Teaching Approach and FAQ

• Artistic expression and the development of a healthy technique are emphasized for all students, beginner through advanced. 
• When errors occur in a student's playing, the student is taught specific techniques for correcting the errors.
• Students are taught effective practice techniques.
• Students are encouraged to play music in many settings such as school, church, musical theater, and with friends who may play instruments or sing.  I am happy to help the students learn the music that they perform in these settings.
• Because I am classically trained, instruction reflects the disciplined, sequential approach that is the hallmark of classical training.
• Although classical music is the core, a wide variety of music is used for teaching.
• Students do not all play the same music.  Music is selected for each individual student based on the following criteria:
• • The music will motivate the student to want to learn.
  • The music will further the student’s technical and artistic development.
  • The music will further the student’s music reading ability.
• Training in scales, chords, and arpeggios is included at all levels.
• Instruction in music theory and music history is woven seamlessly into the curriculum so students will be better able to understand and interpret the music that they are playing.
• Organ students also receive instruction in hymnody, pedal technique, and registration.

I welcome students of all abilities: beginners who want to develop good habits from the start, transfer students, intermediate students, and advanced students who wish to study the great works of the repertoire.  

Yes.  I enjoy my adult students very much.  I have had the pleasure of teaching adult beginners as well as adult students who have returned to music study after some time away.  For more information, please see the page for adult students on my website.

The primary reason for not succeeding in learning to play a musical instrument is not lack of talent.  It is lack of consistent, daily practice.  Anyone who wishes to become proficient enough to enjoy playing a musical instrument needs to be prepared to work.  The work can be joyful work, but it is hard work nonetheless.

Before starting music lessons, I strongly urge students (and their parents, if the student is a child) to evaluate whether or not the schedule will allow time for daily music practice.  Although everyone starts lessons with the best of intentions, the reality of a multitude of other activities often means that there is simply not enough time in the daily schedule to add one more thing.  Students who enter into lessons without the requisite amount of time available for practice become discouraged because they fail to make progress. 

Planning ahead for practice time in the schedule is the first step towards success as a musician.

Plan on 30 to 90 minutes per day, five days per week.  Students who wish to enter competitions or who are planning for a career in music practice much more.  Young beginners start with 10-20 minutes per day.  It is the reinforcement given by consistent daily practice that will ensure success.

Parents are vital to the success of student musicians.  Most children are not developmentally able to set a practice schedule and stick to it without being reminded by an adult.

Sometimes I hear from parents that they don't want to get into a fight with their child over practice, so if the child doesn't feel like practicing, then so be it.  Unfortunately, what those parents are doing is setting the child up for failure.  If a child does not practice regularly, then the child will not acquire the skills necessary in order to play a musical instrument.  Sadly, these children who don't succeed due to lack of practice often interpret their inability to play as their not being "talented" enough.  In reality, they have plenty of "talent."  What they lack are skills.

Having raised two children who took music lessons from other music teachers, I can sympathize with parents who are struggling to get their children to practice.  However, one of the keys to success is to treat the music education that the child receives through private lessons as being equally important to the education that the child receives in school.  Once this has been firmly established in the household, then practice becomes a non-negotiable issue-- it simply becomes "homework,"  just like math or any other subject.  The child soon realizes that having play time is dependent upon getting homework done first-- including practice.  

There are no shortcuts when learning to play a musical instrument.  Musical proficiency requires effort over a long period of time.  The three components required for success are:

1. Adequate time for daily practice (a minimum of five days per week)
2. Attention to detail when practicing
3. A step-by-step progression that builds skills 

Learning to play a musical instrument involves a complex interaction of mental and physical training.  Playing music is a skill-based activity.  These skills are developed gradually over a long period of time and must be reinforced on a daily basis.  There is no quick way to learn to play a musical instrument-- it requires hard work over a long period of time.  Once the daily habit of practicing has been established, however, the process of learning and playing music becomes quite enjoyable.

No-one is required to perform.  However, performance is encouraged as part of the educational process, especially for children and teenagers.  Students learn to communicate through the music that they play for others.  Students generally practice more carefully when they know that they have an upcoming performance.  Performing helps students develop poise under pressure.  Because there is no perfect performance, students learn how to recover from mishaps — they discover that the world does not end if they make a mistake.  Once students have tried performing, most find it enjoyable to play music for friends and loved ones.

As a teacher, my training is best suited to teach classical and church organ music.  I do not teach popular music intended to be played on small home organs.  

If you are a pianist who has been called into service to play at church, lessons will begin with a “crash course” in basic organ playing to allow you to become functional as an organist in as short a time as possible.  Pedaling, basic registration, and manual technique will primarily be taught using hymn playing and easy service music (preludes, postludes, etc.).  More advanced organ technique and learning standard organ repertoire will be gradually added as lessons progress.

If you do not need play for church, a step-by-step approach to build technique and learn organ repertoire will be followed from the start.  Materials will be chosen based on if the student already plays the piano or not and whether the student is a child or an adult.

The first time we meet will be for a free consultation.  The purpose of this consultation is to discuss the student's musical needs.  I will also evaluate the student's current level of musicianship and make recommendations for a course of study.  This consultation usually lasts between 20-30 minutes.  

Should you wish to take a trial lesson, the regular lesson fee will apply.  Based on scheduling, this lesson may occur immediately following the consultation, or it may be scheduled at a later date.   If you would like to schedule a paid-for lesson as a follow-on to the free consultation, please inform me of this when we arrange for our initial meeting.

My studio is not competition-based.  My focus is to help students develop well-rounded musical skills that will allow them to play a wide variety of music, both for their own enjoyment and also to be able to play in the community. 

Students who wish to enter many competitions and study in a highly-competitive atmosphere would be best served by another music studio.