Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy is incorporated into everything that we do here at the studio. I believe that it is my job as a teacher:
To understand and accommodate each one of my students individual learning needs in order for them to be successful musicians.
To be a life-long learner.
To find new ways to engage and excite students while studying the piano.
To instill confidence and joy into my students, which requires sensitivity to each one’s separate personalities.
To allow my students to express themselves in their own creative ways.
To explore music as a critical component to a child’s education and development.
To do this, I aim to create a supportive community for students while they study the piano throughout their childhood and adolescence. I have learned that students are more successful and more joyful in their study when they have support from their family, their teacher, and a music community to explore music in all different ways. In order to nurture creative self-expression in my students, I incorporate the importance of group classes at JMS and give students many performance opportunities. These include themed recitals, student ensemble performances, small shows at different medical centers/homes, studio field trips, state competitions and festivals, and student-led assessments with parents. Students can choose to perform in any of these performance opportunities depending on their individual needs.
While studying music can be incredibly difficult, it has many benefits and rewards including:
Better self-esteem
Providing an outlet for students to express themselves
Learning how to exercise self-discipline
Strengthening memory and reading skills
Cultivating good management with multi-tasking
Developing creative thinking
Increasing coordination and many other things!
From the very first lesson I give clear expectations to students and their families to help them reach their goals using a variety of methods and materials. I teach from a classical approach and start working on the fundamentals right away to give students a strong foundation of technical skills in their study. I also incorporate weekly theory and ear training games to provide students with the tools they need to grow into independent musicians. Because all students have different musical passions, supplemental material is added to their study depending on their creative personalities which can include popular music, learning to read pop symbols and lead sheets, improvisation, composition, beginner jazz and blues, and accompaniment.
I prefer to start students at preschool age (3-5). The introduction of a positive and enjoyable music and movement class that evolves around the piano at an early age, increases the likelihood that students will build confidence, increase enjoyment and solidify musical concepts. By using songs, rhymes, games, imaginative activities, instrument and scarf play, finger play, and method books, students are engaged in music on day one! Numerous studies reveal that learning the piano facilitates neural connections in the brain which promotes healthy development in children. This is ideal for a strong music foundation in young pianists.
When a family is interested in lessons, I share my philosophy of teaching and studio policies, ask for a face-to-face meet and greet at my studio where we can talk about goals and expectations, and go over the program. After this initial get together, we mutually decide if my studio is a good fit for the student.