June 10, 2013 Student showcase at Steinway Hall in NYC

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My goal is to teach students how to self-evaluate and self-direct their learning process through a structured and encouraging environment. The most influential teachers of my music studies helped me gain the confidence to be an individual. I strive to do that for my students and to be a positive influence!

Teaching Experience

I am currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music & Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin. My teaching and research focus is on the group learning environment for adults. At UT Austin, I teach the beginner group piano course and private lessons for non-music majors under the mentorship of pedagogues Martha Hilley, Sophia Gilmson, and Robert Duke.

This past year, I was on the piano faculty at East High School in Salt Lake City where I taught both beginning and advanced group piano courses in a beautiful classroom with 13 keyboards provided by the Youth Enrichment Fund. Group piano classes are rarely offered in public schools for numerous reasons so I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity and experience!

I started teaching in 2005 and have taught all ages and levels in both private and group settings. I maintained my teaching studio of 20-25 students for 5 years until I graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Music Piano Performance degree.

From 2011-2013, I was based in New York City where I taught community group piano classes at Riverbank State Park Cultural Center for beginners ages 7-12, intermediate teens 13-18, and adult beginners. Prior to New York, I lived in Knoxville, Tennessee for a year where I was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and taught undergraduate keyboard skills to music majors and private lessons for non-music majors. During my time in New York and Tennessee, I also had the opportunity to work with a few wonderful students privately.

Student and I diligently discussing the Circle of 5ths!

LESSONS

Lessons are 1 hour in length in order to have sufficient time to work on musicianship, technique, and theory. For young beginners, 45 minute lessons are an option.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Involvement in your child’s practice at home is incredibly important to their progress and success. Particularly with younger students, parents will need to help the child review lesson assignments and encouragement from you to play more is crucial. We will have open discussions about how to help your child at home to make music learning a positive process for student, parent, and teacher!