Unlike many piano teachers, my degrees are centered around teaching, rather than performing. I earned my bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in Music Education K-12, and my Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, also from BYU. During the course of my studies, I had the opportunity to teach students in local middle and high schools individually on various instruments, and as a group in band or orchestra. I also taught classes on the college level, including the non-audition orchestras and band, a conducting class, and a class for new music education majors about how to teach. All of this experience has helped me developed an awareness that each person learns differently! Fortunately, I have learned what I can do to best accommodate their unique learning styles, so that everyone has the same opportunity to excel.
Even with all this teaching experience, I have learned in my 20 years of playing the piano and clarinet that performing is a learned skill. It does not come easily to everyone (or most musicians!). The best way to become a great performer is to perform as much as possible! That is why we hold monthly masterclasses and have at least 3 recitals a year, as well as go to festivals. These experiences build great musicians, but more importantly, they build great people who know how to be brave, expressive, and who know who to stand up in front of a crowd.
I absolutely love working with children of all ages! It is fun to provide them with an outlet for expression, then watch them grow in their talent. My favorite thing about my job is when a student gets so excited about music, they have done something on their own (made up a piece, learned a piece on their own, or even just found a cool song or piece to listen to), and want to share it with me.
