Biography
I started my musical journey way back in 1977 when I started taking piano lessons at the age of 6. Legend has it that I announced to my teacher at the time that I was going to be a piano teacher when I grew up. Well, it happened and music has been a huge part of my life since that fateful first piano lesson! I started teaching piano in the summer of 1989 while I was studying to receive my Bachelor's of Music degree. My former childhood teacher was on sabbatical and I taught all of her students while she was away. I loved this experience and it solidified my passion for teaching. I went on to receive my Bachelor's of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of the Pacific, and was awarded the Excellence in Performance Scholarship. I then went on to receive my Master's of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where I was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship and upon graduation, was accepted into the Pi Betta Kappa Honor Society. At the age of 17, I spent a magical year studying at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts with fellow young fine and performing artists, and later on I spent a semester studying abroad during my Bachelor's Degree at the Trinity College of Music in London. Before starting my own studio, I was a piano instructor at Giacoletti Music in Carlsbad, CA for several years. Starting in 2004 I maintained my own private piano studio of over 40 students and was an active member of the Music Teachers 's Association of California . I joined MTAC in 1989 and served as an officer from 1998 through 2008. From 2008-2018, I taught a diverse mix of students in Urbana, Illinois including children, professors, grad students, undergraduates and adults of all ages and abilities. In the fall of 2018, I moved with my family from Urbana, Illinois to Tucson, Arizona where I am currently accepting new students!
Students
My students are diverse in age, ability, and aspiration. I am fascinated by the art of teaching and I enjoy figuring out how to help a student learn and process the language of music and the coordination involved in playing the piano. I consider my teaching successful if a student is able to develop a relationship with the piano and a lifelong love of music. I truly believe that my job is to foster and inspire a love of music and along the way, my students will learn to play the piano and will have fun doing it! While teaching in California, many of my students successfully completed the rigorous curriculum of the California Music Teacher Association Certificate of Merit program, and many did so with high honors. In addition, they participated in many festivals and competitions. Since moving to Tucson I recently joined the Tucson Music Teachers Association and will soon be participating in the Arizona Study Program as well other local events.