Susan Burns
About
I started singing when I heard the musical "Cats" at age 8. I decided I wanted to sing like those people, and that's exactly what I did: I sang my little heart out until I had a great voice.
At age 11, I was asked to play the bassoon in the school band, which also required piano lessons. This was my first formal introduction to music, and I learned quickly, becoming something of a prodigy at the bassoon and very competent at the piano.
I took a break from these in high school to study voice, and went on to perform in the Show Choir - the best of the varsity choral students.
I picked up both piano and bassoon again, as well as voice and drums, in college, making 2nd chair State in bassoon in just one year (after an 8-year hiatus).
Life sent me another direction and I never formally finished my music degree.
I fell into teaching after a friend introduced me to another teaching platform, through which I gave my first vocal lesson 7 years ago.
I discovered I have a knack for breaking down and explaining difficult concepts, and I love sharing the knowledge and experience I've learned along the way.
The rest is history... I have been teaching ever since, and I plan to continue indefinitely.
I am also planning to create a video channel for my students this fall, where I will demonstrate my teaching methods (a mixture of traditional, Suzuki, and things I've come up with myself) and break down difficult-to-grasp concepts that the majority of students often struggle with.
I believe anyone can learn any instrument if they are willing to dedicate themselves, and if they have the proper support from teachers, family, and sometimes even friends.
I will do my best to provide you with the support you need to learn piano or voice, and work with your needs so that you can be the best musician possible.
Teaching is a relationship, and I look forward to creating one with you!
A mix of traditional and Suzuki methods. I focus on scales and exercises as a way to build coordination and an innate understanding of music. I use the music to teach theory but I also teach theory from books and focus on chords, key signatures, modulations and transposition, and being able to adequately read any piece of music.
I have taught people from age 4 to age 72, and I have experience teaching students on the autism spectrum (I have Asperger's myself).
Taught for Wyzant.com from 2013-present. I have over 900 hours logged through this platform and a 4 1/2 star rating.
Taught for taylorrobinsonmusic.com from 2014-present.
Taught for Clear Lake Music Lessons from August 2015 to August 2018.
Taught for Music & Arts (a subsidiary of Guitar Center) from 2018-present.
I use a combination of Bastien and Faber, mostly, although for very young or struggling young students I've used Helen Marlais. For students exhibiting excellent coordination I use Schmitt as soon as possible, and for everyone I also supplement with Edna Mae Burnam's "Dozen A Day" exercise series. I also use the Alfred color-coded flashcards and I REQUIRE parental involvement for students under twelve, in order to establish a firm foundation of practice habits and methods.
I also ask that ALL my students, regardless of age, set up a regular practice schedule of no less than 15 minutes per day, five days a week, increasing the time as appropriate for age and skill level.