Welcoming students from Monmouth County and Middlesex County to my studio in Matawan or live online via Zoom
TEACHER
I live and teach in Matawan, New Jersey. My students range in age from 5 to adult. Though some of my young students go on to major in music, and I am very proud of them, I especially love teaching curious, enthusiastic kids who won't make their living as musicians but who wholeheartedly enjoy listening to and making music. I teach all students to the same high standard.
Students need either an acoustic piano, or a digital piano for home practice. The digital must have 88 weighted keys in order to make the most of lessons. A keyboard cannot fill in for either an acoustic piano, or a digital piano.
AT THE PIANO LESSON
I strive for well-rounded lessons. I provide students with the best possible music education in a positive, supportive, nurturing, no stress environment. I use favorite method books with the youngest students, and once they graduate from those, we move on to the graded curriculum of the Royal Conservatory of Music. I love teaching all styles of music, from old to new, and I supplement the core material with lots of extra fun pieces. Lessons include theory, technique, singing, ear-training, and sight-reading. Many of my students try out for, and are chosen to play piano in their school orchestra or jazz band.
BENEFITS OF STUDYING AND PLAYING MUSIC
- Develops analytical thinking
- Develops time management skills
- Develops attention to detail
- Develops listening skills and following directions
- Develops confidence
- Encourages expression
- Feeds the soul
STUDENTS
Setting goals and working for a prize is a great way to encourage progress and build confidence.
My students earn Gold and Silver Medals in Shore Music Educators Association Student Evaluations as well as 5, 7 and 10 Year trophies. They have earned High Honors and Honors at the New Jersey Music Teachers Spring Recital Auditions, as well as achievement trophies, and have been Composer Competition winners. They earn achievement certificates in the Royal Conservatory of Music piano practical exams and music theory exams. Many have earned State and Center Certificates of Excellence, and the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. Some of them repeatedly!
Several of my students have gone on to careers in music, as public and private school music teachers, or notably, in the case of Matt Beilis, a recording artist. He is a singer, songwriter, and prolific performer, who decided to follow his music dream after graduating from college with a degree in finance. He studied with me for twelve years, starting when he was five. Visit YouTube, enter his name, and you can watch videos of Matt performing, singing and playing piano. Check out his website at www.mattbeilis.com.
Piano study and piano achievements have figured large on the college applications of all of my graduating seniors. It is no longer enough to have top grades. Colleges are interested in the students who do things "out of the box," and awards earned thorough the study of any musical instrument are an enormous plus on a young person's resume, even if their college focus will be math, science or the Humanities. The benefits of studying music are well-known and appreciated by the academic world.
BIO
I received my education at Montclair State University, Westminster Choir College, and Berklee College of Music. I am past president of the Shore Music Educators Association (SMEA) and past Student Activities Chair for the New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) where, as part of my many volunteer activities, I designed and implemented the NJMTA Student Festival. I continue to be a member of both organizations, as well as the Cecilian Music Club. I served as the Central Jersey/Matawan Center Representative for the Royal Conservatory's Certificate Program for 16 years and am currently the Membership Chair for Shore Music Educators. I hold Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced piano and theory certifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In addition to my life-long involvement with music, I write. My short stories have been published in literary journals, and anthologies. My idea of a vacation is getting away for a writer's workshop to hone my skills. My current project is a Young Adult novel. Yes, I manage to make time to both teach piano and writing because I love what I do. My piano students to read, read, read!
