Piano with Jacqueline P.

I tailor all of my lessons to the individual. Growing up, I was blessed to fall in the love with the piano without being pushed to stick with it. My goal with my students is to instill in them the same fondness for the instrument using their unique skills and interests. The more someone likes what he/she is doing, the more successful he/she will be. I have been studying piano for 17 years with the likes of Colleen Bell, John Weems, Betty Mallard, and Nancy Garrett. I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.M. in Piano Performance and a concentration in Vocal Performance. I have been teaching for eight years, and it remains to be one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life! The following are some of the most recent accolades I have been awarded: First Prize at the University of Texas David O. Nilsson Solo Piano Competition; UT’s Butler School of Music Scholarship; numerous Texas Music Teacher Association competition awards, including honorable mention in the TMTA state competition; winner of the American Festival for the Arts solo competition; gold medals at the University of Houston Forum, Texas State University Young Pianists, and Strake Jesuit Concerto Competition. *** Lesson Details *** My number one goal with my students is that they enjoy what they are doing. I take it upon myself to make lessons both enjoyable and efficient. I tailor each lesson to the specific student according to his/her needs and strengths. For example, some children need more hands-on activities to stay engaged. For those students, I structure lessons to feature several different activities reinforcing a key concept or idea. Other children learn better with step-by-step concept explanations followed by detailed demonstrations. Individual students' goals, learning styles, interests, and attention spans all inform my choice of teaching method. I am a big believer in the power of both short- and long-term goals. Students work best when they can see the point of practicing. If they know there is a recital coming up or a performance class is looming, they will be much more likely to practice effectively and with purpose. *** Studio Equipment *** Acoustic piano, speakers for listening practice. Spacious room adjacent to lesson space with table/chairs for parents to listen and do work during the lesson. *** Travel Equipment *** Students should plan on bringing their lesson books and assignment notebook in a bag to every lesson. *** Specialties *** I specialize in an individualized teaching style. I teach all ages, with current students ranging from 4 to 65. Since music lessons are one-on-one, I am allowed the luxury of getting to know my students well enough to tailor their lessons to their specific goals, strengths, and needs. My method is a fun approach that gets the information across in such a way that will maximize long-term retention.