Bill H
Instruments: Piano, Organ
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Spirituals, Swing
Bill H
Instruments: Piano, Organ
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Spirituals, Swing
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 7-80
DA, University of Northern Colorado, Piano Performance (2017)MM, Louisiana State University, Piano PerformanceBA, Mississippi State University, MusicBS, Mississippi State University, Computer Engineering
April 2014 - Performed in the Colorado Piano Festival
May 2014 - Performed in Fort Collins Music Teacher's Association meeting
Summer 2009 - Studied Lieder accompaniment in Salzburg, Austria
Masterclasses with Martin Canin of Julliard School and Abbey Simon
State winner in MTNA event in piano solo three times
I will have a Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado in 2017. I am originally from Mississippi and studied engineering before pursuing music as a career. In 2009 I fulfilled my dream of visiting Europe by spending the summer in Salzburg, Austria and accompanied singers there as well. I enjoy living in Colorado and like to bike and play disc golf when the time allows.
Since teaching my first piano lessons 10 years ago I realize that, as a teacher, you never stop learning. There can always be better ways to do things. I believe that a holistic view of teaching provides a full spectrum of knowledge to my students; this includes theory, improvisation, and popular tunes (in addition to sight reading and technique). I try to increase motivation to play the piano by asking them what their favorite songs are and then finding a way to arrange them to their level.
I have used several different method books for beginners, but I tend to like the Faber edition. After about the second or third book I incorporate classical music pieces into the lesson. For adults I have had success with Piano Partners, which uses a different style of showing patterns and teaching improv to get the student playing much faster than traditional methods.
I thoroughly enjoy teaching piano to others so that they themselves may grow stronger not only as a musician but as a person. Getting students to set goals and reach them in terms of practicing and learning new pieces is a challenge. I like to break up larger goals into smaller tasks. I also believe in doing things right, which usually means slowly. I usually start with different warm-ups, go onto old music, and finally onto new music.
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