pianist for the New Holland Band (the second oldest municipal band in the nation), is a member of MTNA, PMTA, and LMTA, and currently serves as President of the Lancaster Music Teachers Association.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students of all ages and abilities, from birth through adult, beginner through advanced, recreational players, and music career focused students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Four of my high school students were featured at the Lancaster Music Teachers Association Monster Concert 2017, performing Albert Lavignac's 'Galop-Marche' for 1 piano, 8 hands. These super fun-loving students enjoyed collaborating at the piano together for all four of their high school years, and called themselves "Fitz's Fab Four". What a treat it was to work with this special group of young, dedicated musicians!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
1. Students can thrive when they are paired with the right teacher. Take time to consider the teacher's philosophy and the studio atmosphere to ensure a good fit with your family.
2. Music is supposed to sound good! In order to make progress, students need a quality instrument on which to practice at home. If you need an instrument, contact your teacher so they can assist you in choosing an instrument that will best suit your needs.
3. Students need support from family, and must be able to practice regularly in an atmosphere free from distractions like TV and media. Be sure to provide your child with practice time and space that is free of distractions.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Are you/your child willing to add regular practice to your schedule? Much like learning to speak a language, it takes consistent practice to learn the language of music and the skills needed to play an instrument well. There are no shortcuts. The more time spent making music, the faster progress can be made. Be sure the student understands this and is ready and willing to put in the time necessary to make progress.
Are you, as parent, ready to be your child's cheerleader? You are your child's main source of support through this journey of learning to play an instrument. Be sure you are ready to make time in your family's schedule not only for weekly lessons, but for regular, consistent, distraction free music making at home.