About
I believe that every individual learns music skills differently. As a teacher I seek to design lessons that provide each student with the opportunities to grow in a creative and enjoyable way. Providing a customized schedule for each student is essential for engaging and encouraging musical growth. I have discovered that as students combine interests with their music study it brings more enjoyment to their musical experience.
My Mission: To enrich a soul with the beauty of music.
I performed professionally with my family for 15 years. We performed string quartets for weddings, country and bluegrass music for fairs and conventions and BBQ dinner shows. When I was 15, I traveled with my family as the band for the Ricks College Folk Dancers to Europe, and performed 60 performances in France, Italy and Switzerland. I served a full time mission to the Washington D.C North Mission. I had many opportunities to sing, play the piano and the organ, and perform in special music programs offered at the Washington D.C Temple Visitors Center. I graduated with a Bachelor of Art in Music from Boise State University in 2002.
I taught music for a year at a charter school: The Ranches Academy. I helped organize and prepare a Patriotic program called Heroes for the 4th-6th graders. I also taught preschool at the Ranches Kids Daycare center and taught Mommy and Me classes.
I taught church choirs for five years and prepared monthly musical numbers, Christmas and Easter programs. I participated in the American Fork Orchestra and the Kensington Orchestra, acted in a play, The Savior of the World, judged a singing competition, judged Piano Festival, coordinated musical numbers as a Music Chairman, organist, pianist, chorister, private music instructor and organized private music recitals and music performance classes. I also have participated in singing competitions.
I taught music at a private school: St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Kearns, Utah for two years. I enjoyed teaching music to preschool-Middle School aged children in a religious environment. I taught after school music classes in guitar, ukulele, piano and singing. I created a Ukulele choir, Children's Choir and Mass Choir. My students successfully performed in a Spring recital. I also coordinated and prepared the Christmas program. I also help sing and lead the Mass music. I also took college classes to complete my Utah teaching certificate. I am a member of the MTNA music organization and recently attended a music convention in March. I now teach in a music school called Harmony Ranch Music in Eagle, Idaho. I just completed my first year of teaching students ranging in age from age 5 to 70+ and will begin teaching my second year at this school this fall. Because of my busy teaching schedule, I offer Lessonface lessons on Mondays and Fridays.
I am a busy mom of 5 kids, 4 boys and a girl. I currently play the piano for the children in Primary. I enjoy reading, running, writing music and going camping with my family. I have over 25 years of teaching experience and I seek to meet the needs of my music students. I have taught countless music students valuable musical skills in sight reading, theory, composition, technique and musical expression in piano, cello, guitar, voice, and ukulele.
Performing is encouraged and recitals are given regularly. It is a great opportunity to share what has been learned.
“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”
-Maria von Trapp
I spend the first few minutes playing warm ups and exercises. If I am teaching a beginner in piano, cello, guitar, ukulele, or voice, I spend time teaching about the instrument, how to hold the instrument, posture, how to tune, teach about music notation, and begin teaching the first string for string instruments. For piano, I will have the student get acquainted with the white and black keys, and begin teaching notes and songs on the black keys. For voice, I have the student sing a song for me, so I can discern if the vocalist is a soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, or bass, Voice is an instrument that we can carry with us everywhere. I would teach the vocalist ascending and descending vocal exercises and tongue twisters to help warm up the voice and prepare to sing. I would assign some songs for the student and select songs that will help strengthen the vocalist's vocal range.
Bachelor of Art in Music from Boise State University
Professional Teaching License of Utah
Music Teacher National Organization
I teach one on one: beginners to intermediate students: from age 5 up to age 70+
Recommended texts:
Piano: for younger pianists: My First Piano Adventure for the Young Beginner by Nancy and Randall Faber Lesson Book A and Writing Book A. For young elementary pianists: The Piano Adventures Primer series: Technique, Lesson, Performance and Theory books by Nancy and Randall Faber. For older children: The Accelerated Piano Adventures Book 1 series: Technique, Lesson, Performance and Theory books by Nancy and Randall Faber. For adults: Faber Adult Piano Adventures: All In One Lesson-Theory-Technic: Level 1-2. This is a great book series for adult beginning- intermediate pianists.
Cello: For young and older beginning cellists: Suzuki Cello Bk 1, Strictly Strings Bk 1, Hal Leonard First 50 Songs You Should Play on the Cello.
Guitar: For older students: Hal Leonard Bk 1-3, Mel Bay Guitar Book for Young Guitarists.
Ukulele: For beginners to intermediate: Hal Leonard Ukulele Book 1-2, For younger beginners: My First Ukulele.
Voice: for younger singers: Disney Solos for Kids and Kids Broadway Songbook. For Teens: Hal Leonard Musical Theatre, or 36 Solos for Young Singers. For adults: Hal Leonard Musical Theatre or Basics of Singing by Jan Schmidt, fourth edition.