FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My prices are admittedly at the high end of the spectrum but given my years of professional teaching experience worldwide in music schools of all age and career levels, these current fees are actually lower than those of my colleagues (of equal standing) nationwide, and these fees are discounted from the hourly rates I was already earning many years back. During Covid with many people struggling to pay their monthly bills, I am also very willing to reduce these rates on a case-by-case individual basis as much as possible, for seriously interested students.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Getting to know your reasons for working with me - how I can specifically help you and make the most difference in your musical growth; Give an overview of my "performance from the core" approach which has aspects that work for both piano playing and singing; Demonstrate differences in piano tone or vocal sound, based on that approach; and then where we begin (repertoire etc) depends on the experience level of the student and the type of online platform we both find works between us.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Private piano lessons since age 3; (public concerts since age 5); singing on television and in musicals, accapella groups etc from age 13; completed B.A. and M.A. degrees in music and sociology with highest honors at age 19 from SJSU (Calif, USA) completed M.M. degree (UK equivalent of D.Mus.) in musicological research of performance practices, at Univ of York, England at age 22; Began teaching piano professionally at age 11 and conducting choirs professionally at age 13; Became Head of Piano Dept at a music conservatory at age 17, teaching 30 students per week while completing university degrees; Head of Piano and Chamber Music/performance coaching at University of York (UK) age 20-23; have since taught piano and masterclasses in universities, specialist music schools (for kids) and music conservatories in countless cities around the world. Named Artist in Residence to Oxford University (teaching piano, voice, and performance coaching) for several years; While living in Europe became vocal/repertoire coach and recital accompanist to famed opera singers from La Scala, the Met, Bolshoi, Royal Opera, Munich Opera, etc. Also coached the singers and directed them for opera/musicals in UK, Europe and throughout USA. Developed workshops teaching piano teachers how to apply the "from the core" approach; still travel to give these workshops to piano teacher associations, music conservatories worldwide, etc