​Noted Piano: Private Music Lessons
About Me
At an early age my parents discovered that piano was a great way for me to learn and focus. Since my first encounter with a private lesson I have stayed in lessons with different teachers wherever I moved to. I was a music major at Rollins College, and graduated in 2012. I emerged from Rollins with a wealth of knowledge and a hunger to pass the information on to others so that they can enjoy music in every aspect of their life.
The manner in which Rollins sets up their classes creates a learning environment that allows for creativity as well as growth. I learned violin, viola, cello, and bass with a string master who not only took the time to teach me each instrument, but showed me how to teach them to others as well. I took voice lessons from the most compassionate person I have ever met and she gave me a voice I wasn't afraid to use and then turned around and showed me how to give that voice to others.
Like many young students, I had too much energy in elementary school. I fidgeted constantly and my teachers were trying everything to keep me still in class. Finally someone recommended piano to my mother. Shortly thereafter I was bought a piano and started taking lessons with my first piano teacher (Mrs. Ernestine Stewart in White Pine, Tennessee). There was an almost immediate drop in my hyperactivity down to the point of nonexistence. All my excess energy went into the piano through my hands and I fell in love.
A year later I started playing the flute in the band at school (5th grade offers band in Tennessee). While I was a step ahead in theory and knew how to read notes I still had to figure out the rest of playing a new instrument, but again I loved every minute of it. Each step of the process led me closer and closer to wanting to play more instruments and helping others where I had a gift that they didn't. I began tutoring my fellow bandies (band students) in high school and set up after school groups to help get my section (flutes) up to par for concerts.
Also in high school, I was given the opportunity to learn piccolo, and while I do not own one now, it was a wonderful 3 years of high pitched glory. The challenges of balancing such a strong instrument in a group as well as trying to stay in tune with other piccolos and flutes allowed my ear to fine tune itself into what it is now.
I have managed to collect several small unique instruments that I have taught myself how to play (including the ocarina) and these instruments, while not widespread or well known, embody what I love about teaching music: The ability to give each instrument, each student, and each song a unique individualistic approach that gives life to a song, a lyric, or a beat that will live on in them forever.
No matter what you want to learn, music is a great place to start.