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206-535-2932
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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
In addition to the recording and performing experience listed above, I've been a full-time private lessons instructor since 2010. I've taught at countless local schools, but found that the freedom of teaching completely independently (or, at most, through a referral program like Musika) can't be beat. The more of my *own* students I have, the more I can focus on each one, and the more time I have to plan out their progress. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Organ Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I have been teaching music for many years. I enjoy watching my students progress in the learning process. I always ask what the student wants to learn such as style, a song, etc. I also accompany them playing the piano or guitar once they have learned the basic techniques, etc. This also helps them working with other musicians or singers. My teaching style varies. I do make recommendations such as teaching out of a Hal Leonard instructions books (for beginners) and or CD's Play along CD's. , Chord Theories, voicing s and improvisational techniques for the intermediate students ( i.e. basic blues) if they choose to. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Organ
I have been an active musician throughout my life. Music is both my passion and my job; I am eager to share music with other people! Whether singing, composing, or playing piano or organ, music opens artistic windows in a person's life. I hope you will consider exploring the world of music with me! My Bachelors focused on Organ and Voice, my Masters Degree focused on Composition and Church Music and my Doctoral program was in Conducting and Music History. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass
My method is to help students play the music they want to play, whether it's Miles Davis or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I like to start my lessons by working on a song of the students choice to spark their interest. From there, I move to focusing on the students needs technically, rhythmically and theoretically. Additionally, I have my students practice improvisation, in some capacity, at each lesson. I want my students to feel comfortably making music on the fly and I set up low stakes environments for them to hone this skill. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice French Horn Music
Music lessons should be a playground for exploration! It is my job to meet students where they are and invite them to rise to new heights in their performance. Lessons are a series of small steps. The journey of learning music is a marathon, not a sprint. I work to gauge where students are coming from, attempting to engage the experience from all the different dimensions of their lives in order to create a pace that is meaningful and effective for each student. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
It’s very rewarding when a student develops an interest and love for music in their own way. Each student has specific needs to reach their musical goals, so he/she needs to go at his/her own pace. I like to set long-term goals for each student (whether it’s being able to play a certain song or a certain style) as well as set realistic short-term goals that he/she can complete in a week or so. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Electric Guitar
Every student learns at their own pace, and in their own way. Discovering what type of learner your student is (kinesthetic, auditive, visual), is essential in providing examples and assignments for the student to work on. I do believe that with encouragement and patience, anyone can learn the noble art that is the language of music, you just have to find and fuel the student's interests, make that flame grow into a passion, and then lead with the example, 99% of the time the student will follow, the other 1% of the time you just need to get creative :) 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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