My goal has always been to provide high quality instruction giving students a solid foundation in performance, theory and music history.  Having taught piano for over 25 years, my teaching methods have evolved to help me reach that goal.  

 Several years ago, I discovered that students actually do far better  in small group lessons (typically 3 to 6 students).  Group classes are a hands on experience.  Each child has their own piano with headsets.  They hear their piano and the teacher’s voice.  Weekly, they are invited to perform the song they worked on during the week.  Not one minute is wasted.

  Lessons in small groups offer each student these very important advantages:

     PRACTICE - Practice is the greatest key to success.

     Students are motivated by the success of others.  No one wants to be left behind. Groups provide a powerful incentive to practice when students know that their peers will be listening. 

	“Having to keep pace with the other students and his competition to try to be better than the rest has been very motivating for Hunter to practice.”    ~Sandy Pruett

FEEDBACK - Students hear and see how others are doing.  This   

        helps them to learn proper modeling.  Even errors become great   

        teaching opportunities.

      FUN! - Private lessons lack social interaction.  Learning with peers   

       validates the curriculum and skill development.  There is an   

       unmistakable synergy when students take lessons together.  We

       have a lot of fun. 

Group participation is only part of the story.

My Piano Quest teaching method provides

students with other innovations which enhance

and broaden their learning experience...

                 Priorities

Traditional piano lessons focus on

technique, theory and songs from

lesson books that most students find

boring.  I have found that students respond

much better when I supplement standard

teaching methods with materials which

match their individual interests and strengths. What I have developed is a basic introduction, almost from the beginning, for sight reading, playing by ear, composing, improvisation, and performing. 

 Playing for Others

It is a terrible waste when people learn to play proficiently but never perform enough to be comfortable playing in public.  This is why I have students playing piano outside of their own homes, within months of beginning lessons.  I provide the opportunities and incentives for these occasions as a necessary part of the learning experience.  In the communities where they live, my students regularly perform in or accompany:

· High school jazz bands

· Musicals

· School choirs

· Church services

 · Graduations

· Baptisms

· Funerals

· Weddings 

 They have won cash prizes for their performances at school talent shows and earned the appreciation of the elderly at the convalescent hospitals.  

The goal is to help them apply what they learn and make a difference in the community.

 Master Classes

The Piano Quest curriculum includes semi-annual Master Classes. Students are grouped together in larger numbers and come prepared to perform in a more semi-formal setting than weekly lessons. These performances help to ease the tension that can occur with a once-a-year recital. Composer histories and music are explored and we use theory & techniques in games. These classes are longer in length and provide more opportunities for in-depth exploration.

Piano Camp

We use 6 weeks during the summer to expand musical horizons and then refer back to them during the fall semester. This has been the most effective way I’ve found to teach students how to apply what they learn on the piano to other instruments.

We learn play in ensembles and learn the stories and artistic sides of classic gems. We improve rhythm while playing drums and put our chord experience to work playing guitars. This has been a favorite tradition for everyone, young and old alike.

Recitals

Recitals are kept short and sweet and are held in the spring of each year where we welcome family and friends to join us.