Toby M
5.0
(5)
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Folk, Country, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Latin, Electronic, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova, Avant-garde
Toby M
5.0
(5)
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Folk, Country, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Latin, Electronic, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
BA Classical Piano Performance: Southern Oregon University
MA Classical Piano Performance: University of the Pacific
Berklee School of Music: MA in Composition
1980- Southern Oregon University Piano Performance Scholarship
1982- Southern Oregon University Piano Performance Scholarship
I'm passionate about teaching others to love music. It is one of my greatest pleasures. I have been performing and teaching since I was a teen. I have performed both classical and original music and am currently working on a rock album writing piano and orchestra for about 12 songs. We have a Grammy-nominated producer in Denmark producing our album. Seeing new students experience learning to play is a great joy for me as well as helping an experienced student ace a RCM or other performance exam, place in a competition, or enter a music program in college.
I have taught piano privately since I was a teenager and taught in both the private and the university setting. My main goal is to make sure my students love playing and learning piano. I use a combination of both classical and popular music to get my students excited about music and customize my teaching to best fit each unique student. I also have 2-3 recitals a year (currently digital or outdoors) and other performance opportunities and help my students with performance exams such as RCM and ABRSM. Students are excited to see others perform and get trophies and performance awards which motivates them to practice. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I feel I'm not doing my job. I am also a composer who plays with my own rock band and I teach both songwriting and composition. I help my students with composing original music as well as arranging covers of popular hits. I am currently working with a guitarist in Texas on a rock album which we hope will reach a decent audience. I love seeing the spark of passion for piano and playing in my students and am always working to help them stay motivated and excited about music.
I customize lessons plans for each student based on their learning goals and style of learning so it is different for each student. However, I typically use Faber's Piano Adventures for kids and Alfred's Adult All in One lesson books for adults. I also teach theory with scales and technique with Fingerpower, Czerny, and Hanon. Once I know what the student is interested in, I customize the songs and make sure they love the songs I'm teaching and they are having fun. Since each student learns differently, I customize and focus on teaching to their strengths. Some students learn by hearing, others by doing and playing, and others by reading. So I focus and adapt my teaching to best fit their unique learning style.
i individualize my teaching approach based on the unique needs of each student, whether they are children or adults. Each student learns differently and some learn by hearing and copying; others learn best with reading music. I don't use one approach for everyone. I change my method for each student and based on their schedule, we move at a pace appropriate to their needs. Everyone learns differently. Some rely on listening so with these students I show them how to do parts of music and they listen and copy. With others, we work on reading and learning to sightread effectively. Others are very creative and I teach them how to compose and do improvisation. I have taught and overseen instructional programs so I understand everyone learns differently and I customize to teach different learning style. I also pick music the student loves. Students learn to play much faster and are more engaged if they can do music they love.
Mel Lin
My 9 year old daughter has been taking piano lessons with Miss Toby for two years now - both in person and online. We were referred to her by a friend, and we have been very happy. Miss Toby is a very talented musician and pianist. Hearing her play her original pieces is so inspiring. My daughter has progressed a lot throughout her time under Miss Toby’s guidance. Miss Toby is very patient, and has a calm relaxed energy. She provides ample encouragement and allows her students to progress at their own pace. We appreciate that she allows her students to choose from a range of songs and genres. She is a wonderful piano teacher!
Melissa Lin
My daughter has been taking piano lessons from Miss Toby for almost 2 years - both in person and online. She is a wonderful teacher, whose passion for music is inspiring. She is very patient, offers ample encouragement and allows her students to progress at their own pace. My daughter enjoys learning piano, and we are very grateful to Miss Toby.
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