Sier Piano Studio
About
I have been teaching for more years than I like to count!! I have certifications through Music Teachers National Association, and through the Well-Prepared Pianist.
I teach all ages, from about 4 years old through adult. My students receive very broad training in technique and musicianship. I teach to the "four playing partners": the eyes, the ears, the hands and the mind. Each student needs a balance of technical training, theory work and pieces that they enjoy playing. That balance is different for each student and must take into account their age, their developmental level and their ability to focus.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance, and I am a Visiting Artist for the WSMTA Music Artistry Program (formerly known as Adjudications.) I have done Master Lessons throughout the Pacific Northwest, and I am very active in my local Snohomish County Music Teachers' Association, which is a chapter of WSMTA and the Music Teachers National Association. My students regularly win awards in Scholarship competitions and have played with the Everett Symphony and Everett Philharmonic as winners of out Concerto competition.
I love working with all the personalities that come into my studio. My greatest joy is finding the "right piece" for a student, one that will keep them coming back to the piano for extended periods, and one that will show off their personalities. I also love to watch students grow in their musicality and technical ability.
Highlights
Details
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?
With beginners, I immediately begin to lay foundations of ease at finding the keys on the piano, good habits of posture, and use of the hands and arms to create a beautiful tone. Note reading is introduced gradually and logically.
With transfer students, I look at their previous training, and try to give pieces and exercises which fill holes in their technique and musicianship while also giving pieces that challenge them.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from Pacific Lutheran University. I have ABT on a Master's Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I did further training in Piano Pedagogy (the study of teaching piano) with N. Jane Tan, and have been certified in her program, The Well-Prepared Pianist. I am also licensed to teach her program to other teachers.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My rates are based on $74.00 per hour. Students may take 30-minute(very young beginners), 45-minute and 60-minute lessons. I charge by the month.
How did you get started teaching?
I took over the class of a fellow student at my university who was graduating and leaving the area. I discovered that I really enjoyed working with youngsters.
What types of students have you worked with?
All types, and all ages. I have had students who play for jazz band at their schools, and I have had students who have gone on to major in Piano Performance at major music schools. Many of my students have won local Scholarship Competitions and Concerto Competitions
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I really enjoy preparing my students to perform in PianoTeams®: ensembles of 5 pianos. Each year we have two PianoTeams® concerts where we join with other teachers who have this as part of their programs. Performances of PianoTeams® may be viewed by going to sierpianostudio.com and clicking on Resources and following the links to youtube.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
If the child is young, I would ask the parent to consider the amount of time and effort it will take to supervise and help organize the practicing at home. Parents should also understand that the desire to play and practice often goes through ups and downs as the student matures and be prepared to "ride out" the "downs".
Older and more advanced students should have a strong "practice ethic". While many of my older students have other interests besides piano, and may not be planning for a career in music, they put a high priority on their practice time.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
If a student is interested in jazz or pop, parents and students should think about the fact that if a student knows how to read music and how to figure out a rhythm, that student can pick up a piece of sheet music and learn the piece on his or her own.
Parents should ask if a teacher has a plan for teaching technique, music reading, and theory/history, because these are the things that will make a student capable of independent music making after stopping lessons.