Piano Lessons in Smithsburg, DC

Instruments: Piano Music Keyboard

My work encompasses classical lied accompaniment, sonata-duo, piano trio, and collaborations with dancers. I am a Collaborative Piano Fellow at The Aspen Summer Music Festival and Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar. My other summer engagements have included The Collaborative Piano Institute, Domaine Forget International Music Festival, and Todi Music Academy. Notable performance engagements include projects with Johns Hopkins University Peabody Opera and Todi Music Academy. I am a graduate of Johns Hopkins University of Peabody conservatory, where I obtained duo Masters in Collaborative Piano and Piano Performance, and Graduate diploma in Vocal Accompanying. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

There is no set method that works for each student. For young children that are just beginning, I like to start them with the Bastien Piano Basics or Piano Adventures series, but I will supplement these books with other material depending on the student's needs. I like to give beginner students little pieces that will help them understand the fundamentals of music in context so that they are still making music while they learn the basics - this keeps them from getting bored! Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice

Melissa started teaching during her senior year of college when she took her first vocal pedagogy course. Teaching has been an important part of her schedule ever since. Over the years, she has taught privately, through various community schools, through several national companies, and she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Illinois State University for two years. Thus, she has experience teaching all ages and skill levels. Her students have ranged from beginners to university music majors, from age 3 to age 72. Read More

Instruments: Piano

I usually use Alfred Basic Piano Library Book 1 for beginning young students and Alfred's All-In-One Course for beginning adults. I will combine piano playing and music theory in my teaching. During the lessons, I start with scales, technical exercise, and then solo repertoire. For weekly assignment, I might give my students 1-2 solo repertoire, scales, and technical exercise depends on there level. Also, I often adjust my teaching methods to students' needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano

Over 15 years teaching private piano lessons 4 years providing private piano lessons at Prince William Academy Approximately 12 years church service performance Read More

Instruments: Piano Organ

I began teaching in 2000. I was very fortunate to have had very qualified teachers throughout my career. When I was in college, I asked my professor, "How do you teach?" And his response was, "Teach as you have been taught." My teachers have included Donald Sutherland, Dame Gillian Weir, David Higgs, Corey McVicar, Carol Prochazka, and more. A few of my teachers trace their lineage from Leon Fleisher, to Schnabel, to Leschetizky, to Czerny, and finally to Beethoven! Read More

Instruments: Piano

My teaching methods vary depending on the student's needs and musical knowledge. Normally starting with general repertoire before expanding into different genres in order to obtain a feel for each person's skill or level of understanding. If they are younger, I tend to lean towards the more conventional approach with the Bastien Piano Basics or Piano Adventures for them to grow in the fundamentals. I have found that the more interest they display for piano, the more excited they become about exploring different styles of music. Read More