BE SHARP PIANO LESSONS
Philosophy
I teach students keyboard skills, music reading, and overall music appreciation in an environment of positive, caring and enthusiastic enjoyment of learning!
​
It is my belief that students need to learn to read music as a foundation. Online apps or teaching by “ear” can be satisfying and a quick way to learn songs, but it doesn’t set up a basis for a lifetime of exploring music. I tailor the lessons to the student’s musical interests. Of course everyone has to learn the basics such as technique, reading, and music theory, but I can apply what you learn to the style of music you prefer and enjoy. Hamilton? Billy Joel? Gospel? I either have the music, can find it online, or if all else fails I’ll write the music myself! I generally teach with the Faber series lesson books, but will add other books and sheet music as well.
I teach more than music when I give a piano lesson. Students learn many valuable life skills when they study with me. These skills include time management, speaking in front of an audience, concentration, self-esteem, accepting constructive criticism, working with others, responsibility, confidence, and many others.
Regarding Practicing
People have different goals when they sign up for piano lessons. Some students strive to become very accomplished pianists. Other students rarely practice but enjoy the lessons and learning a few pieces. Every student/family decides how much time they want to devote to this activity so the amount of practice time varies considerably among piano students. My view is that students should practice regularly to make steady progress, with the understanding that school, family and other activities are also part of our lives. A nice target is to practice the same number of minutes per day as the students age.
