About Lessons
Step into a dynamic environment that levels up playing skills and ignites musical imaginations.
Gain the tools to grow into a confident pianist who plays and creates in most styles.
No one stays a student for long and quickly becomes a pianist!
Hi, Parents.
Developing skills to play the piano requires an expert teacher who walks alongside your child through a journey of discovery.
Tech-savvy tools
are used to reinforce concepts and to keep things fun.
In this journey, you and your future pianist will discover that…
1. Playing piano is a fun challenge
Learning how to play the piano is not easy; however, with small steps and visible progress, it can be fun! It’s a priority of mine to use innovative games, household tools and clever apps to engage students so they enjoy the journey and gain skills.
Ultimately, we both want the best for your child—your future pianist!
Although I will provide clear instructions and expect regular practice, it’s my intention that pianists arrive with excitement to learn rather than with anxiety over pleasing me or their parents.
With this mindset, both of YOU will enjoy this journey. :-)
2. Playing playing requires a partnership
Love it when
pianists reach this milestone
A younger pianist will need help from Mom or Dad to get to lessons on time, find the right books and decide on when to practice. Please know that I am here to partner with YOU so you can be the best piano parent you can be.
There may be some practice dry spells, plateaus in progress and even some fails along the way and that’s okay. I’m rooting for your pianist through the highs and lows and develop your pianist to grow and eventually become independent of you.
When you don’t have to drive your pianist to lessons anymore, you know you’ve done your job.
Piano lessons are a gift so be engaged with weekly lessons just enough so that your pianist is thrilled with the gift and wants to make piano a priority for life!
3. Playing piano takes practice
Signing up for piano lessons means signing up for a crash course in how to practice (read more here.) Every lesson will help your pianist become a strong practicer because practice is directly related to progress and progress leads to motivation. Think of it as a loop.
Falling into the “magical loop” of motivation requires:
Regular lesson attendance where practice is “practiced”
Well-defined practice strategies that are carried out at home
Consistent home practice
4. Playing piano takes music that appeals
Recitals
are held annually in May and December
Choosing music your pianist likes is another key factor to motivation, so choices in repertoire will be made primarily by the pianist and I’ll provide selections and guidance.
To keep things fresh, every six weeks a new theme pops up in the studio.
This past year pianists
learned about and played ragtime (think “The Entertainer!) music
prepared pieces to perform for two recitals, and the National Federation of Music Clubs local festival and more
designed their own arrangement of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Happy Birthday.”
5. Playing piano sparks curiosity and creativity
With 88 keys, it can be overwhelming to know which key to play first.
That’s why it’s good to play music that others compose.
With ample encouragement, it’s good to move away from the page to ignite curiosity and imagination at the keys.
That’s why pianists are regularly encouraged to improvise and compose. This guarantees that music will become a lifelong passion.
Check out Rylan’s videos below. Rylan started lessons with me in about 3rd grade. Both videos show him playing his original pieces. In May 2021, Rylan will graduate from high school.
It would be a privilege to walk alongside your child—your future pianist—on my piano bench,
Musically yours,
PS All lessons are held in my home studio in Centennial, Colorado
or
available worldwide on Zoom!