Kimberly E
Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical, Showtunes
Kimberly E
Instruments: Piano
Styles:
Classical, Showtunes
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
I was raised in a very musical house. At the age of 5, I began piano lessons and continued through high school. I also studied clarinet from grade 5 until I graduated and played in the band. As an adult I had a few bassoon lessons. I also sang in Chorus and Choir from elementary school through high school. My other experiences with music were with theater and dance. I studied ballet (ballet en pointe), jazz and tap dance. I was very active with high school and community musical theater. I have had many onstage experiences as well as working behind the scenes; including directing (musicals, plays and ballets). I attended Potsdam State University (SUNY Potsdam) and earned a BA in French/Education and an MS in Reading/Education. I have taught in public and private schools throughout my lifetime.
My teaching experience goes back to high school, when I worked with the Peer Tutoring Program. In high school I also gave a few of my friends piano lessons. I earned a New York State Teacher's License in French (7-12), Reading (K-12) and Elementary Education (Pre-school-6th grade). I have had classroom teaching experience in public and private schools. My experience includes teaching Elementary Music in a local private school. In 1997, I began working for a local dance school, where I taught, ballet, jazz and tap. I also gave piano lessons through the studio. In 2006 I opened my own studio "Centre Des Arts Watertown", where I taught ballet, ballet en pointe, tap and jazz, theater, piano and French. I also directed numerous plays, musicals and ballets through my studio. I no longer have my own studio; however, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I look forward to working with piano students again.
I don't have a particular piano book series I use. I find that most of them present beginning lessons about the same way. I tell very beginning students to only buy the piano book to begin with. If the student continues then I encourage them to purchase the theory and technique books in that level and series. For adults, I let them choose what piano book they want to use. For recitals I let students pick on piece they will memorize and one song they would like to play using their book. My piano lessons follow the material being presented in the piano book they are using. One thing I teach all my students is the scales. I feel scales are an extremely important part of playing the piano.
When it comes to working with students, I feel that i am very easy to work with. I try to encourage my students to practice and love to see them progress from week to week. I also understand that learning new things can be frustrating at times, and help them work over the lessons they are having difficulty with. For beginning students I strongly suggest they practice for at least 15 minutes a day, but would prefer they practice 30. I also realize students today have a lot on their plate, so I do take that into consideration during their lessons. I tell them they need to get into the habit of practicing so when the material gets more difficult they won't be on the same lesson from week to week.
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