Piano Lessons in Palatine, IL

Mary L

Instruments: Piano Voice Organ Synthesizer Keyboard

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Concentrate on what needs the most work first. Then when those passages start to feel and sound better, work on making the entire piece flow well as a whole. Warm up first. Always play scales, arpeggios, and technique exercises first. They help you to warm up before you play. For beginning students, practice fifteen minutes a day. For more advanced beginning students, practice twenty to thirty minutes a day. For intermediate level students, practice thirty to sixty minutes a day. For advanced students, practice one to four hours a day.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
I only accept students five years old or older. Prior to five years old, there is two much risk of developing carpal tunnel and other issues. The student must be able to concentrate on one thing for five to ten minutes at a time before moving to the next topic. The student must be able to stay focused and sit still for thirty minutes. The student must have the patience to practice fifteen minutes a day three to five days a week. The student must have an interest in learning music themselves. I've found that if the student is not interested they will not learn or benefit much from instruction.

When will I start to see results?
How fast you see results is dependent on how much you practice. To become fluent at reading music, it generally takes about two years. It generally takes about two years to finish a typical piano method. After two years, you should be able to read music. From then, the challenge is to learn increasingly more difficult literature, increase your technical ability, and increase your virtuosity. So the answer is what results do you want to see? That will determine how long it will take to see results. You will see some results right away. However, music takes a lot of practice and most results do not come without some dedication.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I had a few different music teachers that inspired me. My first piano student gave me a strong foundation and love of music. My teacher in high school taught me the value of practice and how to stick to my goals and keep trying even when things are difficult. I had a few different college professors who gave me an even deeper understanding of music and taught me to appreciate different styles and even to find appreciation for music that I might not normally like. Pushing me outside my comfort zone has given me an outstanding appreciation and knowledge of music.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I did not choose my primary instrument. My parents chose it for me. I just happened to be an exceptional piano student at an early age. I was a child prodigy and played my first professional gig at the age of eleven.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Mary appeared on Rupam Sarmah’s Together in Peace album released in 2017; track was performed in New York’s Time Square for the United Nations’ International Day of Peace festivities; album went to #1 on Billboard’s Top World Music Albums chart Mary’s band, Mary & The Immaculate Rejections was on the initial 2017 GRAMMY Ballot in several categories; Mary Lemanski is also listed for her song, “You’re My #1,” recorded by Mary & The Immaculate Rejections Regional Semi-Finalist in the OurStage Warped Tour Competition 2015 Semi-Finalist in the Intel® Superstars Competition 2013 ASCAP Plus Award Recipient 2012 Song of the Year Contest 2012 - Suggested Artist - "Passage" Regional Winner in Flavorpill's A Band Apart Competition 2011 Song of the Year Contest 2011 - Semi-Finalist - "Life Goes On" Song of the Year Contest 2006 - Honorable Mention - "A Better Place" Song of the Year Contest 2004 - Runner Up - "Fly Away"

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
No.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Technique and playing with emotion.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
No, I base which method books I choose on the student.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I generally warm up for the first 1/4 of the practice session. I then concentrate on any problem areas of pieces I have been working on. Finally I work on any new material I might have.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a Bachelor of Science in Music & Business Administration. I started out as a Performance major, but changed to Music/Business because it is more practical.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I would love to perform any piece with an orchestra someday.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I was not a musician, I would probably be an actress or scientist.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I like to play pop, rock, blues, R&B and punk the most because I feel them the most.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I've always sung, so singing just came naturally. My mother wanted me to learn pipe organ, so I learned it. Synths and keyboards are just an natural extension of the piano.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My father was an exceptional pianist. I get my musical ability from him.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I think it was a gradual decision to be a professional musician, although my first gig was at age 11.

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