Piano with Beatrice C.

Before I am a teacher, I am first and foremost, a performer. I believe this puts me at an advantage as a music teacher because I not only have formal training to educate, but I also have the experience of performing. I know how music involves our passions, emotions, our dreams and our fears, that all our complexities as human beings can perfectly be communicated through music. This is why I turn to performance time and time again. There is, no doubt, so much to be said on the intellectual and educational benefits of learning to play an instrument, but I don't think that is the reason many students want to learn. Rather, it amounts to being an outlet of creativity for the student. In lessons, I try to take a balanced approach by exposing students to every aspect of music: theory, technique, expression, history, and composition. They're ALL important in music lessons! Within a well-rounded music education, I encourage students to apply both rigor and patience in what I assign. Lastly, no two students are the same; everyone has different needs and goals and comes with their own unique set of traits. I diagnose accordingly and work to uncover each individuals' strengths and weaknesses.