Celeste Amador

Piano

“When I started my degree in music I started with performance; but,  along the way I found out I was really good at teaching, especially connecting with the students. I guess it has to do with my philosophy about teaching that if a student can’t do something, 90 % of the time it is not the student’s fault – the teacher has to find a way to teach the student how to do whatever they are struggling with.

I saw that at a University where I saw one professor who would blame the students as well as my piano teacher who was the best at the University. He would work with students with whatever they had, and one of them switched to my professor and after one semester he was a completely different performer.

To me that was proof that it is really up to the teacher 90% of the time. That is where I got my philosophy of teaching which is what I bring to my practice. I always try to figure out a way to help the students by meeting them where they are and figure out how they learn and, in a sense, how they think when they are playing.  I can be better guide them where they want to go.”

Ronit Davny

Piano

“I believe that every child can learn to play the piano. To me, when you walk into my studio, it is a safe place to be who you are and to learn a skill. A skill that as an adult, you can hang out with your friends, walk over to a piano, open it and play some of the fun songs that learned in lessons. I want my students, when they are 60 years old, to smile when thinking about their piano lessons – and me!”

“It’s an honor to teach these kids, the parents give us their kids, the most precious things in their lives and they trust us to musically educate their children. It truly is a great honor to both be my students and to teach my students.”

Inna Hampton

Piano

“I really enjoy teaching. I like to talk to students and I really like when students tell me something about themselves. By always observing my students, I intuitively understand what they can and what they cannot do. Because everyone is different, it is very important to understand a student so I can keep the student interested in music.

Based on what I learn about my students, I can customize their lessons This help them to learn better and keeps them happy making music!  Because when they smile and when they relax, they learn faster and it helps them enjoy playing the piano.  Students will show me what they want to do and I ask them questions about the music – it all helps them open their personality, which is vitally important for both learning music and enjoying music.”

Mark Moorman

Piano

“I was playing the piano, an imaginary piano, on the windowsill before I could speak. We had a piano in the household, and I was making up music by myself, improvising for hours and I begged my mother for piano lessons which I started I was 7 and it was the highlight of my life. It was all I ever wanted to do.

I loved my first teacher. It was the only place where I felt I could be myself; it was my safe place. There are as many ways to play music as there are people and it is fascinating to experience how someone else connects with music. I am always looking for how does this unique person connect to music?

My first teacher emphasized expression, that music was a language, and you told stories with it and the other side was that she was very good at music theory so she taught us the science of music. I try to combine both because you have to have both.  I try to make sure my students have a ramp to play the music they want to play. I like to help a student find their own unique musical voice. I don’t want them to sound like me I want them to sound like them.”

Kabanya Vinson

Piano

“I love kids and I am the mother of four adult children. I remember the days when they were little and they were my favorite days.

To still have an opportunity to positively impact children at a young age is a gift. My desire to teach stems from my love of children. To see children grow and develop, to help children learn, it just makes these days my favorite times as well as when my own children were little. To teach these children piano, to see the lightbulb moment and to see how it brings them joy is why I love teaching piano so very much.”

Rachelle Aderoju

Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Guitar and Ukulele

“Music is like a puzzle.  I like working with and helping students figure out that puzzle.

One of the ways I do that is by teaching them correct ways to practice pieces. Students don’t know automatically how to practice. I believe  knowing how to practice helps a student learn more efficiently.  And it certainly helps them to understand their pieces. Which then helps them get to the reward center in their brains. Especially for the young students! When a student can access the reward center,  that makes performances more rewarding and lessons more fun!

My goal is to have students come into a lesson feeling comfortable. My philosophy is if a student can perform without fear, then a student actually enjoys making music!”