Lesson Details
Piano
- Levels Taught:
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Ceste teaches
About
- Teaches students:
- Ages 5+ and special needs
- Teaching since:
- January 2004
I'm a passionate, motivated instructor who loves working with students of all ages. In 2003, I graduated from Bryan College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with a vocal emphasis and in 2011, I graduated from James Madison University with a Masters of Arts degree in Music Education with a Kodaly emphasis. I have performed in the past with the Fine Arts Chorale of Kansas City, Washington Kantorei, Choralis, Arundel Vocal Arts Society, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, and the Three Rivers Dulcimer Society.
Experience
Adult Choir Director
Sep 2015 - PresentDirect the adult choir each Sunday, choose the music for each service, lead the congregational singing each Sunday, and direct a weekly choir rehearsal.
Adult Choir Director/Children's Worship Teacher
Dec 2014 - Sep 2015Conducted choir for the traditional service each Sunday and directed weekly choir rehearsal. Subbed for the pianist/accompanist, played piano in the band for the contemporary C-mas Eve worship service, sang special music, and taught children's worship for the third service.
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Aug 2013 - May 2014Taught pre-school through eighth grade general music, directed the music for 4 concerts, and taught & directed the music for the school's production of The Music Man.
Education
M.A. Music Education-Kodaly
Jul 2004 - Dec 2011B.S. Music Education-Vocal
Aug 1999 - Jan 2004Languages
English
Certifications
Lifetime Member VoiceCare Network
Aug 2007completed summer course on how to best care for the voice for both singing and speaking capacities including a session on the adolescent changing voice by John Cooksey
Kodaly certification
Jul 2007three summers of intense study of the philosophy of teaching music by Zoltan Kodaly
Awards
Music Scholarships
Aug 1999Photos & Videos
23 Reviews
Write a ReviewCeste has a great ear and is willing to meet you wherever you are in your skill level. She cares about what kind of sound you dream of, identifies your natural strengths, and works those into realistic goals to work towards.
She practices using the Alexander Method. Her expertise in how the body affects the voice actually gave me a ton of useful information to successfully identify the cause of some chronic health/pain issues (although she never offers medical advice, I was able to integrate her feedback about what was affecting the quality of my voice into medical care with my Drs).
Thanks Ceste!
She is a really good teacher and teaches you step by step and helps you on things that you have trouble with and shows you ways to improve on something
Ceste is a fine piano teacher! Even though I was 64 when I started taking lessons, she reassured me that I'd do fine! She is very patient and easy to get along with. Always pleasant and very knowledgeable about her trade! She has a vast array of talents for her years!!
+ Read MoreCeste is a wonderful teacher. My daughter has blossomed under her direction.
Ceste does a wonderful job. She makes learning piano enjoyable and is very accommodating with our crazy family schedule. I recommend her for in-home lessons to anyone who has a child that has the desire to learn!
Ceste is our choir director at church. I’m a soprano and was having trouble hitting the high notes following a recent surgery. Ceste helped me with breathing exercises and how to relax my throat and gave me a lot of helpful hints to improve my range. Ceste is a great help with the sopranos and I am so grateful for her expertise.
+ Read MoreShe is really nice and my daughter likes her as a piano teacher!!!
Ceste is an outstanding teacher my niece has been going to her for almost a year now and loves it. She is very patient and fun at the same time I would highly recommend
I highly recommend Ceste. She clicked instantly with our daughter. Thank you for helping build our daughters confidence!
I would not recommend this teacher for any family that requires clear communication, understanding, or professionalism. You will not find any of that with Ceste.
Ceste is a fabulous piano teacher! She has been giving my 8 year old son lessons for over a year. She is patient and kind. She is a really knowledgeable and talented musician with so much to offer for students at any skill level.
We like how Ceste introduces our kids to a variety of music. She teaches theory along with the pieces. She has a good raport with the kids too.
This teacher is AWFUL and UNPROFESSIONAL. She is judgmental and a terrible communicator, unable to discuss considerations or logistics in a reasonable adult manner. I would not recommend her to anyone.
Very pleasant and helpful. Great teacher !!
My daughter is loving her lessons and feels very comfortable with ceste!
Ceste is the musical director for my church choir. I have been singing with the choir for several years. Recently, I started having problems with my singing voice because of spasmotic dysphonia.
I described the problems I was having at my first lesson with her. she gave me some physical exercises to relax the muscles in my shoulder and neck. this helped. then she listened to my singing. Ceste developed vocal exercises based on the physical problems. I was frustrated at first, but using the techniques greatly helped my singing.
I have taken voice lessons before; one of the things that I think is great about Ceste is that not only does she explain the exercise, she illustrates it which makes the lessons much easier to do.
I expect to continue with her in the fall.
I have enjoyed taking voice lessons from Ceste. She is an excellent instructor!
Very gifted teacher with a great sense of humor, I grew in my abilities with new focus and less stress. I highly recommend Ceste as a vocal instructor and coach.
Ceste has been a wonderful teacher. She has immense knowledge in music and she helps me a lot in my journey as a new piano student. Her tips while playing piano helps me get better. She also has a perfect pitch and she creates music sheets for my favourite songs so that I can learn it easily.
+ Read MoreThis teacher was not upbeat, she was not excited about sharing and learning piano. She moved the pupil's hands.
We are looking for a teacher with more enthusiasm and openness to the learner.
Having been away from instruction for many years, I was delighted with Ceste's gentle, accepting approach. I do believe that I will improve with her direction and my practice. I especially appreciated her listening to my goals for this experience.
My son felt Ceste was an amazing, kind, and funny teacher who worked with him exactly where he was and toward his personal goals.
I felt she was very child-friendly, described things in ways my son understood. She worked on teaching him multiple warm-up methods and styles of singing, so he truly developed his skills, instead of just becoming dependent on a teacher or the same song. After only 2 months other people noted a difference in his voice.
When I finally decided to follow my dream to learn how to play the flute I knew Ceste would be a wonderful teacher for me. With the exception of singing in church and along with my favorite songs on the radio I had very little experience with anything musical. Ceste was very patient as I learned how to read music accurately and when I didn't practice as much as I should because my job got hectic. Throughout our lessons Ceste was my biggest cheerleader; when I struggled she thought of different ways to explain something to me or searched for a different piece of music to help me reach a different note. Ceste truly cares about her students and seeing them succeed in their musical dreams/goals.
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