Piano with Stephanie V.

Music has been my passion in life for as long as I can remember. When I was very young, I would listen to my mother play the piano and after she was finished, I would climb onto the bench and attempt to play what she had just played. Then when I was twelve, I started playing piano with my mother during the church services, then moved to play the organ a couple years later. I grew up in a small town in Nebraska, and I jumped at any chance I could get to play the piano. I first taught myself with old piano books, then took several years of formal lessons and became the go-to person people would contact for anything piano. In high school, I accompanied the choir and show choir, played in the band and jazz band, performed solos, concerts, and accompanied vocal solos for the District Music Contest. My senior year I was the sole accompanist for this contest. I went to Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska and received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Piano Performance. During my time at college, I performed several solo recitals, accompanied vocal and instrumental majors during their recitals, started teaching students of my own for the Piano Pedagogy classes (the study of teaching piano), and increased my knowledge of Music Theory. After graduating, I began recruiting piano students to start a studio of my own. The best compliment I have ever received about being a piano teacher was the student wished to become a teacher of music, like me. I also play the piano for ballet classes at the Arvada Center for the Arts. I have learned even more about teaching from the wonderful instructors there. I have worked there for the last 6 years, playing 4-5 days a week. I have been teaching piano lessons for over 16 years and now I want to bring that experience to you. *** Lesson Details *** I am a very laid back instructor, and I will ask you questions about your life and ambitions about learning to play the piano. This enables me to tailor my lesson plan to you specifically. I have several different methods that I employ, and I will work with you to recommend a method based on your personality or learning style. When taking lessons with me, you will learn how to read music, count rhythms, position the body, identify notes on the keyboard, play full songs, and even create your own music. I also believe theory, history, and technique are important for a balanced lesson. Whether it's starting from the beginning, or picking up where you left off, I am confident that I can help you improve your skills at the piano. I teach children 5 years and older. This is a great age to introduce music because it develops skills needed later in life, such as math, communication, and language. *** Studio Equipment *** living room with a small upright piano w/ seating for parents Music books for the first lesson *** Travel Equipment *** I can provide music books for the first lessons, but then I expect them to pay for their own books so they can mark in them. They would need to provide a piano or keyboard. *** Specialties *** I teach mostly out of Alfred or Bastien Method books. But I do know other methods (Suzuki, Faber, Glover, and The Music Tree). I cater to the way the student learns best. I teach all levels of piano and make sure that the student plays in a recital once a year. I am classically trained, so I teach more towards classical or standard (vs. jazz, modern, etc.)