Karen M.

About Karen

I love Music! My family has always incorporated music into our lives. Some of my earliest memories are being danced around in my Mom’s arms and listening to her sing. I began formal lessons on the Piano when I was 7 years old. Growing up also I sang in the Church Choirs, played on Hand Bells, and explored the Flute. I spent a formal year each on Trumpet and Harpsichord and am currently working on learning Zither, Autoharp, Dulcimer, and Soprano, Alto & Tenor Recorders, and sometimes the guitar (when I have a chance).

Of course, I also regularly read and attend lectures, conferences, seminars and master classes to always improve my teaching skills multiple times each year. I have been teaching piano and music theory since 1983 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and have played professionally. I am a member in good standing with the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and was with the Inland Empire Kodaly-Orff Association, attended the National Conferences on Keyboard Pedagogy and was with the California Association of Music Teachers (CAPMT), now Arizona. I was a fully certified and licensed teacher of Kindermusik (earned the maestro distinction many times) and Musikgarten Group Piano and, until just recently and have earned National Certification through the MTNA and more recently Levels I & II of Orff. I am also past District IV Coordinator for CAPMT and past Vice President and President of the Empire Music Teachers Association (EMTA) which I helped found. My thick files with years of notes from my students make me very happy. I keep busy and love teaching!

I try hard to present students with a solid, broad based approach with an emphasis on understanding the fundamentals of musical comprehension, music reading, musical memory, and ear development. These are essential to playing and enjoyment of any instrument! To this end we cover theory, music history, performance, technique and practical application. These basics are supplemented and reinforced by the monthly group sessions, several annual field trips, access to regional, state and national music competitions and performances, as well as the formal Student Evaluations each Spring. I have a full music lab at my studio, an extensive library of music and music reference materials and up to date postings on local free or low cost musical events While I tend to emphasize classical music and technique, we will also cover a wide range of music in various meters and modalities: classical, popular and world music in solos and duets. Supplementary books are available: holiday, religious, popular, classical, music from specific times, places, composers, movies... or whatever the student wishes, when they are ready.

My personal goal is not to have a studio full of competition performers. A few are always nice of course, but the average student just wants to be able to make music - to make it sing. I DO want them to understand, appreciate, and be able to pick up something and figure it out - or apply what they know to another instrument. Once music is part of a life, it never leaves; it is the one universal language.

I love teaching. Choose lessons with me and learn that A Good Beginning Never Ends! Contact me today. I love Music! My family has always incorporated music into our lives. Some of my earliest memories are being danced around in my Mom’s arms and listening to her sing. I began formal lessons on the Piano when I was 7 years old. Growing up also I sang in the Church Choirs, played on Hand Bells, and explored the Flute. I spent a formal year each on… Read more

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