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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Federal Way . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I have a very laidback, low-pressure approach - if you didn't practice, it's not the end of the world! I think back to my own days of taking lessons and remember how much more I improved in this type of environment, and how much more I loved the process. The difference between these approaches can be night and day, both in results and morale out of the student (which, again, I know from experience as a teacher, but also from my experience as a student). Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
My teaching experience varies for each of the instruments I instruct. I began teaching private lessons for guitar in 2004. My voice instruction began in 2009, and the rest of the listed instruments I began to teach in 2012. I believe consistent daily practice is essential for improvement in my students, and encourage my students to log their practice time. In the words of my professor Todd Woodbury, "You do not become a master from what you do within these lessons. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Lap Steel Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I love to see my students grow and develop as their passion for music increases. I facilitate this by giving examples of goals that they can reach and examples of different styles and genres that they can immerse themselves in. By doing this students see that playing and possibly mastering an instrument is not just about discipline and practice but about a high level of expression and communication. The reward my students feel from being able to accomplish this instills in them great joy and pride and motivates them to work at other things in life the same way. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass
After graduating Whitman, I interned as a music teacher at the Spring Street International School in Friday Harbor, WA. I was mentored by a great teacher, Grisha Krivchenia and learned how to be a compassionate teacher. I helped teach composition, music theory, small groups, bass and guitar. During the second half of the year, Grisha took a sabbatical and I took over his duties. While in Friday Harbor, I also taught upright bass, electric bass and piano privately. Read More
Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music
I have taught in the classroom, small group settings as well as one on one in both piano and drumset. My favorite thing about music instruction is connecting with the students on a musical and personal level. I started studying piano at the age of 5, making it my career as a teacher after college and into adult life. Choosing to focus more on drumset and percussion studies at the age of 11, I then studied Percussion Studies in College, playing in many bands and in multiple styles. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice
My teaching methods depend on the instrument, age and experience of the student, and the goals for the lessons. Every student will develop a solid base of fundamentals and music reading that grows into study of a variety of styles of music. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums
No single approach works with every student when teaching drums. There are simply too many styles and methods to choose from. But when working with beginners, I tend to focus mostly on developing a good internal sense of rhythm and good listening skills. Then if the student wishes, we may specialize in classical, jazz, rock, latin, or whatever style the student is interested in. There are many excelent published methods to choose from and I occasionally assign etudes and excersizes of my own. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Keyboard
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When I was eight, my second-grade class went to a Milwaukee Symphony youth concert. I thought the conductor - Kenneth Schirmerhorn - was a magician. The orchestra played a piano concerto by Bartok, and I went home and told my mother I wanted to be a professional musician.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
My favorite is classical, which is actually a very broad category, as there are so many styles of classical. I love playing Bach (Baroque) and Romantic (Brahms).
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I always played piano but I never had lessons till I was 18 and went to college! My mother showed me where Middle C was on the keyboard and on the staff, and from there I taught myself, winning awards as a high school student and accompanying school choirs and playing in the jazz band. I began trumpet lessons at age 10, but in college, I decided to switch to voice, as I mentioned above. I have started to learn guitar - I have been able to play a few chords for many years, but I would like to do more. I also have played the organ for church services for over twenty years but am not a concert organist.
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Yes, my parents both play the piano and organ and love to sing. My father also played trumpet in his youth and my mother played French Horn and euphonium. My brothers play the organ and string and electric bass, and my two sons play violin and guitar. My husband is a good choral singer.
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I might be a holistic medical doctor. I actually became certified as a medical assistant while I was also an undergraduate music student. I decided not to go to medical school because I knew I would not be able to dedicate enough time to music if I did that. Now, I am no longer interested in medical school, but I think I would also have liked to be a park ranger. I also enjoy writing - creative and non-fiction.
If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I chose performance degrees (Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, Graduate Artist Diploma) because I was chiefly interested in diving deeply into performance.
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
For voice, I would love to perform the role of Solveig in Grieg's Peer Gynt.
On piano, there are so many things I love - the Bach concertos are a favorite, as well as the Mendelssohn G minor concerto.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I use James Lykes books for adults and Microcosmos and sometimes Fabian for adults and children.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
On piano, I begin with improvising, then play through a section, then narrow down to concentrate on details. I have to remind myself to take breaks. I find that frequent shorter sessions (30 minutes to an hour) are much more effective than marathon sessions.
In voice, I restrict the length of a practice session to 45 minutes. I begin with stretching, exercises to help me find my vocal balance, and then focus on a specific section of a piece and concentrate on different aspects of that section - ease, evenness, text, acting, etc.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
In voice, the biggest challenge is reducing tension and finding resonance without forcing. The voice is so sensitive to daily activities and stress that it is important to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle and exercise, stretch, and relax in order to keep the voice functioning well.
In piano, the most difficult thing for me is making the piano "sing," creating a legato line in which every pitch is exactly the right dynamic level.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Several of my college music students have gone on to graduate school in music and have won special awards and fellowships. One of them sings with the Detroit Opera chorus. Another has become a professional ethnomusicologist, studying the music of Japan. Another is a graduate student in music theory. And one is a professional composer and bass player who works as a music copiest. Many of my students have gone on to other professions but still sing in choirs and musicals.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Performing in the Inge Pitler competition in Germany both on piano and voice was a wonderful experience. I have played and sung many recitals that were great experiences. But my biggest accomplishment is my opera, Verlorene Heimat (Lost Homeland), which has been performed by professional opera companies. It tells the true story of refugees during World War II. I wrote the libretto (the "book") and the music.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Federal Way to students of all ages and abilities.
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