I Commit to:

Give each student my undivided, one-on-one attention and care.                                                                                      

I express genuine interest in who my students are as individuals by inviting them to converse and share about themselves during lessons.

I invite parents to share important information with me as well - did your child have a particularly bad day at school or get really great news this week?  I always want to be sensitive to what may be going on in a student's life that may affect their mood or attention in lessons.

Prepare and teach a carefully crafted, individualized weekly lesson.                                                                             

This is not a one-size-fits-all studio. Lessons are customized to fit each student's age, ability, time, personality, interests, and personal goals.  

Provide a well-rounded musical education.                                                                                                         

Lessons are designed to teach fluency in music as a language through listening, performing, reading, writing and conversing (playing with others.)                                                                                                                                                                       

I perform musical excerpts for my students to model proper technique and artistry, lead them in ear-training games and exercises, and will occasionally lend students recordings of important musical literature for them to listen to at home during the week.                         

I encourage students to explore sound at the piano through free and guided improvisational activities, and playing tunes by ear.   

I teach students to read traditional music notation, and to write music through theory and composition exercises.                              

I help students strengthen their memory and critical listening skills by teaching them to play some pieces without the musical score.  

I introduce students to a variety of musical forms, styles and genres.                                                                                                  

I teach students to play solo and to play together with me accompanying them or with other students in duets and trios.                

I introduce students to famous composers and their works through listening to and performing standard repertoire.                        

I emphasize excellent technique to help students coax the most beautiful sounds possible from the piano and to facilitate the performance of advanced piano literature.                                                                                                                                            

I provide opportunities to practice performance and audience etiquette through participation in two recitals per year - one informal Halloween recital, and one formal end-of-year recital in the Spring.                                                                                

My membership to professional music organizations allows students the oppotunity to complete theory and performance exams and to participate in local contests and festivals to earn certificates, pins, ribbons, awards, and accumulate points toward trophies and scholarships.