Molly H. TakeLessons Instructor music, Classical Piano South Vinewood Street, Littleton, CO

Why I Teach

I love people, and I love music.  Whenever the opportunity arises, I like to create a musical situation (perhaps spontaneous, perhaps not) that allows people to experience and enjoy the musical abilities that lay inside them.  Seeing someone experience the joy of creating music is amazing; helping someone build the musical confidence to participate in music-making is even better.  It is a delight to find a way to relate to a student and to encourage and inspire him or her, regardless of skill level.  To do this one-on-one everyday as a private piano teacher is a blessing – I love what I do!

My Background

I am a classically-trained pianist and a skillful sight reader…but I am also a musician who learned to play by ear first.  I grew up in a very musical family, playing and singing along at a young age.  My parents taught me piano chords starting at about age 5, and when I turned 10, they decided to pay for private classical piano lessons for me.  It was frustrating and difficult for me to make the transition from playing by ear to playing from sheet music.  In fact, I really didn’t like it.  Then, at age 14, I got a good-paying job playing unfamiliar music each week.  It quickly became obvious why sight-reading is so useful (I wasn’t about to give up the job…so I finally learned to sight-read)!  I stayed in lessons until I graduated from high school, when I first started songwriting and experimenting with improvisation.  My college experience was based on an interdisciplinary approach to the arts.  I spent four years composing music, playing in a wide variety of performance groups (jazz combo, barbershop, chamber ensemble, intermedia improvisation, pop band, community chorale, theatrical orchestra), studying music history and theory, sketching, painting, taking black and white photos, making paper, writing poetry and short fiction, and acting in musicals and theatre competitions (alongside a normal liberal arts core curriculum, of course).  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, Music Concentration, Creative Writing Minor (may I “toot my horn” here and mention Summa Cum Laude?).  For the past four years, I have been working in music education: two years as a private piano and voice teacher, and two years as a choir and band director. 

My Teaching Philosophy

Now, as an interdisciplinary artist, I see that the integration of the arts is as natural as the integration of our senses: we don’t feel the moist ocean breeze without also smelling the tang of salt.  Likewise, music can make us feel like dancing, a good movie or play can inspire us to write a reflection, or a well-written passage can impress a vivid image in our minds that we would like to draw or paint.  When I am teaching music, I use the other arts as necessary to explain or support ideas (for example, a student might need to move to a rhythm; as another example, I once assigned a few students to write and act out a short skit in order to put a song into context and help them understand the meaning for better expression).  I treasure the opportunity to present new concepts to my students using a variety of methods in order to cater to diverse learning styles.  My goal is not to cover material, but to foster musical understanding and mastery so that each student gains musical competence and confidence.

Curriculum

I use the Alfred’s Basic Piano Library curriculum (for both children and adult students – they have a variety of different courses available, depending on the maturity level of the student).  There are three to four books that you will be required to purchase in each level attained, and a selection of other “special interest” supplementary books that may be purchased if desired.  These books are widely available at a reasonable price.

A Typical Lesson

During a normal lesson, the student and I will first evaluate his or her progress on the assigned pieces and technique exercises.  If the student has satisfactorily practiced and mastered the music, we will move on to a new piece or concept and possibly introduce new exercises.  If more practice is needed, we will analyze trouble areas and discuss practice techniques, and the music will be re-assigned for review.  We also correct any assigned written work and review difficult concepts if necessary.  Periodically I will check comprehension and memory by reviewing old concepts.

Practice

I am a fun, creative, relaxed, and patient person – but I expect hard work.  I try to instill striving for excellence in my students (I remind them that excellence is requiring more of yourself than others require of you).  I expect my students to practice consistently (three times through each song every week day is a good starting point).  I also expect parents of young students to help them practice.  As a parent, please be prepared to require a regular practice time, and to sit with your child for some (and perhaps all) of that time.  You can give your child the structure and discipline needed for noticeable progress and a sense of success!

I teach classical piano lessons using the Alfred's Basic Piano Library curriculum.

music, Classical Piano