Piano Lessons in Mount Royal, PA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music Keyboard

As I have taught many students on many different instruments, my focus has been on providing students with a firm foundation, including proper posture, breathing, embouchure, technique, and pitch/rhythm literacy. I have found great success in using the Essential Elements method books, and eventually move on to intermediate and advanced methods, focusing on etudes, scale studies, and solo repertoire. Beyond a traditionally classical approach, I believe strongly in listening to my students to realize what they desire to learn. Read More

Instruments: Piano

My teaching style is flexible and tailored to fit each student's unique abilities to help them achieve their fullest potential. By creating a positive and supportive learning environment, students are able to freely express themselves artistically, and learn to face challenges in order to acheive their goals. Lessons are custom made to go at the student's pace, and pieces are chosen based on the particular student's personality and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in studio recitals several times a year, where they are able to socialize with other pianists and show off their new skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Music

Arias maintains a roster of trumpet and piano students through both her personal studio and the Monroeville Music Lesson Center. She serves as the trumpet coach for the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and is the trumpet instructor for the Norwin High School Marching Band. During her graduate studies, she served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. James Stokes at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University and was previously the trumpet teacher for George Rogers Clarke High School in Winchester, KY; a counselor for the Morehead State University Summer Arts Academy; and an instructor for the West Union Performing Arts Camp. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

For a beginner vocalist, I will always begin with standard bel canto vocalises. These promote, first and foremost, the health of the voice. They also build flexibility, agility, and suppleness within the vocal cords. As students advance, these vocalises become more and more advanced. The technique built in the vocalises eventually infiltrates a singers' repertoire, and appropriate repertoire choices are extremely important and made thoughtfully. Pianists begin with an introduction through scales and music theory. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My number one rule for teaching is patience and setting small goals each week. Every student should want to pick up the instrument days after the lesson. Seeing someone learn a song and playing it through correctly is a mini miracle. Progress through repetition and different exercises has been a high yield of success in my personal experiences. Praise for when a student fulfills a goal goes a far way in future lessons. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Synthesizer

My teaching experience started the last year of attending Heidelberg University when I was required to instruct a high school student drum lessons as part of my internship. After graduation in 1991 I had my first vocal student in my home. In 1995 is when I had my first experience teaching in a music store environment. The store was known as Howland's Music World and was there until 1997. In 1997 during my last few months at Howland's Music World, I was hired at Hubbard Music as voice instructor and piano instructor and worked there till 2000. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

I have been teaching for forty years. I started when I was in high school and my first student was dad's mechanic's son. He was four years old. About two years ago he found me on facebook and it's a good feeling to know he plays professionally in a Metal Band! I've taught in every city that I have lived in and varied ages and levels from beginner to advanced students that play professionally but wanted to learn jazz for instance. Read More