Piano Lessons in Devon, PA

Instruments: Piano Voice Violin Viola Keyboard

Excellent, nurturing Suzuki violin pedagogy - treating music as a mother tongue to absorb, imitate, and engage with - informs my methods for beginning and intermediate students. Gradually, as the student shows readiness, we blend in the traditional yet humane study of expert violin playing and thoughtful musicianship modeled for me in Dorothy DeLay's masterclass. As distinct from many string players, I am also a devoted and accomplished singer. So breathing, posture, phrasing, color, line, and articulation are key to my approaches to making and teaching music, and thus to helping my students x22singx22 through their playing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching while still completing my Bachelors degree at William Paterson in 2011. Most of my students were beginning level piano students, but I had a few more advanced students as well as some people studying saxophone with me. My teaching philosophy is to combine teaching the technique of an instrument with learning songs as well as theory and improvisation/composition. Everyone learns technique, but learning music that I wanted to learn, learning how those songs were written (theory), and eventually elaborating on those songs (improvisation), and writing my own music (composition), was what really got me deeply engaged in the act of practicing and making music, and I have found over several years of teaching that it keeps my students engaged and enjoying the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Piano Violin Electric Violin

When it comes to teaching beginner piano, my philosophy is to avoid making lessons and assignments feel like a monotonous chore. If a student feels overwhelmed and/or uninterested in completing assignments and attending lessons, it can have the same affect as being assigned too much school work and house chores; the student will most likely lose interest in learning. As a young musician, I make sure that my students look forward to their lessons by reinforcing the idea of music as a form of artistic expression. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

I have always been passionate about music! I started taking lessons at 8years old and haven't stopped since. I knew right away that this was my calling, that music was going to be my life. I started teaching before I even graduated high school, helping and learning from my own instructors who helped me become a great teacher myself! I have had many amazing opportunities to play all across the country, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lincoln Hall, Summerfest, and with Dizzy Reed of Guns and Roses. Read More

Instruments: Piano Flute Recorder

“Art Exists for the human species. I think that all of the people who love art, those who teach art, and all of you should burn with the obligation to save the world”    -Shinichi Suzuki I believe in encouraging my students and teaching one step at a time, which they can succeed and become confident musicians. I will also encourage them to listen to recordings of famous artists and make listening and practicing a part of their day.  For beginning flutists, I actually will teach them to spit (with aim) one grain of rice before they use their head joint for the first time. Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ Keyboard

I generally start each lesson by asking the student 1) what went well in their practicing and 2) if there is anything they found difficult. If they mention an area of difficulty we focus on that before making any attempt to play the piece through. I make the lesson a partnership in which we work together toward the goal of accomplishment. Once this has been realized, we then treat the piece as a finished product. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

Mary has primarily studied classical trumpet, but also has training in jazz and world music. She currently plays principal trumpet in the Bravura Philharmonic and occasionally performs with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, and the Garden State Philharmonic. Shes also a member of the Philly Bloco and the Bella Vista Brass Quintet. Shes been involved in many performance groups including but not limited to the Vassar Wind Ensemble, Penn Orchestra, Marsyas Ensemble and numerous Purchase Conservatory ensembles including the symphony orchestra, graduate brass quintet, Latin jazz orchestra, klezmer ensemble, and the new music ensemble. Read More