Ahafia J  
Instruments: Piano, Violin, Synthesizer, Music, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Folk, Musical Theater, Showtunes, Avant-garde

I have been teaching since my junior year of high school. I construct my lessons to best fit the student's passions and interests, as well as their strengths and weakness. If the student has a good ear and is interested in learning how to play pop piano, we work on aural skills and learning how to play a song by ear only. If the student likes a particular classical era, we dive deeply into that and learn the minutiae of the style. Piano lessons should feel challenging, but never like a chore; music is expression and passion, and lessons should cultivate those feelings. I strongly believe that breadth of genre familiarity is what makes a good and flexible musician of any age, so I am willing to work with a student on any style of music they would like to pursue. Music theory, aural skills, and healthy technique are emphasized at each and every lesson, and regular practice, even if for only a short time every day, is required.

For intermediate students, I may still use a series of method books, but with most students I prefer to emphasize learning through repertoire. I have specific technique and theory books I use with students to provide structure to the beginning of lessons and practice sessions, but I find that most expressive and technical lessons are taught through music itself. By talking through healthy practice habits and jointly constructing daily or weekly practice plans with my students, I encourage them to take responsibility for how they use their time at the piano, and how to get things learned healthily and efficiently.