Teaching the piano is like helping each student
to find a language which is unique unto themself. One of my most important goals in teaching is to discover each student’s individuality, and then lead them in the search for convincing music-making through passing on the skills and traditions I have received from those who taught me.
As a studio teacher, I want to be sure to create a teaching environment in which students will feel encouraged to participate. I am very enthusiastic during lessons and that I want students to know that I enjoy working with them. I take a keen interest in practice routines, and in making sure that each student cultivates successful work habits from the very start. I like to devote a portion of almost every lesson to show students how to work on technical difficulties and in helping them to learn how to learn music.
From my personal experience as a young and ambitious pianist, I have learned that being successful is not about learning to play the most technically difficult repertoire or winning the most competitions. As a teacher, I want my students to understand that progress in piano technique takes time to achieve, and to develop artistry in piano playing may take a life time. My goal is never to teach technique as an end in itself, but to always try to direct technical work towards a focus on musical achievement and convincing communication in performance. The more I play music, and the more I listen to great musicians, the more I see that the skills involved in making a truly beautiful phrase are far more important and difficult to achieve than the ability to play loud and fast! This doesn't mean that I don't teach technical skills, but that I want my students to always use those skills in support of interesting and passionate music making.
Through years of studying piano, I have inherited many ideas and principles from my own teachers which still guide me as a musician. This leads me to believe that it is important to keeping up my own technique and performance schedule so as to constantly nourish my own artistic temperament and to view the teacher relationship I have with my students as one of mentoring.
