Piano with Claudia K.

Over 30 years teaching students of all levels: children, adults, professionals/teacher training. Professor at Hunter College and on faculty at Manhattan School of Music Pre-college. I feel responsible to get my students excited about classical music and pique their curiosity about contemporary music. These students are the future of our art, if not as performers, then definitely as audiences, patrons and administrators. It is our mandate to guide these students to appreciate and understand how the study of music will enhance their lives, no matter what field they choose. Music is an essential aspect of who we are as human beings. My goal, then, is to develop in students a love of music, and an enjoyment of learning how to play the piano. I host performance opportunities for students to perform on stage, as well as piano parties and piano 4-hands group-a-thons. I use technology when appropriate to help kids get excited about learning. I’m often asked whether I enjoy starting young children at the piano. My answer is always the same: give me a student, and I will be thrilled to guide my pupil and get him or her excited about studying. The age is unimportant. The challenge is keeping a student engaged and enthusiastic along with the hard work that goes into training. No matter the student’s age or level, educators have an enormous responsibility to create and nurture life learners, and to ignite a curiosity and passion for the arts. What matters, then, is to develop the skills inherent to studying music: discipline, inquisitiveness, problem-solving, and, most importantly, active and acute listening.