Piano Lessons in East Pittsburgh, PA

Instruments: Piano

I have been teaching professionaly since the age of 19.  It's been an unbelievable 19years. My performance experience ranges from winning college competitions, serving as pianist, organist, and music director for many local congregations, to singing in a cover band with my husband. I have a broad knowledge of musical styles and cultures. Over the past 19 years I have taught students from the young to the young at heart, students with special needs, and directed independent studies in pedagogy. Read More

Instruments: Piano

The two methods I typically use for young beginners are "The Music Tree" by Franicis Clark, and "Piano Adventures" by Faber and Faber. As the child progresses, I add supplemental materials and more advanced performance pieces that may be used for recitals. For adults, there are a variety of good methods that I draw from, taking their genre and style preferences in mind. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I will use whichever book students are using for their band class in addition to Rubank books. I will begin by teaching fundamentals using these books, then I continue to teach solo repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My number one rule for teaching is patience and setting small goals each week. Every student should want to pick up the instrument days after the lesson. Seeing someone learn a song and playing it through correctly is a mini miracle. Progress through repetition and different exercises has been a high yield of success in my personal experiences. Praise for when a student fulfills a goal goes a far way in future lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Flute

Young beginner piano students begin with Bastien's Piano Party combined with my unique curriculum developed from years of teaching early childhood music. As they age, students tend to lean towards their own peculiar interests, which I happily incorporate. Such suggestions are evidence of student growth and engagement! Flute students approach teachers with different sets of needs. While working on school and competition music, I supplement tone development with Eck, and use baroque studies for technique. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Music

For beginning piano students, Arias typically starts with John Thompson's piano methods books one through four with a focus on musical expression, literacy, and building a foundation of good technique. For beginning trumpet students, Arias typically uses Hal Leonards, Essential Elements Method. Depending on the student's progression and pedagogical needs, Arias next typically moves to an individually prescribed combination of Schlossberg, Clark, and Arban excersises combined with solo literature and/or etudes. Read More

Instruments: Piano Music

I understand each student is different, so it's about what they need instead of what I want them to be. I am extremely adaptable and flexible. I've heard a lot of stories from my students where their previous music teachers discouraged them by not listening to them at all. Me myself had similar experience as well, therefore, I completely understand how terrifying it could get when students needs are not being heard. Read More