How long have you been singing and playing the piano?  How did you begin teaching? How long have you been teaching?

Music has been a part of my life for longer than I can remember.  I began my formal music training with piano lessons starting at the age of 7.  I started singing in choirs when I was 11 years old and began formal voice lessons in high school, as well as singing for and accompanying the choirs in my high school.  Music has always been at the very heart of my life.  It is part of everything that is dear to me:  I am involved with church music and my husband is an accomplished singer as well as a high school choir director.  I truly have a passion for teaching music and for sharing the gift of music with others.

I began teaching piano lessons at the request of a family friend in 1994 at the age of 14. I taught throughout high school and then decided to major in Music Education in college.  I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003 with a Music Education degree, Choral and Piano Emphasis.  I continued to teach piano and voice lessons throughout my years in college and a year of teaching music and choir in the public schools. I have been teaching for over 16 years and I have loved every minute of it.

What ages and levels do you teach?

I specialize in teaching students between the ages of six and 18.  I have had extensive training in the methods and psychology of educating these particular age groups.  I teach students from beginning levels to advanced.  I use a variety of methods and musical styles and design lessons to meet the specific needs and abilities of each student.

Who can be accepted as a student in your studio?

Any student who exhibits a desire and motivation to learn music is eligible for acceptance into my studio.  I do not accept students on a trial basis.  A student enrolling in my studio is willing to commit to at least one year of study. 

What kind of music do you teach?

I use a variety of methods and music in my teaching.  I focus on creating a solid foundation of technique, theory and repertoire. In piano lessons, this is done mainly through the study of classical music and works of renowned piano pedagogues.  However, piano students will have the opportunity to learn a variety of styles, including jazz and popular music.  In voice lessons, the focus is on music of a classical nature (including music in foreign languages), but students also have numerous opportunities to sing Broadway, jazz, folk songs, and other styles of music. High school age voice students study the International Phonetic Alphabet and use this to assist them in singing music in Italian, German, French, and other languages.

How long is a lesson? How many lessons do I attend each week?

Each small group lesson is an hour in length. Private lessons are a half hour or 45 minutes in length.  Lessons are held once a week.

What happens in an average small group lesson?

Each small group consists of between 3 and 5 students.  In an average group lesson, each student will work one-on-one with the teacher on technique, theory, and repertoire for approximately 10 to 20 minutes.  The student will then get the opportunity to deepen and extend their understanding of music theory through working on one or more of the computer programs designed specifically for music students. Students also rotate through other learning stations in the keyboard lab such as ear training and sight reading, which are essential skills to learn as a musician.  Students may also play musical games as a group, which encourages cooperation and cohesiveness among group members while expanding musical knowledge.  There are also numerous opportunities in group lessons to perform for each other and in ensembles, thereby giving each student the opportunity to play and/or sing and listen to a variety of music.

Which lesson format do you recommend?

Both piano and voice lessons can be conducted in either a private or small group setting with outstanding results. In some cases one format may be more desirable over the other for reasons of performance level, age, sociability, specific learning needs, etc.  In each lesson format, students receive instruction tailored especially for them as an individual.

Each type of lesson has its own set of advantages and benefits.  Every child has their own individual learning style and may feel more comfortable learning in one environment over the other. For this reason, I offer both group and private lessons. My ultimate goal is to teach each student in a manner and environment which will be the most beneficial to them as an individual.

What are some of the benefits of small group lessons?

• Group lessons have been proven to have a positive impact on at-home practice times and practice quality.

• Students develop confidence as they are regularly encouraged by their peers and are given opportunities to perform in a low-key setting.

• Young students are often more comfortable learning in groups, middle school students enjoy learning with their peers, and high school students tend to be more energized and motivated when learning alongside their peers.

• Group lessons provide students with the opportunity to perform for each other on a regular basis, thereby reducing anxiety at recitals.

• Students have increased opportunities to perform in ensembles when learning in the group format. Performing as part of an ensemble builds essential rhythmic skills, listening skills, and accompanying skills.

