pianolessonsredlands.com
Piano/keyboard lessons for teens & adults in Redlands & Riverside, CA and around the GLOBE
Piano/keyboard lessons for teens & adults in Redlands & Riverside, CA and around the GLOBE
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FAQ: What you should REALLY know before working with Nancee
Who are your typical students?
I work best with:
What do you expect of me?
Not much, really. It's pretty simple—no talent necessary. (In fact, it's not really all that important.) You've just got to have the motivation, dedication, desire, open-mindedness, and a fun, easy-going, go-getter attitude, as well as the willingness and ability to invest resources (specifically, time, energy, and money) in lessons.
Another important thing: Please be willing to be open-minded to learn new methods and approaches, even if you're not used to them or familiar with them. Has the same old traditional way of teaching helped? Not exactly. Not entirely. The general attitude in the traditional music teaching circle is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Truth is, it's pretty much "broke." Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. So be open to possibilities in learning. It's very much like going to a certain destination (for work, school, vacation, etc.) using alternate, scenic routes instead of the usual ones. You might be (pleasantly) surprised by what you find. :)
As much as I enjoy teaching and making music together, I only have a very finite amount of time to do it, so this is exactly why I am very selective. I only work with people who are an energy match to me—those who are 100% READY for music lessons on a regular basis and those who are ABSOLUTELY SURE about pursuing lessons 100%, willing and prepared to do whatever it takes to make it happen. (And yes, you MUST have an instrument—an acoustic piano, digital piano, a full-sized portable keyboard, or a synthesizer—before you enroll in any of the programs.) If you give me 100% of your effort, dedication, and desire, I'll give you 100% of mine. If you put forth 50%, expect that I'll do the same to you.
If for some reason you're not sure if, when, and how you're going to take lessons with me, you may sign up for free information in the meantime. Let's keep in touch. When you are ready, I am ready. Simply let me know when you are. I'm here when you need me. Then and only then you're invited to schedule a complimentary intro session and see if we'll work well together.
What styles do you teach?
My scope covers only classical (up to between late intermediate and early advanced level), pop (60s up to today's hits), and rock (standard rock, alternative/indie rock). If you'd like to learn styles other than listed (as well as training for classical competitions, exams, auditions, etc.), I'd be very happy to refer you to other qualified teachers.
What's your background?
A little bit about me musically:
I enjoy performing and listening to a variety of traditional and contemporary genres, ranging from the mainstream to the underground. Though classically trained on the piano, I began my musical life on a steady diet of classic rock, progressive rock, 80s pop, and much later, 90s alternative rock. My true passion, however, has always been rock, which inspired me to take up the guitar in high school, which I call my "spiritual" and "emotional" instrument. Naturally, I also picked up keyboards and developed a fascination for analog synths. I plan to re-form a post-rock/shoegaze/ambient outfit with fellow indie rock fans in the vein of Stereolab, Broadcast, My Bloody Valentine, Swirlies, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, MONO—to name a few. Fulfilling my longtime dream of co-writing, recording, and releasing original materials, I've contributed a guitar-driven track for the Sonic Bridges compilation album: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sonicbridges
Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty—why I'm here for you in the first place, anyway.
I definitely got my real education after graduating from music school with a bachelor's degree and joining professional music teaching organizations. Though I've gotten valuable experience out of them, there was something left to be desired in academia. It seemed to be mostly about learning and practicing traditional music in traditional settings. And yes, teach just kids—not adults, unless they were advanced players, of course.
I realized that I was drawn to people who were more like me—people who wanted an alternative to traditional/classical-only music training and people who want a music career outside that area. And yes, even hobbyists who don't give a hoot about being classical pianists at all. In fact, many people don't have such lofty aspirations of taking over the concert stage. They just want the simple, sheer pleasure of music making. That's all.
There's definitely nothing wrong with classical music (hey, I love it and I still occasionally play it!) and teaching kids. But the arts is all about freedom of expression, which takes infinite forms. What's more, people of ALL ages love music. So why such limited scope on music?
I've heard so many teens and adults recount their various horror stories as young students performing in recitals against their will, being forced to take lessons (playing music that they particularly weren't too crazy about while at that!), and worse, physically assaulted by some ruler-wielding stern teacher (though thankfully, I was spared from such monstrosity in my student years!), or on a less drastic note, uncaring teachers who put their own agenda and biases first before their students' interests.
Then something got me going. I felt a particular calling for helping teens and adults get more confidence and enjoyment at the piano and keyboard, prompted by lack of attention to folks of these age groups, who normally get dismissed for being too old to learn.
