Introduction: I offer professional piano instruction to students ages five to adult. I have a Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in piano performance and have more than 34 years teaching experience in all levels of piano. My students have won many prizes in competitions and play at high levels, both technically and artistically. Music theory, technique and performance experiences are provided in the lessons.
Private lessons are given each week and one group class for performance and theory class is provided one time per 10 week quarter.
Many performance opportunities are provided, both competitive and noncompetitive events resulting in a more confident student experience.
About My Teaching:
Two of the judges from the National Guild Auditions stated, "This is one of the most artistic auditions I have heard. Such beautiful attention to phrasing and technique. Congratulations! Great Teaching!" and "Your students are the best I heard on this tour. Congratulations!"
From Jan Miller Romero, B.M., M.M. (Pianist and piano instructor):
"One only needs to listen to students of Valerie Mishek to appreciate the difference a quality teacher can make. Valerie's piano students consistently play with beautiful tone and masterful phrasing. They approach the keyboard with poise and confidence, playing with a solid technique and listening carefully to the music they are expressing. Even her youngest beginners exhibit these qualities. As a fellow pianist and teacher, it is evident to me that Valerie has a gift for awakening the musical spirit in each of her students. She combines her experience as an accomplished pianist and an insightful teacher to successfully guide her students in the pursuit of pianistic artistry."
From the parent of one of my students:
"Valerie has been by far our much preferred and cherished classical piano instructor for our daughter for over the past 7 years. She took our daughter from knowing next to nothing about the piano or music in general to placing second at the recently held 2014 Sonatina Festival Honors Recital playing Beethoven's extraordinarily complex and beautiful Sonata op. 31 no. 2. This would not have materialized without Valerie's technical exactitude, aesthetic sensibility, patience, breadth, depth and skill at teaching the piano, such that only years of extensive experience brings. She intelligently draws upon a vast repertoire of exquisite piano pieces and meticulously arranges them into a superb pedagogical progression, whether for the very beginning or the highly advanced student. In short, she is a master teacher. I am extremely proud of my daughter's accomplishments as an aspiring classical pianist and I am very, very grateful for the brilliant teacher that has led the way."
