Piano Lessons in Manhattan Beach, CA

Holly L

Instruments: Piano Guitar Flute Organ Ukulele Piccolo Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If they have an interest in starting lessons, definitely let them try it out for a trial period to see if they still like it for however long of a trial period you, the parent, decide on.

When will I start to see results?
It can take time to see results depending on the students' musical background, but you will see small results happen before any big results.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes. I have had an assortment of piano,flute, guitar, professors, band directors that inspired me. They all encouraged me to not give up on myself when I seemed to not be making much progress with a difficult piece.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
My sister started with piano, and me being the annoying little sister, I wanted to take lessons as well. But it ended up turning into something much bigger than 7 year old me would have ever anticipated.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I'm proud of playing a junior recital at college and for putting on mini recitals at the churches I have been associated with over the years. I am proud of my students as well for all of their progress. They remind me why I do what I do.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Not yet, because they are mostly beginners, but my one student is about to finish her first set of method books in about two weeks. She has made a lot of progress in eight months.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The hardest thing to master on my instrument is technique. There are so many different ways to play different styles of piano music. How you play soft on a Baroque piece is different than a Romantic piece.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I use Bastien Method books for the faster paced elementary learner with some music experience, but Piano Adventures by Faber and Faber for those with no music experience prior to starting piano lessons.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
A normal practice session looks like scales and technique exercises for warm up. It's important to get your body warmed up first, before diving into a big piece. Spend about 10 minutes warming up, with about 10 minutes each on every piece you are working on.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have my Bachelors of Art in Music degree! I chose this degree because I really love music, but didn't want to teach in a K-12 setting, just privately. I would eventually like to obtain my Master's Degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Romantic style of music is my favorite to play. I find it the most beautiful and soothing to listen to. I'm not as big of a fan with Baroque music, but I definitely don't hate it.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I was in band in 4th grade and I had the opportunity to start a new instrument. This is how I got started playing the flute and I still am today. I learned the piccolo in college. I got started playing organ during my freshman year of college. I have experience playing organ and piano in sacred worship settings. I've played for 3 weddings, and will be playing for more this summer and fall. I started guitar in 10th grade.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music runs in my family. My sister took piano and clarinet lessons. My maternal grandma took violin lessons for a short period of time. My other grandma and her mother also played organ and piano. My paternal grandma also played guitar.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Don't rush through your songs just to get through them. Take time breaking each line of music, or measure down. Skipping over mistakes and never fixing them is also detrimental.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
It was a gradual decision over my college years. My defining moment was when I completed my own solo recital my junior year of college.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy is my dream peace to perform because I've played it multiple times at weddings and always get so many compliments of how beautiful the piece is. It has an effect on other people emotionally.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I have no idea. I think I would do something with the arts still, but I'm not sure what that would have been. Music has always been my go to art.

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