Downing Piano Studio

Introduction: Piano lessons are given in Lisa’s home on a 7 foot Yamaha grand piano. Lessons are 30 minutes long, once a week. There are four 1/2 hour lessons in each month. If there are five weeks in a month, we will take one of the weeks off. Make up lessons are always available with 2 weeks notice, or in case you are sick or if there is an emergency. Piano lessons can begin at almost any age, when there is interest and motivation to pursue study. Private lessons ensure that the student has the undivided attention of the teacher, and can progress at a level suited to them individually. Lessons are designed to appeal to each student’s creativity and desire to learn. Learning to play the piano opens people to a whole new world of understanding music. Now is the time to enrich your life, or your children’s lives, with music. Piano lessons are customized for each student, helping them to achieve their individual goals. Lisa Downing has lived in Colorado all of her life and she has been actively providing comprehensive, individualized piano instruction in the Denver area since 1979. Ms. Downing has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Traditional and Non-Traditional Music with keyboard emphasis from the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State College. She attended simultaneously and graduated in 1982. Lisa has 33 years experience in teaching progressive harmony, composition and improvisation techniques to all levels, including adults. Her current students range from 3 years old to many students in their 60s and 70s. Very young students will benefit from Lisa’s unique method of incorporating learning numbers and letters right along with musical notes as part of the instruction process. Teaching students that play by ear are one of Lisa’s specialties. It takes a special understanding of the “by ear” player in order to facilitate effective reading skills and to grow the natural composition tendency in a way that will encourage the enjoyment of playing piano for a lifetime. Lisa has also had extensive experience working with adult beginners who have had no previous or only limited piano experience. Your piano lesson curriculum will be carefully individualized to fit your personal needs, goals, musical tastes, and preferred pace of study. Whether you are starting out for the first time at age three or seventy-three, or returning after many years away from the piano, Lisa is dedicated to providing competent musical instruction tailored to the individual student. Lisa’s teaching approach centers around cultivating accurate reading and listening skills, discovering tools for improvisation and total musical literacy tailored around the student's individual learning style. Her philosophy is to encourage individual creativity within a framework of theory, technique, and musicianship while always encouraging artistry and fun. Lisa is also a nationally acclaimed composer, concert pianist, recording and performing original solo piano compositions worldwide. Lisa currently has 3 CDs of original solo piano compositions available world-wide. Lisa also performs piano for all types of events including weddings, corporate events and solo piano concerts since 1982. Lisa is experienced in all styles of piano music including jazz, light classics, show tunes, popular songs and new age.