Piano Lessons With Leslie Johnson
About
Piano lessons are customized for the interests and goals of the student. I try to be innovative when coming up with solutions for problems when traditional methods don't work. I am pretty flexible in catering to student needs on all levels, whether a student just wants to learn for fun and casual enjoyment, or has goals that require a more serious approach. Also, from being a music historian in grad school at Florida State University, music history and theory anecdotes often find their way into the lessons. This helps educated the student about the style of music, what makes it work and why.
There is a lot to enjoy about teaching piano, on different levels. On a personal level, getting to share my craft with someone else who is interested, that is pretty cool. As a musician in general, having played several different instruments, the piano is perhaps one of the most complex, so to see the learning of this instrument from my own guidance is pretty amazing. This leads into my next point. As a teacher, showing somebody how to play the piano is a complex process, yet you have to figure out how to make it seem simple. There are so many dimensions to playing the piano, from learning how to read music, figuring out rhythm, understanding harmony, making melody sing, let alone just finding your way around the keyboard. Taking all of that, putting it together in a digestible and hopefully palatable package, and seeing the student process it and actually "get it" is so rewarding. I think those "a-ha" moments we have after struggling through new concepts and challenges are some of the best moments. Of course, just whipping through a piece of music like a boss is pretty cool too.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Before piano lessons start, I schedule time with the student and parent to assess what the student already knows about music, the student's interests, learning ability at that point, and then select a method book based on that, often with input from the student.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Musical Arts from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma WA. There my principal instrument was piano. My secondary instrument was bassoon, which I played in the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Wind Ensemble. I also started playing harpsichord at PLU. Later I completed a Master in Music, with an emphasis in HIstorical Musicology at the Florida State University in Tallahassee FL. There my principal instrument was harpsichord, which I played in the Baroque Ensemble. I also played various wind instruments and the viola da gamba in the Early Music Ensemble program. My formal education studies are done for now, but I keep a substantial music library at home and use the King County Library System and Pacific Lutheran University Library to further my own studies. In addition to teaching on weekends and weeknights, I also play piano and organ for a church in Black Diamond.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing depends on the length of the lesson and whether I travel to your residence or not. I also offer discounts for multi-student families and for students that take lessons more than once a week.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching piano lessons in college at PLU in Tacoma. I have been teaching off and on since then. I started taking lessons in early elementary school, and continued all the way through grad school at Florida State.
What types of students have you worked with?
I teach piano students of all ages, from the young child to the older adult. As I work full-time at a regular day-job, I keep a small studio. I currently teach at my home and at clients homes in southeast King County.