Hello! I’m Angela! Welcome to the place where I share my ideas, achievements, mishaps, and all of the interesting and funny stories that take place in a short piano lesson! I hope that you will leave me feedback and any ideas that you have. I love to get wisdom from other teachers! Please feel free to let me in on some!
I currently reside in the small town of Chesterton, Indiana… just a few short miles from the beautiful city of Chicago! I love being close to the City, and my wonderful husband (Matthew) and I are never hesitant to spend a long weekend exploring the never ending possibilities that are present.
I began taking private music lessons when I was four years old. No one had to pressure me to play or practice. In fact, before I could even climb up on the bench, I would stand and pluck the keys, trying desperately to make a melody. I was intrigued by the piano… and I still am! I continued taking lessons all the way through college, and I have to say that I enjoy playing the piano now more than ever.
It was always my dream to be able to teach others the same wonderful possibilities that are available from mastering such an amazing and unique instrument. I can truly say that playing the piano and teaching others about it are my passions.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, in which my majors were English and Music. I have had experience teaching several different subjects. I taught 8th grade math, 11th and 12th grade English Grammar, and 3rd grade music. I have also taught private music lessons, and this is what I desire to focus on for the rest of my life.
I am extremely thankful for all of those who were involved in making sure that I received the proper education when it came to me learning how to play the piano. I will forever be grateful to my Father, Mother, Grandfather,(who always inspired me to broaden my musical horizons), and teachers who have allowed me to experience a joy that I know only comes from music!
You speak with such passion! I am a general music teacher in NY and teach at a music institute in Canada during the summers. You may be interested in attending the institute. Check out my blog on the Suzuki institute in Kingston, Ontario. My site is: sfrack.wordpress.com
I will add you to my blog roll with hopes that you will reciprocate after reading.
Sounds like you may have been a Suzuki student. Am I right?
I actually was not a Suzuki student – I was taught using the John Schaum method.
I did take violin lessons for about 1 year, and I was taught the Suzuki method then! I absolutely loved it! I teach now using the Faber books for piano lessons. Do you only use the Suzuki method when you teach? If not, which ones do you think tend to get the most response? Thank you for adding me to your blog roll. I will do the same for you!
Thanks for your comment on my site! I look forward to reading your blog!
Good to hear from you! It will be good to have another teacher to learn from and share ideas.
I am glad you mentioned the Faber books. They are good and I tend to forget about them.
I do use the Suzuki method (as I am sure you figured out from my blogs.) But, of course, I teach the kids to read too. Lately I have been using a lot of Martha Miers and I love the “Everybody’s Perfect Masterpiece” series and the “Applause” books for supplementary repertoire.
Did you check out my blog on virtual piano lessons? I would love to do some of that with you! Also check out the blog on the Kingston summer institute where I teach. You or some of your students might want to join us!
Keep in touch. I’ll look for our new entries.
Angela, this is great, I am so proud of you! I love you!!
Hey Ang,
Never thought this is where it would all end up, but this looks great. Keep it up and I’m glad you’re doing what you love. That’s what keeps you going.
Steve
Hello! I am a piano teacher in New Jersey. I have been teaching now for 41 years! I didn’t begin lessons myself until the ancient age of 9! The children I now teach begin at 4, 5 and 6 (I have successfully started them as young as 3–using a combination of note-reading and rote methods). When I was a kid the progress was much slower, and beginning lessons at the ages of 8 or 9 was fairly typical. There were also far fewer piano teachers (far fewer everything else). I began with John Thompson’s “Teaching Little Fingers to Play” and used that in my early years of teaching. I eventually abandoned it to use other materials. I find using different materials for different students works best. As soon as possible I get them out of method books and focus on getting them to play real music, even if it is only very easy pieces by Bach, Schumann, or Kabalevsky. There seem to be more and more parents who recognize the benefits of music study…the skills of concentration, discipline, and the improved self-esteem and poise that comes from polishing a musical repertoire and performing it in public. I think that there will continue to be a need or “market” for piano teachers more and more in the future….the growth in private musical instruction looks to me as to be exploding. I have made my career doing this, even though years ago I was constantly told “you’ll never make a living at that. Better to get a REAL job”. No. I’m not rich. But I do just fine. And I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
Hi! Thank you for your comment…. what an encouragement! I too, am thoroughly enjoying teaching piano. I love influencing my students for the better! Thank you again… I hope that I can teach for as long as you have!