PIANO LESSONS WITH MICHELLE
WELCOME!
I'm excited you are thinking about registering your child or children for private piano lessons. Piano lessons can be incredibly rewarding, even beyond the realm of music, as it helps your children develop math and rhythm skills, plus learn discipline, time management, and the value of hard work.
Please take a look around to see if you think I'd be a great fit for your child!
"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.” – Wassily Kandinsky
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I have always loved music! I started playing the piano at age 5 and took lessons through college and beyond. For the past 21 years I have been teaching students, in ages ranging from as young as 5 to adults. I'm currently located in Parker, CO. Outside of piano I also play the organ, violin and am an alto singer.
PRIVATE PIANO TEACHER:
2002 - present
ACCOMPANIST:
2001 BYU Private Singing Lessons and Flute Recitals
2005 High School Choir, Mesa, AZ
2006 Highland Jr. High Choir, Gilbert, AZ
2011 High School Choir, Sacramento, CA
2019 - present, Ponderosa Choir Accompanist
2022 Private Voice Students Festival
2023 Ava Marie Parish
STYLE OF TEACHING
My goal is to make learning the piano enjoyable, yet still challenging and rewarding. I hear too many times from adults how they wish they wouldn't have quit taking the piano. My mission is to help my students STAY with their lessons long enough to be able to play and ENJOY it .. and for those skills to continue into adulthood.
I have high expectations for my students, but my lessons are very flexible in terms of how fast or slow we progress. I try to keep things fun and low-key. My personality is very laid back, however I am very passionate about what I do!
METHOD
I come from a classically-trained background myself, but I recognize that all children learn better when they are playing songs they enjoy. Therefore I incorporate all different styles of music into my teaching. In the past I used a few different types of method books, ranging from Thompson, Bastien, Alfred, Wunderkeys, Piano Pronto and Faber & Faber. From my experience with all those different method books, I have compiled my own piano method books that take the best from each of those method books, but with a stronger emphasis on chord theory.
All of my teaching is heavily rooted in theory. I insist my students learn chords and scales right from the beginning. As the student progress beyond the basics, I introduce improvisation.
Contact
Please contact me to learn more or to schedule your first lesson.