Teresa L  
Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical, Pop, Blues, Swing, New Age

I have been teaching for over 30 years, and I love working with children. Regular practice is important so that students can see progress and reap the rewards that come with it. I meet the students where they are at, trying to work with their particular style of learning. My lessons are based in classical music, but we learn many different styles of music as they progress. The teaching association I belong to has four festivals a year, which I encourage my students to participate in, where they perform pieces and receive constructive feedback, helping them to grow as musicians and to become comfortable playing for others. I also teach music theory, which helps them gain a better understanding of how music works as a whole. I also use fun learning games on an iPad for reinforcement of certain concepts. The more they enjoy lessons, they more they learn!

For beginning students, I usually start with the Faber Piano Adventures series. We also work on long-term pieces for festivals and recitals throughout the year if they are interested in playing for those. I strongly encourage them to participate in these, helping them to feel confident and secure in these performances. I will also pull in pieces from other methods or books when needed to fill in any gaps or work with any different learning styles. For students who already have some experience with piano, I find where they are at and choose an appropriate method or music to match their current level.