Education Goals

To see each student…

• Delight in the wonder and beauty of music and music making

• Find joy in seeing others delight in the student’s music making

• Grow efficiently and effectively in technical skill and interpretive sensibilities

• Realize performing in public from memory with skill, poise, and confidence

• Be humble and thankful for the privilege of music making and for the receipt of praise from others

How We Teach

The teacher will…

• Seek a balance between encouragement and discipline, as appropriate for each student

• Have each student isolate challenging sections, play hands separately if necessary, and slow down tempo just enough to play “the right finger on the right note at the right time” with the principle that “perfect practice makes perfect.” For younger students, as necessary, use Post-Its for passage isolation.

• As appropriate, have each student learn their pieces starting at the end and working their way forward

• Require that one parent or guardian attend each lesson, take notes, and ensure that the student is practicing during the week 

• Provide written notes for each student, at each lesson, as a guide for the parent/student to practice for the upcoming week

• Encourage each student to participate in as many performance opportunities as possible

• Be active in local/state/national music teachers organizations, by participating in their recitals, competitions, and regular meetings

What We Teach

• The elimination of all unnecessary tension, which is the key to endurance, speed, and a singing style of playing, by hitting each key and holding it as lightly as possible, and by eliminating unnecessary wrist and arm motions

• Music theory, including the grand staff, scales, triads, aural training, and audiation

• Playing from lead sheets (chord charts) and hymn tunes

• Good fingering for each student’s hands, since “good fingering is the key to not stumbling” [Paul Badura-Skoda]

• A broad range of musical pieces and styles, grounded in Bach and other masters

• Improvisation/composition in classical, popular music, jazz, hymns, and sacred music 

• To accompany other instrumental and vocal soloists and ensembles, through performing duets, playing in ensembles, and accompanying for church choirs and congregations