Teaching Approach
I am passionate about teaching! My goal is to create an inspiring and positive learning environment for you, to coach you and help you realize how much you are capable of accomplishing. In my pedagogical approach to teaching piano, I:
I am passionate about teaching! My goal is to create an inspiring and positive learning environment for you, to coach you and help you realize how much you are capable of accomplishing. In my pedagogical approach to teaching piano, I:
- tailor my teaching to the individual
- build my student's fluency of note reading by recognition of intervals and patterns, while giving them a solid technique and the ability to perform with confidence.
- motivate students by selecting repertoire they are enthusiastic about.
- make sure my students fully understand good practice techniques so they can learn pieces quickly.
- believe students have the capacity to play with confidence if they are diligent and consistent in piano practice between lessons.
- focus on developing my students’ listening skills, vital to determining their tone production.
- encourage performing. Recitals are celebrations! The more often the student performs, the easier it becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
My studio is in Southwest Portland.
What are the most important skills you seek to develop in a piano student?
My goal is to equip piano students to reach a level of proficiency to play the pieces they love. I give them the ultimate independence to study music on their own. To reach these objectives, I focus on building and reinforcing these important skills:
- Development of a strong technique with relaxed arms and wrists
- Fluency of note reading
- Recognition of patterns in the music
- Solid understanding of rhythmic notation and strong sense of pulse.
What do you do to create a comfortable learning environment in your studio?
The outline for study is tailored to the individual capability of the student. I have learned the importance of pacing the learning process so it is enjoyable and not overwhelming.
How is the piano lesson structured?
My goal is for the student to walk out of their lesson with a clear idea of how to practice at home to get the best results out of their practicing. I feel consistency in practicing is important for progress. The student and I explore the music thoroughly, identifying melodic and chordal patterns, and form. I write fingering and articulation into the music. During the lesson I demonstrate specific ways of practicing repertoire and technique at the piano with spelled-out instructions.
We also study the music away from the piano, exploring interpretive detail, phrasing and articulation. We discuss interpretation based on the style and form of the piece. I also employ the unique TaKeTiNa method to build and reinforce rhythm skills. This method solidifies poly-rhythms, simultaneously using voice, patterned foot stepping, and small percussion instruments.
How do you teach piano technique?
Piano technique can be enjoyable if it is relaxing, varied, and creative. Students are motivated to play with ease and control. At every lesson, I observe and teach the student to watch for any accumulated tension in the wrists and forearms. They learn to associate full range of motion from the upper arm to produce a beautiful sound.
I tell my student that “slower makes faster” and assign scales and arpeggios at slow and gradually increasing tempos. Slow practice enables a piano student to relax their muscles and pay attention to their hand and arm motions. They learn the importance of flexibility to play with ease.
I select passages from the piano literature to develop hand and finger independence. I also include variants of Hanon exercises, including transposition, traveling up and down the keyboard with octave leaps and rhythmic variants. The students enjoy using the full range of the keyboard.
I haven’t studied piano for several years and am concerned about my ability to resume playing. Do you teach adults?
Teaching adults students and piano teachers has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Those with concerns about playing the piano after a hiatus of many years are pleasantly surprised as their ability to play exceeds their initial expectations!
What techniques do you employ for the transfer student who is at an advanced level?
The transfer student should acquire a firm foundation and identify any areas that need reinforcement, clearing the way for more advanced work. I may:
- help the student find melodic and chordal patterns in the music so they are easily recognizable
- mark fingering in the music to insure consistency in practicing
- explain the form of the repertoire
- demonstrate specific ways of practicing repertoire and technique
- focus on technically challenging sections of the piece with detailed instructions
- explore different articulation in the hands to delineate simultaneous, independent melodic lines
- offer rhythm exercises away from the piano using movement and, small percussion instruments
- propose exercises for playing short sections by feel with the eyes closed
- have the student study the score away from the piano, with attention to interpretive details
- give memorization exercises including silent practice. For example, the student plays odd numbered measures on the piano, alternating with silent practice on even numbered measures, and vice versa.
- focus on interpretive detail, phrasing and articulation
- have the student practice designated sections with the eyes closed to develop tactile memory, bringing out voicing and melodic shape
- work on creating a beautiful tone with pedal and relaxed gestures
- keep the practicing interesting for performance preparation exploring different ways of review so it doesn’t become boring or rote over time
How do you motivate your students to practice?
The student must be in love with the pieces they study. Students are willing to put the extra effort into practicing if they have chosen the repertoire. During the lesson I play through a variety of pieces until we find the ones they are excited to study.
I establish short-term goals such as dividing the piece into smaller sections to make the piece accessible. Short-term goals are best met when the student keeps written records, as simple as a post-it note tacked onto the music. Students are eager to fill out weekly charts that graph their progress. Every time a section is practiced, the student records a check mark. Written records kept by the student have proven invaluable in motivating the student to set aside ample time for repetition.
What do you suggest for a student to get the most out of practice time?
When possible, I recommend piano practice time be divided into two shorter sessions, rather than one longer session. This works very well for students at all levels. Dividing up practicing into two sessions maximizes the students focus. Practicing is more efficient and result oriented when the student is concentrating. Students will be motivated if they feel they are making progress throughout the week. Parents can help designate optimal piano practice times for the student.
What is your fee/cancellation policy?
My fee is $70/hr. Payment is to be made at the beginning of the month. If the lesson needs to be canceled due to illness, or some emergency, this will be factored in and credit will be given towards the next month. Last-minute cancellations not due to illness or emergency will not be refunded.
FaceTime lessons are offered on days when snow does not permit road travel, or if a student feels slightly ill, and would still like to have a lesson at home. FaceTime a good platform for occasional lessons because I can see the student’s set up at home, assess posture at the piano in the home, and get a feel for what the piano can offer.
Do you offer lessons year round? We take vacations in the summer and winter. Is that a concern?
I offer lessons year-round. Lessons are offered in the summer and winter breaks; the lesson scheduling is flexible. You can enroll in whatever scheduling is convenient for you. I do encourage summer study because that is one of the best times to practice.