Piano with Joan H.

I started piano lessons when I was about 6 years old. I graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson with a BA in Music Education. After moving to San Diego, I spent the next 20 years or so being a wife and mom and raising 3 kids, one of them a special needs child due to a drowning accident. I've been a church pianist and choir director for almost 30 years and worked at a charter school in Lakeside as a choir teacher and Music History class teacher. I started teaching piano about 10 years ago on the recommendation of a friend and fell in love with it! I have taught kids from the ages of 6 to 16, but would welcome adult students. I enjoy and can teach many different musical styles on the piano. If you like classical, we can do classical. If you like pop or Broadway, we can do pop or Broadway. If you like contemporary Christian, we can do that. I'm a good sight reader and can help students who are interested learn how. I can also teach improvisation using chords with or without a melody line for students who'd like to learn. I encourage older students to bring in music they are interested in learning. The sky's the limit! *** Lesson Details *** I think lessons should be made fun for the student and should be personal time just for them to participate in an activity that they enjoy doing. Parents are always welcome during lessons. With beginners I stress learning to read the notes and other musical notation-dynamics markings, tempo instructions, rests, etc.. I like to use the Dozen A Day exercises as well and, depending on the proficiency level of the student, the Hanon series of exercises for flexibility. I like to use the Alfred Method lesson books for those just getting started. They have good pictures and easy to understand instructions for younger students. They also offer simple Theory instruction books as well. They also have some good adult instruction books. I also like to use a reward system with my students; younger kids can choose from a simple prize box and older ones can receive gift cards from McDonald's, Dairy Queen, etc.. Everyone needs a little reward in life! I like all students to keep a practice log (younger ones can be helped in this by parents) to help with accountability and to see how progress is being made. I also like to have a student recital at the end of the school year, usually in the month of May. The purpose is so that students can meet each other and see what others are working on. I've found that the students themselves are often the best encouragers and inspiration for each other! *** Studio Equipment *** Living room w/ piano and seating for parents *** Specialties *** Can teach classical, romantic and pop music genres. Can show how to improvise and play from chord sheets with no written music. Fast and efficient in sight-reading.