TEACHING
ONLINE LESSONS
I currently offer online lessons and practice coaching through FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom!
Need guidance in your practice, want to start from the beginning, or want to improve your technique? I'd love to work with you wherever you are!
MY PHILOSOPHY
My goal as a teacher is to give students the tools to achieve their personal and professional goals as pianists. In my studio, students and teachers are respectful colleagues in the student’s individual journey. I believe my job is to give my students the resources and guidance they need - musically, professionally, and personally – to make music a fulfilling path for them. This requires consistent, organized, and positive teaching from me, and productive practice and engagement from the student. Above all, I want my students to grow both the technical and emotional skills that they need to express their stories through music.
Students will study a broad array of repertoire, from the sixteenth century up to the present day, supplemented by technical exercises that prepare them for the particular challenges in their chosen works. Repertoire is chosen using a combination of my recommendation as teacher and the student’s own input and interests. My hope, however, is that students find something to appreciate in every work they study. In addition, students will regularly practice sightreading and ear training, two crucial skills for any musician.
I believe that performing is about sharing music with your audience, not about judgement or fear. To help my students prepare to give meaningful performances, I give them opportunities to perform at weekly studio meetings, where they can perform for and receive feedback from their peers in a relaxed setting. I also encourage my students to enroll in competitive events, focusing on learning from the experience and feedback given, not solely on winning awards.
Music is for everyone; therefore, it should represent everyone. Programming and teaching works by historically underrepresented composers is essential to creating a space where every student feels welcome. When all are welcome, everyone in our field benefits. To that end, my students will study and perform not only Beethoven and Bach, but also Price, Chaminade, Le Beau, Bonds, Still, and other composers whose wonderful music has been suppressed throughout history. I hope to leave my students with the knowledge necessary to continually work towards permanent diversity in our field.