One important facet of my teaching methodology is the idea that every student has the ability to learn music to their greatest potential using an individualized teaching approach. For the beginning student, loving encouragement from the teacher can be a critical component to the student’s success in developing his or her musical ability.  If not encouraged to practice well outside of the lesson, the student will take longer to develop musically and become discouraged at his or her slower progress.  Thus, I take it upon myself to send the student home with achievable assignment before the next lesson to help in increasing the student’s technical ability and musical attentiveness.

Another critical aspect of my teaching philosophy is the quintessential importance of the musician’s ear.  I believe that music is a language that can be learned in the same manner as any person’s native tongue.  Several teaching methods have had excellent results with teaching very young children classical music by ear-training alone, with music-reading added at a later time.  This type of method, however, must be augmented with music reading games, and then actual reading of musical scores in order to be successful.  Another advantage of ear-training is that students learn to listen critically to themselves and others, thereby giving themselves the ability to improve their own performance abilities.  I believe that incorporating ear-training methods can be successful even in established students who learned by reading scores.

I would characterize my teaching philosophy as a positive and collaborative relationship with my students.  Instilling a great love of music is my main goal; it is not my goal to turn each of my students into professional musicians.  I believe that music can provide great benefits that enrich a person’s life regardless of the person’s peak ability to play the piano.  I want to provide a warm and caring teaching environment that encourages students to have a lifelong relationship with and appreciation for music.

 

Frank is a certified Suzuki teacher and also teaches more traditional approaches to the piano.  Parents are encouraged to come to lessons for young students as this contributes to the success of the learner.

First lessons are always free to decide if the teacher-student combination is a good fit.