FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I think that when I was 5 years old, I stood on my tip-toes and tapped the keys of our family's big, upright piano. As soon as I heard that I could make sounds with my fingers, I was hooked! But my piano playing career was almost over before it began because my very first teacher was a disaster!! He came to the house to teach me and I was scared to death of him because he never smiled and he would scream at me whenever I made a mistake. (Remember that this was the early 1960s.) By the time I was 8, I actually quit piano for a few years because I was so turned off by the whole deal. Then I met my hero, Mr. Bob Pelicani at a local music store in Rutherford when I was 10 or 11 and he was so cool! He got me into music and art in NYC. He talked me into going to Berklee School of Music and helped prepare me for my first year of college while I was still in high school. So what I learned from Mr. Pelicani's teaching style was that you could actually enjoy learning to play piano and not be afraid. I learned that it was cool to play the piano and that you could do it without it being a chore or obligation. Mr. Pelicani really made it fun for me to play and I really grew and learned a lot. Another wonderful music teacher was Mrs. Gilbert who helped me put a jazz combo together in 4th grade. She saw that I had a talent that needed to be nurtured and she made a huge difference in my life. Another incredible teacher was Mrs. Martha Mechee whose husband was actually first violin at the NY Philharmonic -- and who used to help make up the NYTimes crossword puzzle. She and her husband were brilliant and dedicated musicians who changed my life forever!
- Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
When I closed my studio in West Palm Beach in June 2015, I wanted to make sure that all of my young students had someone special to continue to learn piano with so that they wouldn't lose any momentum in their musical studies. Of course, the natural choice was to turn the teaching reins over to my very best student, Jessica Samuel. Jessica literally grew up in a family just like the Von Trapps in The Sound of Music! Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, she and her five brothers and sisters were taught by their father how to read music and play piano as soon as they could sit at the piano! Jessica had been a student of mine for years and I watched her grow into an extremely talented and mature young woman. In February 2015, I was asked to work as an accompanist for a very important musical competition in West Palm Beach, but I told Jessica that I thought she should do it instead of me. I felt it was an opportunity for her to discover how very talented she really was. Of course, she was recognized by one of the judges who told her that she had played very well and should really think about using her talent to teach other kids how to play. I had Jessica audition for my students and parents so that we could make a smooth transition from me to Jessica -- and it was a win-win for everyone! I was so proud to be able to give Jessica her start as a new piano teacher in her own right. The joy of teaching is to see your students grow up to be great teachers, too!!
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
It's critical that students find a teacher that they can really work with...and that the student feels completely comfortable and safe in their learning environment. I believe that after meeting me, most people discover that the crux of my teaching philosophy is that it's all about the student. Having that positive vibe is so very important, it can really make or break the whole learning experience. I am a firm believer in letting the student ask me whatever questions they may have about my teaching style -- or anything about me that they want to. I want my students to feel at home with me, what the goal of lesson plan is and what the expectations are as well. Once we get that sorted out, then we can start to have fun learning!