Piano Lessons in Roswell, GA

Instruments: Piano

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes, the teacher I had from the age of 6 through high school graduation inspired me because of her own deep love of music. She often used the word "beauty" to describe it. It took me a while to understand music from that viewpoint, but I eventually (really) got it. I am so grateful now that music is a part of my life and I try to approach teaching with that goal in mind. I tell them how I can listen to a song and know exactly what meter and key signature it is--and how to dance to it! By the same token, I can hold and read a composition and know how it will go. That takes experience, but I show them how Beethoven could continue to write music after he could no longer hear: He already knew what a major 4th interval sounded like, for instance. It was already in his mind.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
This skill has given me confidence, because it was something that I could both enjoy and do well. It also provided a pleasant, engaging escape from some difficulties in the family in which I grew up. When I played for my church, I received a lot of compliments and encouragement from the adults whom I respected. I love that I can sit down and play for myself pieces that I otherwise could only listen to. The focus required engages and sharpens my mind and helps me connect with friends at holiday gatherings. Recently, a 60-year-old friend whose father died when she was 15 mentioned a song he used to play on the piano. I bought the music and played it for her and it pleased her so much. I am proud that as a child and teenager I could rise to the requirement of memorizing pieces and performing them in recitals. Music engages me, whether it is at church or at the dance studio. I teach students how playing, singing and dancing are all related.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Most of my students are too busy with the variety of activities that Atlanta offers them, so special honors have not been part of their study. However, private lessons have made their participation in school music programs much better than they would otherwise be and I have attended some of those performances. It helps them connect with friends who are also studying piano since they can get together and play. It shows them another level on which they can socialize. Girls, especially, like to sing together.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The hardest thing to master on the piano is putting both hands together and "hearing" two different melodies and playing them together. It can be done, however, and students are usually amazed when they do it. It is a breakthrough and it is good for them to find that if they try very hard, they can do things they wouldn't otherwise have thought they could do. I even compare to their participation in ice hockey or soccer or basketball, in that you start out simply, follow certain rules, and the skills and performance build.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I like the Alfred and Bastien series for elementary school students, because the songs in the books are there to teach specific principles, but are fun and familiar, too. I have found that for older or adult students, Hal Leonard books are usually the perfect answer for skill-building and enjoyment. Hal Leonard books offer a variety of music that adult students are already familiar with, such as operatic arias or symphonic excerpts, sonatas or popular music from the past and that encourages them.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I do not have a music degree, but I have studied piano from the age of 6 into my 30s. I chose to get my degrees in other fields. However, I love music and could not be more grateful for the instruction I received. Learning about music is never ending. There is always a new composition to learn to play and to figure out how it was put together and why, including how a change of key can be artfully worked into it. I point out to my students how the piano can be used to imitate the sound of almost anything, including train horn or a car swerving up to a curb.

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