MY PHILOSOPHY:
Music is deeply personal. I teach music so that my students can love and use music for self-care throughout their entire lives. I fully believe that anyone can, and should, play music to understand and process the world. Playing piano and singing are great avenues to learn deep listening, self confidence, musical notation, and empathy.
MY PIANO TEACHING STYLE:
Every lesson is fun and unique, with something new to learn. I teach classical piano technique and musical elements in a way that fits each student’s learning style, so that lessons are always engaging and interesting. Most importantly, my students learn to love music from the inside out.
Students come away from each lesson with strengthened fingers, ears, and minds. I consider ear training very important in the development of a musician, so I teach pieces and songs by ear as well as note-reading. I love music theory, so it comes up everywhere in my lessons. I will never give you or your child theory worksheets that drill concepts, but instead treat theory an an organic, fun part of the learning process. Depending on the student, I may incorporate improvisation and composition into lessons, as well as pop music and lead sheets, songwriting, visualizing music, duets, blues patterns, and musical games.
Focus areas: strong technique, reading music notation, improvisation, finger dexterity, deep listening, instinctual/expressive playing
MY VOCAL TEACHING STYLE:
The voice is an organic instrument, one which we have ultimate control over but which we need a lot of imagination to use. My voice lessons focus on the imagination as the primary tool we have to sing well. My students learn how to maintain an even tone throughout their range, to strengthen their natural vocal timbre, and to expand their technical skills so that they can sing the music they love.
I assign both classical and popular repertoire, including jazz, so that students stay engaged, and are always growing. I encourage my students to try things that are just barely outside of their comfort zone without straining, to ensure that they are constantly opening themselves to new possibilities, and to help them gain confidence in themselves as vocalists.
Focus areas: interval training, pop techniques, even tone, expanding range, healthy physical technique, strength and clarity of tone
STUDIO CULTURE:
I expect my students to practice away from the lesson each week so that playing becomes a real, and natural, part of their lives. I understand, however, that lives are busy and unpredictable. I always work with my students earnestly on whatever they bring for the lesson, whether they practiced it at home or not.
I have put three children through piano lessons, and so knew a good teacher when I met one, particularly in her seemingly innate understanding about how to interact and connect with her students, and find musical pieces for them to work on that engaged the students, and made them feel excited to return to lessons every week. -Cassandra
