Lessons Offered (by appointment only)

Cash or personal check is accepted at the beginning of each lesson.  Credit is not accepted, but please ask for other methods of payment.  Clients can pay for lessons one at a time for the first 3 weeks as a trial period.  Following the trial period, clients pay for four lessons or more at a time (note: unused lessons are refundable!).  Unfortunately, I am unable to offer discounts or scholarships at this time.

**Clients also pay a one-time refundable reservation deposit that is equal to the price of one lesson.  Pre-payment is required for first lesson.

My patience, compassionate demeanor, and passion for teaching music are my greatest strengths as a teacher.  I approach every student differently.  I like to analyze students’ personalities and capitalize on their strengths and try to improve their weaknesses.  I will not skip over areas of weakness!  I will stay with the student at their pace until they learn.  While I am a professional educator, I am in no way strict, old-fashioned, or intimidating.  I do not look for perfection, but for a mastery of skills appropriate for their age and level.  I do very well with young children as well as with adults.  

I follow a humanistic approach following the student’s natural curiosity and musical interests.  We can learn any style of music and learn any style of playing that ranges from classical piano to improv jazz or rock piano.  I use many methods to encourage student’s ability to read music, and I incorporate music theory to help students recognize patterns so they learn music faster.  I also have many practice techniques that I pass on to students so that they know how to make the most of their practice time.  

Students will play music that interests them and will be exposed to a variety of styles and genres of music. Techniques and pedagogy are incorporated into the lesson with warm-up exercises, etudes, scales, and sight-reading. The exercises or scales that I might assign always apply to the music that is being learned, it is not done so needlessly and carelessly. I also incorporate music composition and conducting activities where applicable.

I allow students 5 complimentary lesson cancelations per year (3 for biweekly students) with 24hr notice that do NOT require paying for the cancelation. These 5 cancelations are not cumulative year to year and they replenish at the start of each year. Federal and religious holidays are automatically observed, so use your 5 cancels for things like vacation, birthday, graduation, Valentine's Day, etc.  If a lesson is canceled untimely with less than 24hr notice, a refund or makeup lesson will not be given. Instead, we can connect via Zoom or FaceTime.  Students who take a lot of time off for the summer can either schedule extra lessons in advance to keep their spot in the schedule, or they can remove their reservation in the schedule.  Rescheduling can only be done with 24hr notice.  Absences without notification are not refunded or rescheduled.  Students may discontinue at any time and receive refunds of the deposit and any unused lessons.

**appointment reminder system is offered, but clients are still responsible for keeping track of appointments

I use the “Music for Little Mozarts” series for young children.  I have several little puppets that go with the lesson book, which incorporates musical activities into a nice story involving the two puppet characters.  I also use a workbook which is a coloring book that reinforces what they learned, and keeps their attention on music.  I also do other activities using flash cards and a dry erase board to reinforce reading music.  I also spend a lot of time modeling fingering, touch, and hand position for young students while they learn (adopted from the Suzuki Method).  We also do music listening and writing activities.  I feel that the MFLM series is best and is at the right pace for children of that age.  I follow the AZ state standards for music, as well as adding a few specific goals of my own.

I teach just as many adults as children and their ability levels & interests are just as diverse.  This includes complete beginners with no experience whatsoever to students who have played for several years.  Age is just a number, and I teach retired aged students as well.  It's never too late to try lessons.  We can go as deep as you want into music theory, jazz, and improvisation, or be more focused on classical repertoire...or combine both!  I do whatever is necessary to keep you engaged in learning something new, sharpening your skills, and working towards your goals.