Piano with Tina B.

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo Music is so much more than just notes on a page. Music can give you goose bumps, make your heart soar, or move you to tears. I specialize in teaching the fundamentals of music theory and technique while also helping each student learn how to express themselves through music. I started playing the piano when I was 4 years old and within six months, had won my first competition. I have participated in and excelled at countless festivals and competitions throughout my piano career, receiving awards from Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) competitions and consistently performing at the top level at the annual American College of Musicians' National Piano Guild Auditions. I have trained for five years at the college and professional level from two internationally acclaimed pianists and teachers: Dr. Charles Aschbrenner and Aviram Reichert. Dr. Aschbrenner has degrees from the University of Illinois and Yale University and continued studies with renowned teachers Nadia Boulanger in France and Adele Marcus in New York City. He is a licensed Dalcroze instructor and has extensive training in the techniques of Taubman, Alexander and Feldenkrais. He presented the internationally recognized Pulse Patterning for Pianists in 1993. I studied with him for four years at Hope College in Holland, MI. Aviram Reichert is an internationally renowned solo pianist and was the Bronze Medal winner at the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1997. He continues to tour and perform with several international orchestras and as a solo pianist. He remains a sought-after teacher who is frequently invited to conduct master-classes in Japan, Korea, South Africa, Israel and the United States. From 2001-2008 he held the positions of Associate Professor of Piano and Artist-in-Residence at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. He is currently Associate Professor of Piano at Seoul National University, College of Music. I studied with him for a year while he was at Grand Valley State University. These two amazing teachers that I have had the chance to learn from have passed down the techniques and passion necessary to perform at a professional level and I am so excited to pass down their knowledge to you! Whether you are looking to eventually make a career out of music or just want to have a fun hobby, I can help you achieve your goal. I have been teaching children, teenagers, and adults for 15 years. I also have experience in teaching children within the autism spectrum. I have found that music can be a very rewarding outlet for these children and that typically they excel at it. I am certainly open to discussing the particular needs for your special child! *** Lesson Details *** Lessons are typically 30 minutes for young beginners and 45 minutes for older beginners or more advanced students. I also do 1-2 recitals per year to give students an opportunity to show off what they've learned and practice performing in front of people. If your student is interested, we can also discuss entering festivals and competitions. Students age 4-7 will learn the fundamentals of music and piano in a fun and colorful way. A rewards program offers motivation to practice and excel at lessons. After 3 months of lessons, young beginners will have a solid foundation of rhythm, technique, and common notes, all while playing songs that are fun and recognizable. They will be excited to show off their skills to friends and family! For students ages 8 and up, we dive right into note reading. By the second or third lesson, students will be playing songs with both hands that they recognize and will be able to show off their skills by the second month! By the end of three or four months, students will be reading music that typically takes 2 years of traditional methods to master. We will then go back and fill in the music theory and technique necessary to ensure that each student has a balanced and complete understanding of music. This method of teaching keeps students excited and inspired to continue taking lessons and has been hugely successful for my studio. Essentially, I believe that learning music doesn't have to be boring. Learning a new skill always requires hard work and dedication, but I work diligently to make sure that material is presented in fresh, exciting, and personalized ways each week through games or fun analogies. That's why my studio is called Laughing Ivories Piano Studio! So, come learn how to tickle those ivories! *** Studio Equipment *** I have a baby grand piano in the front room of my home. There is a table and chairs in the dining room for siblings to work on homework, color, etc., and a couch for mom or dad to lounge on while listening to the lesson. *** Specialties *** I specialize in teaching classical piano. In intermediate and advanced students, I teach the Alexander technique and pulse patterning.