Abigail P
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, Viola, Flute, Bass Guitar, Harp, Ukulele, Mandolin, Recorder, Electric Violin, Fiddle, Double Bass, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Pop, Folk, Country, Showtunes, New Age
Abigail P
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, Viola, Flute, Bass Guitar, Harp, Ukulele, Mandolin, Recorder, Electric Violin, Fiddle, Double Bass, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Folk, Country, Showtunes, New Age
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 4-80
Course Work: Baptist College of Florida
I have been playing piano and violin for over 30 years, adding flute, guitar, viola, cello, bass (acoustic/upright and electric), drums, harp, and other instruments along the way. Although I had helped and mentored other musicians for several years before that, 2005 was the year I quit my day job to focus on teaching and performing. From 2005 until their close in 2017, I provided live piano and violin entertainment at Santioni's Italian Restaurant. I have also played with various local orchestras, most notably the Brunswick Symphony Orchestra. Although I love performing and am always glad to do it, my biggest passion lies in bringing out the musical talents in other people. There is something very magical about seeing other people discover their unique skills and love for music!
Since 2005, I have had the privilege of helping hundreds students of all ages reach their musical goals. While several have gone on to a professional level, I consider my greatest strength as a teacher to be the ability to give each student lessons tailored to their unique learning style and neurological needs. Each person has different strengths, likes, and dislikes, and when we work together to craft a learning plan that fits their individual personality, it's wonderful to watch them bloom! One of the most exciting things my students have done is choose and perform classic rock songs (Bohemian Rhapsody, Mr. Blue Sky, Carry On Wayward Son, Tom Sawyer, etc.) at recitals and "Battle of the Band" events. They didn't want to play simplified versions, but the "real" studio versions, or as close as we could possibly get to them-- so that's what we did. There's something pretty special about students of all ages working together to master the guitar, bass, drum, vocal, and string parts to epic songs! From 2015-2020, I had the honor of leading the "STRING-on!" program for Golden Isles Youth Orchestra. It is a one-week class aimed at giving underprivileged and disadvantaged students the opportunity to experience the violin, viola, cello, and bass. Together with two other team members, I taught thousands of 5th-grade students to play the violin, culminating in forming an "orchestra" on Friday, making real music together after just five days! From 2006-2020 I taught the general music classes pre-K to 8th grade at Amelia Island Montessori school, again leading students to play many different instruments together, and exploring different genres and cultures. I moved across country in late 2020 and have continued teaching online and in person. I'm looking forward to meeting new students and working together to develop YOUR unique potential!
Although I personalize lesson plans for each student, I often turn to the Alfred All-in-One course books to help beginning pianists learn to read music, and I like the Suzuki books for beginning string players. Other than that, I try to get students playing the music THEY choose as soon as possible, because who wants to spend all their time learning songs they never heard before? Some other resources I find myself reaching for again and again are the theory and ear-training games from "Teach Piano Today" and the familiar folk songs from GmajorMusictheory.org.
My teaching style is tailored as much as possible to each person, however there are some things I always keep in mind. For one, I try to help each student build proficiency in both music reading and playing by ear. My belief is that these skills are equally important and reinforce each other. My first violin teacher used the Suzuki Method, which is based on the same principles by which each child learns to speak his or her native tongue fluently, and I have seen the benefits of combining listening work with music reading skills in both my own musical career and the lives of my students.
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