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Piano with Hillary K.

Baltimore, Maryland

5.0
(5)
OverviewAboutReviewsExperienceEducationAwardsAffiliations
Background check
Teaches online
Teaches all skill levels
Age: 6-78
Teaching since 1987
Masters Degree in composition/piano

    Have fun learning to read music or play by ear from a teacher with 30 years experience

    I have a Masters Degree in piano and composition, so I use my background to incorporate improvisation, playing by ear, musical games for kids into each lesson. I tailor each lesson to the individual, so some students will be learning a traditional approach; scales, technical skills, note reading, theory. But some students enjoy improvising and composing, playing by ear. I am a very patient teacher, and enjoy witnessing my students' progress. I also teach adults, some who have busy work schedules. Sometimes they don't have much time to practice. That's okay! We practice in the lesson and still make progress.

    Instructor details

    Location:
    Teacher's Studio
    Teacher's Studio
    SEE MAP
    Oakdale Rd.
    Student's Home
    Student's Home

    Teaching Hours

    Monday
    8 AM-9:30 AM
    11 AM-3 PM
    Tuesday
    8 AM-9:30 AM
    11 AM-3 PM
    Wednesday
    8 AM-9:30 AM
    11 AM-3 PM
    Thursday
    8 AM-9:30 AM
    11 AM-3 PM
    Friday
    8 AM-9:30 AM
    11 AM-3 PM
    Saturday
    6 AM-8:30 AM
    Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
    Pricing
    30 minutes
    $38
    45 minutes
    $50

    About Hillary K.

    5.0
    (5)
    I have over thirty years experience teaching piano to children and adults. I have a Masters Degree in composition and piano from Indiana University. Typically, piano instruction is devoted only to technical skills and note reading. I believe that learning how to improvise and compose develops the ear as well as the imagination. And to cultivate my students' imagination, along with developing fluent note readers, we play musical games at the piano. In "The Impossible Game", one of us picks a category (weather, animal, object) and plays a musical representation on the piano while the other person tries to guess what it is. Another game is "Spell a Word". The student spells a simple word at the piano, such as: cage, bed, cabbage, and turns it into an ostinato (repeated musical pattern). I improvise against the ostinato, and then we switch off, having them improvise while I play their ostinato. A number of my students have gone on to major in music in college. One of them has been signed to a record label and is touring the U.S!
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    5.0
    5 Reviews
    Eleanor Frias
    Teacher's studio
    My kids have been studying piano with Hillary since 2015 (starting in Kindergarten). I like how she balances playing songs as written with encouraging the kids to compose and improvise. She also incorporates some theory into the mix, giving the kids an understanding of music on various levels. She's just really wonderful with kids and meets them at their strengths and interests.
    Posted Jul 22, 2022
    Quinn Bero
    Teacher's studio
    Ms. Hillary was my first piano teacher and since beginning lessons with her at the age of 13 I have not stopped playing for enjoyment. At 17 I began an Associates Degree in music that I have now completed. I would highly recommend Ms. Hillary as a teacher because of her patience, kind teaching, and incredible technique and skill.
    Posted Jul 17, 2022
    Lois Borgenicht
    Teacher's studio
    Hillary makes every lesson interesting and fun. She is remarkably patient and inventive, finding new ways to engage me - the overly busy and distracted student that I am.
    Posted Jul 13, 2022
    1122Next >Next >

    Experience

    Hillary

    Sep, 1992 - Jun, 1999

    Friends School/Upper School of Baltimore

    I was the accompanist for the Upper School Chorus at Friends School. I played for all the concerts, adjudications,as well as musicals. I also played for solo recitals throughout the year.

    piano teacher

    Sep, 1993 - Jun, 2002

    Friends School, Boys Latin, Towson Preparatory Department

    I taught piano to students from ages 6 to 15

    Education

    Masters Degree in composition/piano

    Sep, 1985 - May, 1988

    Indiana University

    Awards

    Hillary

    Jun, 1968

    Solo piano recital, piano competition

    First Prize,

    May, 1988

    International League of Women Composers

    Affiliations

    Music Teachers National Association

    Sep, 2008

    The MTNA was founded in 1876 with the goal of advancing the value of music study and music-making to society while supporting the careers and professionalism of teachers of music. With nearly 22,000 members in 50 states—and more than 500 local affiliates—the MTNA is the preeminent source for music teacher support, where members embody like-minded values and commitment to their students, colleagues and society as a whole, while reaping the rewards of collaboration, continuity and connection throughout the lifetime of their careers.

    BMI

    Sep, 2010

    Broadcast Music Inc. was founded in 1939 by forward-thinkers who wanted to represent songwriters in emerging genres, like jazz, blues and country, and protect the public performances of their music. Operating on a non-profit-making basis, BMI is now the largest music rights organization in the U.S. and is still nurturing new talent and new music.

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