Piano with Teresa W.

As far back as I am able to remember, I was always involved in sports and music. While in elementary school, I earned the President’s Award for Physical Fitness and practiced the piano each evening for my weekly lesson. In junior high school I was an active member of the choir and band (flute), a cheerleader for both the men’s football and basketball teams, and traveled extensively throughout Michigan competing as a gymnast for the school’s gymnastics team. Although I earned varsity letters in tennis and gymnastics while in high school, I was encouraged by the school’s vocal music director to concentrate on excelling as a musician and to pursue a musical career. I took his advice and began to take piano lessons once again, as well as voice lessons. I enrolled in music theory, music history and choir during school hours, and involved myself in the high school’s productions of My Fair Lady and West Side Story after hours. As a vocal soloist, I received Superior ‘I’ ratings as a participant in the M.S.V.A. Solo and Ensemble Festival while as a piano soloist in 1974, I was awarded a monetary scholarship and a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement in Music after placing Second in the Senior High Division of the city’s Musicale Competition. During my senior year of high school I was accepted into the National Honor Society. During my four years of schooling at Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan, I was involved primarily in the activities which related to my major field of study; Vocal Music Performance. In addition to being involved vocally with the stage productions of A Hand of Bridge, The Bartered Bride, Cosi Fan Tutte, and numerous choral ensembles, I also participated in various instrumental ensembles. I played harp for the college’s Orchestra as well as flute for its Wind Ensemble. As a Bachelor of Music major, I also took private classical guitar, harp, organ, voice, and piano lessons. Perhaps the most memorable experience associated with my education at Olivet College was the European Tour that I participated in with the Collegium Musicum Chorale the summer of 1977. We were privileged to sing Bach’s B Minor Mass with Neville Mariner conducting. My last year of college culminated with my senior voice recital and being awarded The Margaret Upton Conservatory of Music Award. In addition, I was awarded the Olivet College Concerto Award to which I performed Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 while accompanied by the Olivet College Orchestra. Music has always been a part of my life, but being able to direct students to learn musically, watching these students mature musically, and involving myself with teaching these students the techniques, individual sensitivity and personal confidence associated with the aesthetic art of music, these are my intentions as a music professional; these are my goals as a music educator. *** Lesson Details *** I am a very patient teacher and will motivate any student to be the best they can be with the moments we are given at each lesson. Instilling in each student a LOVE TO LEARN and ACHIEVE attitude with whatever instrument they prefer is my desire as a musician/teacher. I am honest and fair in evaluating each student’s progress. A typical voice lesson begins with warm-ups, from correct breathing drills to vowel formations; scales to arpeggios. Once the instrument is ready to go, we get down to the previous week’s assigned songs and have some fun! Although classically trained, I will accommodate teaching what the student does so desire: whether a song from a Broadway Musical or a popular song. I feel it is important that the student set his or her own goals. That is why they continue to be engaged and enjoy each lesson. I am a true advocate of making sure I instruct each vocal student of mine about how the mechanism works, and about how one keeps the instrument healthy. A typical piano lesson begins in much the same way as the voice; with warm-ups. Depending on the level, warm-ups consist of showing proper hand positioning on the piano, to playing assigned scales: whether performing technical exercises from Edna-Mae Burnam’s, A Dozen a Day series or an assigned Hanon exercise. I feel it very important to warm up the fingers! From there, we tackle the previous week’s assigned literature. I have taught from the Alfred and John Thompson Method series and find their approaches pretty good. I am also familiar with the Piano Adventures method by Nancy and Randall Faber, the David Carr Glover Method, and the James Bastien Method. I will supplement these piano methods with any song the student may desire to learn. In addition, I have many volumes of Renaissance through Contemporary piano pieces that I fit to any student’s abilities. I have had particular good luck introducing students to “jazz” from Martha Mier’s Jazz, Rags and Blues series; students love to play these pieces! I am a strong advocate of music lessons. Music can be an outlet for students who may be struggling academically and/or socially. Even students who come from non-musical families may discover a talent! We are surrounded by music everywhere we go. It (music) is the universal language; it’s the connection that binds the worlds’ cultures! *** Studio Equipment *** Lessons in a piano studio, baby grand piano, good lighting, hard wood floors. *** Travel Equipment *** I have a Baby Grand Baldwin Piano in my home with which I teach. If I travel to someones home, I would expect they have a piano (whether it's a voice or piano lesson). *** Specialties *** *Teachers marked as a Student Favorite have taught a minimum of 25 lessons and have received the highest feedback rating from students.I hold a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and would feel very comfortable teaching Voice lessons as I was taught: in the classical style. I do, however, supplement voice lessons with songs from Broadway Musicals (which I truly love), popular songs that a student may like, etc...I am a true believer to teach any voice student of mine about the health of the instrument and how the instrument works. I feel this is very important. I have found that teaching piano has been very rewarding, not only for me, but my many students. Having to perform on the piano for competitions and for auditions for college scholarships and admissions always made me very, very nervous! I have found that I am a very motivating and patient piano teacher because of these past experiences performing on the piano. I have taught from the Alfred and John Thompson Method series, and find their approaches pretty good. I am familiar with the Piano Adventures method by Nancy and Randall Faber, the David Carr Glover Method, and the James Bastien Method. I will supplement, however, with any songs the student may want to learn. In addition, I have many volumes of Renaissance-Contemporary piano pieces that I fit to any student's abilities. I have had particular good luck introducing students to "jazz" from Martha Mier's Jazz, Rags and Blues series (Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.); students love to play these pieces! I also believe that technical exercises are very important for the piano student. I have used A Dozen A Day exercises by Edna-Mae Burnam and Hanon exercises. Learning scales is also important for the piano student, which I introduce as I feel comfortable the student will attain success.