Bio

Named Colorado State Music Teachers Association 2014 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Carol began her career as an independent piano teacher in 1972.  

She holds both a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Colorado, is certified at all levels by the Music Teacher's National Association, and credits Howard Waltz, Guy Duckworth and Larry Graham as her primary pedagogical mentors.A long-time advocate of the power of one’s peers to motivate, she considers COLLABORATION to be the foundation of her teaching – collaboration between teacher and student, between student and student in group classes, and between pianist and members of out-of-studio ensembles. She strongly believes in encouraging her students to participate in their community, church and school music programs and is constantly devising new ways to include collaboration in each student’s daily practice.  She is convinced that EMPOWERMENT of students is the key to motivation, accepts only students who themselves wish to take lessons, and strives at each and every lesson to find ways to help students take charge and accept responsibility for their own learning.During the 1980’s, she was part of a 4-hand piano team who frequently performed throughout Colorado, and in 1984, while working as Marketing Director of Chris Finger Pianos in Niwot, Colorado, conceived of, and then co-chaired, with the help of former student, now retired teacher Laura Boniek, Boulder’s first Multiple Piano Festival. Since it's inception, she has co-chaired the event a total of 9 times.   Now entering its 33rd year, the BAMTA Multiple Piano Festival is an event which has allowed thousands of 4-hand piano teams of all ages to hone their collaborative skills.Carol believes that, even though we may be able to “play” our instrument, it does not necessarily follow that we can “perform” on our instrument.  We learn to perform by performing! That’s why, in her studio, students are given opportunity to perform in 4 different studio recitals, 8 different class lessons, and 4 different competitive events per year.  While none of these opportunities is mandatory, they all contribute to a learning environment which encourages constant, joyful validation of a students’ progress.

A teacher who is continually evolving, Carol is now in her fourth decade of teaching.  She regularly attends conferences and workshops relating to her field, and recently studied jazz piano for 5 years in the hope of augmenting her “bag of tricks” for teaching every style of learner with every style of music.  She is also on a journey to understand more, with each passing year, about how humans learn and what motivates us.

You are cordially invited to come join her journey! (cswickhamrevier@yahoo.com or 303-666-1927).