Lessons

Adult Piano

Whether you are serious about performing or play piano as a hobby, you've come to the right place! Beginner to advanced, each student has a truly customized lesson plan to fit their learning style. The goal is to play something beautiful and fulfilling right from the beginning — student interests take top priority, and I adapt the curriculum to meet each student's unique needs. The benefits of study include a focus on natural and relaxed technique, cognitive and memory stimulation, and overall life enhancement. Play the music you have always dreamed of. If you are pursuing a professional level of playing, or preparing for auditions, competitions, teacher certifications, or music degree program admissions, I would love to work with you.

Students with previous piano experience first 6 weeks:

• Establish your new goals

• 3 focus techniques based on your new goals and make corrections on standard techniques

• 2 short expressive pieces (focusing on tone quality)

• Learn how to practice efficiently using a proper practice routine

• Proper use of wrists, fingers and arms

Beginner's first 6 weeks:

• All 24 major & minor penta scales & root position triads

• 1 fast piece (orientation of keyboard geography & sense of Home (I) and Away (V))

• 1 slow piece (orientation of expressive tone quality through arms & upper body)

• 2-3 short reading pieces (intro to intervallic reading)

• A sneak peek of how you can learn to play your favorite songs quickly

Private: 60-min/$126

Music Theory & Ear Training

Music theory lessons actively integrate aural skills (ear training) in order to develop skills and knowledge essential for students' musical activities, such as performing, composing, improvising, and listening. This instruction can be either topic-based or sequential, depending on student goals (local/state exams for K-12, high school AP music, college level, or teacher certifications, etc.). Topics include: rhythm & meter; major/minor scales; key signatures; triads & inversions; 7th chords; extended harmonies (9th, 11th, 13th chords); phrase structure and cadences; harmonic progression; modulation, form & analysis, voice leading, counterpoint, and harmonization.

• Comprehensive Music Theory: Standard music major theory sequence, plus counterpoint.

• Commercial Music Theory: Intro to songwriting, chord progressions, and song analysis.

• Ear Training: Real-time analysis, dictations, contextual analysis. I am fluent in all three systems - the Number system, Movable-do, and Fixed-do.

Private: 60-min/$126. Semi-private (available for teacher certification or exam preparation): 75-min/$90

Private Piano Lessons

Special Topics

Special Topics are a way to take focused, time-limited deep dives into specific musical skills or repertoire. Whether you want to spend four weeks analyzing Bach counterpoint or six weeks composing your own song, each topic has a defined timeline and a clear outcome you'll walk away with. Available in-person and online for music theory (all levels) and piano (non-beginner).

Lesson topics offer a wealth of possibilities. Here are some examples:

• 6 Weeks: Learn chord styling & improv - 2 prescribed excerpts, 2 songs of student choice (Level 2 & up)

• 6 Weeks: Compose an original song and be able to perform it on piano (Level 4 & up)

• 4 Weeks: Analyze Bach counterpoint pieces such as Invention, Sinfonia & WTC (Theory)

• 4 Weeks: Practice real-time analysis on bass/chord movement of 8 excerpts (Theory/Aural Skills)

• 5 Weeks: Identify intervals and chords featuring excerpts from 10 Disney songs (Aural Skills)

Private: 60-min/$132

Chamber Music Coaching

Playing with other musicians is fun, fulfilling, and offers a whole new dimension of understanding a composition overall. I offer coaching for standard chamber music repertoire from piano trios to larger ensembles with strings and woodwinds, as well as choir rehearsals. My students often play piano trios and quartets with professional musicians, including Charlotte Symphony Orchestra members. I also enjoy making special arrangements for piano trio/quartet in particular for intermediate level pianists to experience chamber music at an earlier stage in their development using masterworks and popular songs.

• Standard piano trio with strings

• Piano trio with woodwinds

• Singers with piano (solos, duets)

• Solo instrumentalists for auditions & recordings

60-min/$200 per small group