As musicians, we are all ultimately interested in creating music, and through music, we connect with those near and dear to us. It is thus only natural that musical techniques and skills are best taught through actually playing music.

 

Once upon a time, I had a student who already had several years of musical training. However, she had difficulty with differentiating pitches. At first, I tried the common approach, teaching her to play different scales that share the same fingering. She struggled for a while and was eventually unsuccessful.

 

It was obvious that we needed a different approach, so I asked her to play the renowned tune Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars in different keys. You can imagine how excited I was when she was able to do so with little difficulty! Her sense of pitch improved dramatically with a few lessons. From then on, all of my students are taught musical techniques through well-known repertoire. The familiarity of these pieces allowed them to connect with those around them and ground their learning in everyday experiences.

 

Each student is unique. Some of you may aspire to be a professional musician, some of you may be looking to teach music part-time, others may want to start a band. I believe that music can connect people of all ages, cultures, and goals and that it is never too late or too early to learn an instrument. As I meet more of you and empathize with your life experiences, my teaching methods will adapt. But regardless of whether you are my first or 700th student, I will constantly reflect upon my teaching and improve my capabilities so that I can give you the best education possible. That is my promise to you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Angela