About
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit more about me, my teaching experience, and my studio. If you would like to know more, go to my website and reach out there. www.narcisosolero.com
"People enjoy doing things they do well." This very simple statement provides the cornerstone for my teaching philosophy and mission as a teacher: no matter what your personal goals or desires for you or your child may be in learning piano, I want to provide you with the tools and means to achieve those goals. People want to play piano for many different reasons; there as many different goals and dreams as there are piano students. Some learn to play piano for their own personal enjoyment and enrichment, aspiring only to play in the privacy of their own living room for personal fulfillment; others may want to become accomplished, professional performers with music careers -- or even simply be able to play at that high level, but still play mostly for their own enrichment. Others may wish to be able to play for family and friends. But for each individual along this continuum -- from those whose perfomance venue is their living room to those who want to perform in great concert halls -- I believe what I offer in this context is rather unique: I train and equip each of my students to have the SOUND and style of the great pianists -- even in absolute beginners playing simple pieces. For the student who wants to learn for his or her own enjoyment and may have limited practice time, I offer the tools to play with artistry and beauty so that you receive the most enjoyment possible from your playing. My mission as a teacher is to teach every student to SOUND like a concert artist: to give each one the necessary technical skills and concepts of artistry so that every student demonstrates the beatuy of tone that is the hallmark of great pianists -- even as beginners! This truly produces joy in playing and provides a lifetime of satisfaction; as I first noted, "people enjoy doing what they do well." :-)
I love helping students -- kids and adults --to develop their own personal sound, to discover and nurture a love of great piano music, and to help them find creative and emotional fulfillment in their own playing. I have over 35 years experience teaching students of all skill levels, ranging from pre-school absolute beginners to students wanting to pursue careers as concert pianists and professional pianists wishing to hone their skills and artistry even more.
To learn more about me, please click on the Q and A tab on this page, and please take a look at my detailed teaching philosophy and professional bio:
www.pianoteachers.com/narcisosolero
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I schedule a time to meet personally with each prospective student before setting up lessons. At this meeting, we discuss the student's goals for playing and what she or he wants to accomplish in studying piano. An audition is required for those prospective students who already play or have taken lessons. With the audition, I assess the level of the student and offer encouraging and constructive critique about what I observe in their playing that I will focus on when lessons begin.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I first started teaching when I was in high school, when several friends of mine approached me and asked me to teach them to play. I really loved teaching them, and I continued teaching privately as a college piano major. Since those first lessons I taught in high school over 35 years ago, I have continued teaching privately and have also taught piano at college level and have worked with all levels and abilities. I received my Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) and my Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomimgton, IN). I also pursued doctoral studies in Piano Performance at Indiana University as well.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Each student who enrolls pays a regular set monthly fee, which covers 40 lessons scheduled over a 12-month period and includes 34 regularly scheduled lessons during the academic year (September to June) plus 6 flexibly scheduled lessons in the summer. Tuition payments also provide other services and opportunity for students, including weekend theory classes scheduled biweekly (approximately) in the fall and winter and participation in four studio recitals scheduled throughout the year.
Although students enroll for a 12-month period, no student is contractually bound to continue for the entire registration year should she or he wish to stop lessons. All students have the option to discontinue lessons with 30-day notice.
Different lesson lengths are offered; exact monthly payment is determined by the lesson length.
How did you get started teaching?
As I stated elsewhere, I began teaching in high school by teaching friends and loved it so much I have taught ever since! The more I taught and the more experience I gained teaching, the deeper my love and passion for teaching grew. I love music, and I love sharing that love with my students!!
What types of students have you worked with?
I work with students of all ages and abilities. I have worked with 4 year-old beginners and I have worked with beginners over 60. The majority of my students are school-age children. Current studio enrollment includes not only students ages 6 to 17, but also includes a college-age student, an adult beginner, and an adult who is an elementary school music teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. I teach beginners, those who want to learn for enjoyment, and I also teach aspiring concert artists. I have taught many students who have gone on to become music majors in college and have many students currently who are striving to achieve a high-level of accomplishment and artistry.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Every lesson I teach! I am an active "teacher's teacher" as well; I have been invited to present teaching workshops to many piano teacher associations and organizations in Northern Virginia and throughout Virginia. One of the organizations, Roanoke Valley Music Teachers Association, invited me to speak for three consecutive years -- in 2014, 2015, and again in 2016. The current President of the organization described my teaching this way: "Narciso is someone who cares about his students, someone who inspires them to be their best, and someone who makes teaching an event..." So for me, a recent event of which I am fond would be the last lesson I taught. Every lesson I taught, for that matter, and every student performance where my students excel.
I am a recent cancer survivor (Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- in remission as of January 2017); as such, I am finding a deep, passionate, and renewed appreciation for life, a deeper love of music and my students, and a newfound joy in the mundane, ordinary daily things we do each day that we often take for granted. Living through cancer and trying to thrive while doing so and successfully coming through to the other side (from patient to survivor), I now find each day -- every day -- an event: life is precious, every day should be lived fully, every moment savored. Every day should be an event!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
When you meet with a prospective teacher, think about what you want to learn and accomplish while studying piano! There is not a right or wrong answer, but some teachers gel better with students than others depending on what the student wants from lessons and what the teacher has to offer. Letting the teacher know what you hope to learn and what you hope to achieve through study will make your time learning more productive as a teacher will work with you toward your goals.