Charlie C
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Music, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Pop, Country, Musical Theater, Opera, Spirituals
Charlie C
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Music, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Country, Musical Theater, Opera, Spirituals
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
Music and teaching it to others has been my life's work and passion. I am classically trained (obviously) and I am the first and still only person in my family to graduate from a four year college and later graduate school, having earned BM and MM degrees in Piano Performance with a minor in organ at Shenandoah University. In addition to 27 years of music ministry, 26 years as an accompanist and/or MD (classical and music theatre settings) and of course 16 years of private piano teaching, my greatest professional accomplishment is having played at Carnegie Hall in June 2014. Great things happen when you practice hard, persevere and have fun despite what anyone else says about you. You can also catch me in action playing keyboards for various local bands from time to time with styles ranging from classical to pop, jazz, blues, country, southern rock, fusion etc.
I have taught privately since 2006, though occasionally I will take two students from the same household, church or neighborhood and pair them up in what is known as a "partner lesson". Each person takes turns at the piano playing their respective scales, repertoire etc. and we offer one another encouragement as well as constructive criticism for those technical issues in need of improvement. I do hold seasonal recitals during Christmas and spring seasons as an outlet for my students to showcase the songs and pieces they have learned throughout the year.
Since I am also a composer and arranger, I tend to be partial towards the use of my own "homemade" methods.... taking on the idea of composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann (example would be Album of the Young) and writing simple pieces that reinforce specific technical challenges like double thirds, left hand arpeggios, consecutive octaves, pedalling and so on. Sometimes if I have a student that likes Pink Floyd or Eric Clapton, for instance, I will do my best to come up with a simplified version of a particular song using good ole staff paper. I do also use published methods like Alfred's Music for Little Mozarts for kids under 7, Bastien Piano Basics through age 12 and for teens to adults I typically use Alfred's Complete Method for Older Beginners.
To summarize the above statement, part of my attitude and approach to teaching is that---while I certainly don't have anything against other beloved method books, such materials and such don't make you a better teacher. Over time, with a bit of studying, trial and error, the most experienced teacher will eventually come to appreciate and employ his/her own method without relying so heavily on any given editor or publisher to teach the students FOR you. In short, each lesson will simply include the use of traditional written and aural theory, scales, chords and arpeggios as well as cater to the genre/repertoire preferences and the student's own unique learning style and personality. I encourage effective practicing strategies during the lesson as well as communicate with the parents on how they might enforce practicing at home. Above all, the most important aspect of the learning process is to have FUN.
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