Peter S

4.8
4.8 (11)

Instruments: Piano, Trombone, Euphonium
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Marching Band, Avant-garde

Where I Teach:

In Your Home My Studio

Ages Taught: 5-80

Levels Taught:

EMAIL US OR CALL 877-687-4524

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ABOUT

Degrees / Training / Special Info:

M.A., Mills College, Music Composition B.A., University of Alabama, Music Composition and Philosophy

Awards:

Elizabeth Mills Crothers Award for Music Composition, Mills College — 2014

Graduate Assistantship, Mills College — 2012–2014

Senior of the Year, University of Alabama School of Music — 2011

Frederic Goossen Composition Prize (Runner-Up), University of Alabama School of Music — 2009

Overview:

Before I could walk, I was pulling myself up to the stereo system and bouncing along to the music. Now, decades later, I still love to share my endless enthusiasm for music with audiences and students. I've performed across the United States as a pianist, trombonist, percussionist, and improviser, appearing at venues like Lincoln Hall in Chicago, the Center for New Music in San Francisco, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. I was an undergraduate at the University of Alabama, where I studied philosophy and music, and I recently completed my Master's degree in composition at Mills College in Oakland, California. Some of my teachers over the years have been Jay Evans and Jon Whitaker (trombone), and Noel Engebretson and Robert Schwartz (piano).

EXPERIENCE

I've been teaching piano, low brass, and composition for eight years, with students ranging from elementary school to graduate school. I have enjoyed teaching students individually as well as in group settings. My individual piano students have studied classical, jazz, and pop styles with me, and I've worked on classical/band music and jazz with my brass students. I have worked in public schools and programs for academically advanced students, and I have worked students with special needs.

METHODS USED

I have a few method books that I like to use in my lessons. For brass students, I like the Rubank method books for beginners and the Arban book for advanced students. For young beginners on classical piano, I like "Music Tree," and the Faber "Piano Adventures" series, and for older kids I use the Bastien literature series. For more advanced students, I prefer to work on literature directly and address technical issues as they come up. For jazz piano, I love Mark Levine's "The Jazz Piano Book." For students interested in pop styles, we work on transcribing songs and learning by ear.

LESSON STYLE

I believe that real learning and development occurs during individual practice time--not in lessons. Lessons are the time for me to check in, give guidance, offer motivation and encouragement, correct errors, and brainstorm solutions, but progress can only be made with daily, deliberate work on the student's part. To this end, I like to use a practice journal with my students, in which I record weekly objectives and the student logs practice time and writes reflections.

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

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RATING & REVIEWS

4.8

4.8 (11)

5 star

(9)

4 star

(2)

3 star

(0)

2 star

(0)

1 star

(0)

Barbara Kidder

My 4 year old son is quite energetic. Another piano teacher tried to teach him before Peter and could not get my son to listen to him at all. That teacher told me that my son had no interest and that we needed to wait before having my son take lessons. Peter started teaching my son a few weeks later. He quickly developed a great rapport with my son. I was astounded when my son sat down and listened to Peter during the first lesson. Peter has remarkable patience and is a natural working with children. He knows when to follow the child's lead. My son is very interested in how the piano works, so Peter takes the time to teach him about this. He is able to use my son's interests (superheroes, Lego, Star Wars, etc.) to refocus him back to playing the piano. Between lessons, he brainstorms on how he can teach my son better. For example, my son was playing the notes, but not understanding rhythm, so Peter looked into it and came back the next week with a new plan which helped. My son looks forward to his lesson every week. When he hears the doorbell ring on lesson day, he exclaims, "Yay! Peter's here!"

Jenny

Peter is friendly, enthusiastic and takes good control of the lesson.

Sami

My 6 year old and 8 year old absolutely love Peter. He is absolutely patient and loves what he does. I would highly recommend him.

Karen

Peter is a great teacher! My 6-year old son looks forward to his lessons each week and Peter makes their lesson really fun.

Corina

To date, Peter has been an exceptional and talented piano teacher for our 8 yr old. We're thoroughly impressed by his temperament, patience and obvious musical abilities. I hope and expect that his continuing tutelage with our daughter will lead to great advances in her musical skills. RB

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