• The opportunity to make music together with friends and classmates who share common goals and skills, and the use of positive peer encouragement add additional incentives for progress and success.

• Group lessons generate enthusiasm and provide a social and interactive aspect which is often lacking in music instruction.

• Group lessons provide more opportunities to participate in activities that are fun as well as educational, thus instilling positive lifetime attitudes toward music and learning.

• Group lessons provide each student with the opportunity to learn using a variety of methods and materials, including music software and electronic instruments.

Where do the lessons take place?

I teach in my home studio in Northwest Phoenix located near 83rd Avenue and Cactus Road, about 1 minute from the 101 freeway.  I have two rooms used for teaching: the keyboard lab, which contains a keyboard with a disk drive and 16 track sequencer (used in recording and composing), 2 full sized digital pianos, 4 computers, the music library, and a variety of music games, software, books, and other materials.  The second room is the formal living room which houses the baby grand piano.

Am I required to have a piano?

A small electric keyboard will work only for the first 6 months to year of piano lessons.  After that, it is essential that a student have a full sized piano (digital or acoustic) that has pedals and 88 keys.  I highly recommend purchasing an acoustic piano (meaning a piano that uses strings and hammers).  In order to progress to intermediate and advanced levels of piano, a student must have an acoustic piano so that they may become familiar with more advanced techniques such as voicing, pedaling, and expression. Although digital pianos are becoming very advanced and it is good for students to learn and work on them in short intervals, technology has not yet been able to accurately reproduce the nuances and intricacies of the acoustic piano.

At what age should a child begin piano or voice lessons? How do I know if my child is ready for lessons?

The right age to start varies from child to child. It depends largely on attention span,  maturity, the extent of their desire to learn, and their willingness to practice. A child may exhibit readiness for lessons by singing as they go about various activities, trying to play melodies by ear, gravitating towards people playing or singing music, or by directly asking for music lessons.  Of course, some parents may not know if their child is ready for lessons until they actually try it.

In general, I find that the ages of 6 to 10 are best for beginning piano lessons.  Voice lessons are different, due to the way in which our voices develop as we get older and more mature.  I usually recommend that a child wait until the age of 8 or older to begin voice lessons.

I'm already in high school. Is it too late for me to start piano lessons?

It is never too late!  I have known some very accomplished pianists who did not start piano until they were older than the average beginner, and I have personally taught many high school students as beginners who have experienced great success in lessons. What is important is that you have the desire and discipline to learn!  If you have those two things, you will be an excellent musician, no matter the age you start your musical training.

Do you teach children with special needs?

Yes. I have taught children who are on the Autism spectrum, children with learning disabilities, and children with hearing impairments.  I believe that children are musical by nature, and every child has the right and ability to learn music.

Is it true that studying music can make a child smarter?

I have done a great deal of research on this subject, and am convinced that the answer to this question is a resounding yes. Studies have shown that musical training is linked to the development of higher brain functions such as spatial-temporal reasoning. Another study done at UC Irvine found that students taking piano lessons exhibited significant improvement in the understanding and grasp of proportional math and fractions.

One of the most compelling accounts I found in my studies was that of Albert Einstein.  While still in elementary grades, Einstein's teacher told his parents that he would never excel in academics and that they should take him out of school and put him immediately into the work force.  Instead, his parents bought him a violin.  As Einstein learned and progressed on the violin, his academic abilities surfaced and grew, and eventually he was hailed as one of the greatest geniuses in the history of the world.  The theory is that Einstein always had thoughts of genius in the right side of his brain, but could not verbally express them using the left side of his brain. Playing a musical instrument or singing causes the two sides of the brain to communicate and allows impulses to flow between them.  Thus, playing the violin caused the left side of Einstein's brain to "activate" and helped him actually express his thoughts and ideas to others.  In fact,  Einstein stated that, later in his life, whenever he had an intellectual problem that he could not find the solution to, he would play his violin and the solution would come to him more easily and clearly.

It is my belief that music study indeed gives students an academic advantage.  I believe it is an advantage every parent should give his or her children.