I work best with:
- People who play and listen to classical and/or pop/rock standards for enjoyment
- Casual players wanting to play for/with family or for themselves for R & R
- Players just wanting to jam with friends
- Teens and adults who used to take lessons
- Teens and adults who have never had lessons at all
- Worship musicians
- Teens, college students, or adults in bands—and those who want to be in one!
- Aspiring pop or rock stars
What do you expect of me?
Not much, really. It's pretty simple—no talent necessary. (In fact, it's not really all that important.) You've just got to have the motivation, dedication, desire, open-mindedness, and a fun, easy-going, go-getter attitude, as well as the willingness and ability to invest resources (specifically, time, energy, and money) in lessons.
Another important thing: Please be willing to be open-minded to learn new methods and approaches, even if you're not used to them or familiar with them. Has the same old traditional way of teaching helped? Not exactly. Not entirely. The general attitude in the traditional music teaching circle is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Truth is, it's pretty much "broke." Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. So be open to possibilities in learning. It's very much like going to a certain destination (for work, school, vacation, etc.) using alternate, scenic routes instead of the usual ones. You might be (pleasantly) surprised by what you find. :)
As much as I enjoy teaching and making music together, I only have a very finite amount of time to do it, so this is exactly why I am very selective. I only work with people who are an energy match to me—those who are 100% READY for music lessons on a regular basis and those who are ABSOLUTELY SURE about pursuing lessons 100%, willing and prepared to do whatever it takes to make it happen. (And yes, you MUST have an instrument—an acoustic piano, digital piano, a full-sized portable keyboard, or a synthesizer—before you enroll in any of the programs.) If you give me 100% of your effort, dedication, and desire, I'll give you 100% of mine. If you put forth 50%, expect that I'll do the same to you.
If for some reason you're not sure if, when, and how you're going to take lessons with me, you may sign up for free information in the meantime. Let's keep in touch. When you are ready, I am ready. Simply let me know when you are. I'm here when you need me. Then and only then you're invited to schedule a complimentary intro session and see if we'll work well together.
What styles do you teach?
My scope covers only classical (up to between late intermediate and early advanced level), pop (60s up to today's hits), and rock (standard rock, alternative/indie rock). If you'd like to learn styles other than listed (as well as training for classical competitions, exams, auditions, etc.), I'd be very happy to refer you to other qualified teachers.
What's your background?
A little bit about me musically:
I enjoy performing and listening to a variety of traditional and contemporary genres, ranging from the mainstream to the underground. Though classically trained on the piano, I began my musical life on a steady diet of classic rock, progressive rock, 80s pop, and much later, 90s alternative rock. My true passion, however, has always been rock, which inspired me to take up the guitar in high school, which I call my "spiritual" and "emotional" instrument. Naturally, I also picked up keyboards and developed a fascination for analog synths. I plan to re-form a post-rock/shoegaze/ambient outfit with fellow indie rock fans in the vein of Stereolab, Broadcast, My Bloody Valentine, Swirlies, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, MONO—to name a few. Fulfilling my longtime dream of co-writing, recording, and releasing original materials, I've contributed a guitar-driven track for the Sonic Bridges compilation album: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sonicbridges
Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty—why I'm here for you in the first place, anyway.
I definitely got my real education after graduating from music school with a bachelor's degree and joining professional music teaching organizations. Though I've gotten valuable experience out of them, there was something left to be desired in academia. It seemed to be mostly about learning and practicing traditional music in traditional settings. And yes, teach just kids—not adults, unless they were advanced players, of course.
I realized that I was drawn to people who were more like me—people who wanted an alternative to traditional/classical-only music training and people who want a music career outside that area. And yes, even hobbyists who don't give a hoot about being classical pianists at all. In fact, many people don't have such lofty aspirations of taking over the concert stage. They just want the simple, sheer pleasure of music making. That's all.
There's definitely nothing wrong with classical music (hey, I love it and I still occasionally play it!) and teaching kids. But the arts is all about freedom of expression, which takes infinite forms. What's more, people of ALL ages love music. So why such limited scope on music?
I've heard so many teens and adults recount their various horror stories as young students performing in recitals against their will, being forced to take lessons (playing music that they particularly weren't too crazy about while at that!), and worse, physically assaulted by some ruler-wielding stern teacher (though thankfully, I was spared from such monstrosity in my student years!), or on a less drastic note, uncaring teachers who put their own agenda and biases first before their students' interests.
Then something got me going. I felt a particular calling for helping teens and adults get more confidence and enjoyment at the piano and keyboard, prompted by lack of attention to folks of these age groups, who normally get dismissed for being too old to learn.
