Dana J  
Instruments: Piano, Music, Keyboard, Djembe
Styles: Classical, Pop, Rock, Marching Band

I began taking piano lessons at age 8, competed in concerto competitions in high school, and continued my studies at ASU. As a child, I told myself that I never wanted to become a piano teacher, but a friend in college asked me for lessons, and my love for teaching blossomed from there! I've taught at music academies, group lessons, trio & duo lessons, but I prefer one-on-one lessons. I find that it's important to build a positive rapport with my students, making their experience fun & educational. I teach 45 & 60 minute lessons, ideally once a week, and give opportunities for my students to showcase their growth at recitals. I prefer students to begin piano lessons once they are able to read, and I love teaching adults.

For beginners, it's important to build from a solid foundation, so I emphasize on creating a strong understanding of musical concepts. From there, the student is able to decide on the direction they would like to move towards, classical, pop, etc. I typically teach through the Alfred methods, but am also flexible & have experience from teaching through additional materials that work best for the student. For students with previous musical experience, we decide together if the student would like to continue with their current curriculum or move in a different direction. I also have experience in music theory and songwriting.