Anne Vollink Studio

Anne Vollink Studio

4.9Exceptional(12 reviews)

About

My mission as a piano instructor is to infuse my love of music and my passion for piano into my students. I am very careful in my technical approach, but I also am realistic about the various goals of my students. I work with children and adults, beginner, intermediate, and advanced students, and teach classical, jazz, theory, composition, improvisation, memorization techniques, and playing by ear. For the students who are interested, structural and harmonic analysis of their pieces are provided, and creative ways to understand musical structures are employed. This facilitates comprehension and faster learning. My students would describe me as patient, kind, thorough, and creative. My students are motivated using positive reinforcement, the setting of realistic goals, and the specific means to achieve them. Students are given a carefully written weekly plan, and weekly interface with parents occurs, to clarify goals. For the younger students, this is often the first time there has been an expectation of them to commit. Many of my students have stayed with me over five years. Students who desire can participate in recitals.


Highlights

Hired 1 time
Serves Sugar Land , TX

Details

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

Under 5 years old, 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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UY

Umut Y.

Amazing experience. Very enthusiastic about her work and has the skills and vision to teach you music theory and much more no matter what you plan to do with your musical knowledge.
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March 20, 2018

PL

Pam L.

She was very knowledgeable and passionate about music and wanted to pass that love on. My problem was that I didnt have the time nor energy to practice as much as it requires. I heard several of her younger students who were absolutely amazing though and she was so proud of them!
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March 05, 2018

QD

Quynh D.

Mrs. Anne Vollink is a wonderful teacher. My children have benefited immensely. They have not only grown in musical skill but more importantly in their enjoyment and appreciation of music and art. Mrs. Anne Vollink takes her time with the students, showing her commitment and caring for her students to learn and develop.
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February 27, 2018

SR

Samantha R.

Anne is the essence of a true teacher and mentor. Speaking as a current piano instructor with a music education background myself, I could not have found a better match. She is very well-versed in classical piano as well as jazz and improvisation. There is a richness and depth to her teaching that allows one to understand complex theoretical constructs in music at a collegiate level without it feeling dry or overwhelming. Rather, she is playful, expressive, patient, and creates new ways for one to grow as a pianist. She invests in you as an artist and as a person, nurturing the soul in a way that brings excitement and a yearning for more. Music has been my passion for many years, and it has been hard to find a piano teacher that brings music to life. Anne is IT!!
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February 26, 2018

AD

Ada D.

As one of Professor Vollink advanced students (I already hold a Music and Education degree but I am also a life-long learner who wants to further master her trade), I have found a new motivation through Annes teachings. She is dedicated, knowledgeable, inspiring, and a great artist. I find impressive her talent for finding easy ways to solve difficult technical challenges as well as I find wonderful her communication skills. All that, united to her sensibility and warm personality make her classes a delight! You dont just learn piano.I feel very appreciative of her guidance and hope many people can take the opportunity of learning from her.
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February 23, 2018

CR

Cary R.

Ann is remarkable! She’s extraordinarily attentive to the specific learning style of each student, and finds ingenious methods of overcoming learning barriers as well as teaching subtle techniques that result in a rich pallet of tonal possibilities. Music becomes more than just an auditory experience, it is deeply emotional and physical. It has been nearly eight years since I studied with Ann, but I find myself using the techniques she taught me everytime I begin practicing a piece, and especially when putting a piece in final form to play for a recital.
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February 14, 2018

Frequently asked questions

The student and I discuss the objective of piano study. Is this for fun? Do they wish to perform? Do they have an audition coming up? Are they going to major in music in college? Do they want to learn music theory? Do they want to compose? Do they like classical music, or jazz, or worship music? Have they had prior experience? If so, what was it? How old is the student? Does the student have special gifts and/or challenges? Does the home environment support the process of learning piano? Once objectives are established, means and methods can be established. All students are given precise instruction (written, oral, demonstration, and some video.) The pacing is contingent upon precisely observed weekly progress.

Please see extensive bio.

My students enroll by the semester. I commit fully to them, and it must be reciprocal. Lessons are priced approximately as follows:

$35/30 minutes

$50/45 minutes

$70/60 minutes

The love of sharing knowledge emerged while I was very young. l started tutoring reading to special children when I was in grade school! I was hired by a local studio when I was 16 years old to teach piano, and since that time, my love of education, music, art, and people has caused me to center much of my work around it.

I have worked with extremely serious and competitive, highly talented students as well as children with special physical and/or psychological needs. Most of my students are children whose wise parents recognize the value of music education to the life of a child, as multiple studies demonstrate there is great value in music education.  Studies demonstrate that learning a musical instrument increases intelligence, social confidence, abstract reasoning, discipline, concentration, and college readiness.  Many of the children who are my students are not going to become professional musicians, but will study and play piano as part of a well rounded education.  My students range from very young (around age 5) to past retirement age. My studio is an international place, with people from many countries coming to me. 

The students went to the M. D. Anderson Rotary House for an annual recital. They enjoyed playing beautiful music for their family and friends, as well as the cancer patients and their families passing by. Also, last year, we had a fabulous Holiday Baking Extravaganza at my house, and we baked over 300 cupcakes for students, families, our police, the fire department, and a church. It was great fun and a great mess was made by all.

After the student establishes that the teacher can help fulfill their mission to learn piano, (is the teacher skilled, committed, educated, experienced, cordial, reliable...?) then they should trust their natural instincts about the teacher, and throw themselve into the process with joy.

Do I want to learn piano enough to spend time 5 days out of 7 pursuing this? Do I have a serviceable and tuned piano, or fully weighted 88 keyboard with pedal jack and touch sensitivity? Is the teacher within a reasonable drive? (In the Houston Metroplex, this is a determining factor.) Is the studio happy, clean, safe, and well equipped? Is the studio acoustically private? Will I listen to a million other people playing and not be able to concentrate? Is the teacher focused? Does he or she have a plan and enough experience to help me reach my goals? Can I afford the tuition? Will I attend as scheduled? Can I grow with this teacher?


Services offered

Piano
Music Theory