Piano with Xiaole L.

Xiaole, (Shirley) an active pianist, music teacher, and composer, is a member of MTAC-Music Teachers Association California. A member of Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, she holds a PhD in Music with many awards for academic excellence from the University of Hawaii. She has more than 30 years teaching experience and has taught piano, music theory and history from beginner to advanced levels. She studied at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, where she polished her artistic spectrum in piano, musicology, and composition. Her teaching uses various sources, including Western classical repertoire, folk, popular music, world music, and Chinese music. She performed piano solo and chamber music in China when she was a pianist in Liaoning Provincial Opera House and on the piano faculty at Sichuan Conservatory of Music, China. She taught piano major students and played accompaniment for voice, dance and various instruments. Currently she teaches piano and composition in her studios in Irvine, CA. Her students have been prizewinners in MTAC branch festivals, honor recitals, and have performed in Composers Today recitals. She has helped students develop interest and much enjoyment in music. She has helped students enter prestigious universities, including UCLA and Berkeley and become professional musicians in China and in the US. *** Lesson Details *** Lessons are designed for individual needs and goals. Each lesson can be in flexible ways to meet the student's needs. For example, for a beginner student, a lesson introduces the basic ideas of hand position, body posture, game-like rhythm drills and simple song-like pieces. For elementary and intermediate students, lessons start from warm up techniques. Then they play carefully selected pieces according to the student's interest. The favorite pieces may be Christmas Carols, Kuhlau's Sonatinas and Beethoven's Fur Elise. Advanced students learn to play Mozart and Beethoven Sonatas, and Chopin's Waltz and Polonaises. Some students learn to compose their music while applying music theory elements. Some students like to learn pieces for their school events or community events (church hymns) or download pieces from internet. The teacher is willing to help students play many pieces to enrich their music lives. *** Studio Equipment *** A Grand Piano in a large room, that can seat 20 more people for a studio recital or masterclass. An upright piano for young children or students who like to play in a comfortable setting. A board posting studio news and music festival winners' photos. Chairs and tables for students doing their theory worksheets or sofas for parents to observe the lesson. Learning tools, such as writing board for music notes, flash cards, and metronome for counting rhythm. Students like to use the toy-like percussion instruments, such as castanet and shaker to clap and count beats. Children piano extension pedal *** Specialties *** Early childhood piano lessons for 4 to 7 year old children. Preparing piano performance for recitals, music festivals, Classical/ Romantic Showcases, competitions for intermediate and advanced students. Teaching composition for MTAC ‘s Composers Today Recital. Using technology, notation software, iMovie and iTune software, and the internet.