The Royal Conservatory curriculum provides students and teachers with a well-organized, comprehensive and engaging library of materials to explore, understand and enjoy. My hope for students is that in studying piano, they develop a better understanding of themselves and of others, by learning how music reflects the culture and people and time in history that it was written. It’s important to me is that each student learns to do their best, and to overcome hurdles and setbacks in their piano study. This will serve them in many aspects of life.
I’m a stickler on rhythm, enjoy making the technical requirements “fun” to practice, and like to work with students on repertoire selection so that they enjoy and “own” the music they are learning and playing. My guiding principle as a teacher is from Dorothy DeLay, one of the great violin teachers, who said “Teach the student, not the subject.”
Please visit my Website at Devonshirepiano.com for more information. Thanks!
Instrument / Discipline
- Piano
- Rudiments
- Harmony
- History
- Counterpoint
- Piano Pedagogy
- Analysis
Specialized in
- Youth (7-17)
- Adults (18+)
- Young Children (under 7)
- Beginner/Elementary
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Teaches At
- Online
- Teacher's home
- Teacher's studio
Specialist designation
- Piano - Advanced
- Piano - Elementary
- Piano - Intermediate
Credentials
- 1976 - Bachelor of Music (with distinction) - University of Michigan
Professional development
- Accompanying - with Eugene Bossart at Schoolcraft College, 2 years of lessons for university voice students, including recital accompaniments - 1998
- Alan Fraser Workshop - At Hope College in Holland Michigan, master classes on his approach to technique along with Feldenkrais and Dalcroze sessions - 2015
- Alexander Technique - Ongoing study of Alexander Technique - 2007
- Lister Sink Workshop - Week long seminar with Barbara Lister Sink on injury prevention and healthy teaching - 2010
- Ohio University Pedagogy Workshop - Introduction to Piano Safari method and master classes with students and Christopher Norton - 2013
- Ongoing private study - Ad hoc private study with Michele Cooker, Eugene Bossart, Flavio Varani, Joel Schoenhals - 1998
- OU Summer Workshop - Weekend workshop for introduction of Piano Safari method, and Christopher Norton workshop and masterclass with 3 young students - 2014
- Piano - 1 semester of lessons with Flavio Varani at Oakland University to prepare for chamber music program - 2005
- Piano - 1 year of lessons with Joel Schoenhals to prepare for competition in Paris - 2007
- Private Study - Private study with various pianists including Michele Cooker, Eugene Bossart, Flavio Varani, Joel Schoenhals - 2000
- Taubman Technique - Video viewing of Edna Golandsky course in Taubman Technique - 2011
- Wellness in Piano - Week long seminar with Barbara Lister Sink to learn how to incorporate Alexander technique into piano teaching - 2010
School Associations
- Michigan Music Teachers Association - Provincial / State
- Music Teachers National Association - National