| I
currently teach about 40 students, both children and
adults, in a beautiful home studio. I began piano
lessons myself at age six and still enjoy taking
occasional lessons over forty years later!
I have been a piano teacher since 1993. I was a
traditional piano teacher for almost 10 years, that
is, one who uses music reading as a way of teaching
someone to play the piano. In 2002, I began to teach
an Australian-developed piano program called SIMPLY
MUSIC, which I believe to be a breakthrough in music
education! In all my years of teaching, I have never
seen a program as awesome and inspiring as this!
SIMPLY MUSIC offers the most broad-based music
education of any piano program I know. The quantity
and quality of songs students can learn in a short
time far surpasses that of traditional lessons.
SIMPLY MUSIC begins as a 'playing-based' program.
What this means is that the reading process is
delayed until a student can play about thirty to
forty songs from memory in a wide variety of styles.
This usually takes about twelve to eighteen months
of lessons. The repertoire includes blues/jazz,
classical, contemporary and accompaniment styles.
The songs are taught directly onto the keys in a way
that is very natural and easy to understand.
Because of this hands-on approach, students are able
to play a wide variety of advanced-sounding music in
a relatively short period of time. Some students are
able to play one or two songs after only one lesson!
Furthermore, the songs in the SIMPLY MUSIC program
are of a much higher quality than those found in
beginning method books! The harmonies and rhythms
are more sophisticated and complex, which makes
learning and playing these songs so much more
satisfying than playing typical beginner's songs.
Yet the music progresses so naturally that learning
becomes fun and easy! Students do not experience the
frustration of having to learn notes, rhythm,
dynamics, fingering and phrasing at the same time as
they are learning what to play! We also do a lot of
singing as many of the songs in the SIMPLY MUSIC
program have words, and singing helps to train the
ear.
After building a repertoire of thirty to forty songs
and having acquired a basic knowledge of chords in
all the different keys, students have a strong
foundation to begin the more formal aspects of music
education, such as reading and writing music.
Students will more than make up for the time they
have waited to begin music reading. Because of the
unique way that reading is taught, and because
students already have the ability to play the piano,
they will begin to read music much more quickly and
at a higher level than in traditional lessons. They
will also be more independent learners, and will
have acquired a new way of learning which they can
apply to learning more advanced music.
You can learn more about the SIMPLY MUSIC program
and philosophy at the website:
www.simplymusic.com or at
www.handstogetherpiano.com
Anyone who is interested in the SIMPLY MUSIC program
can come to my piano studio for a free 30-minute
informational session. This way, you can see the
materials, listen to the music and have a much
better understand of how this program works.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in
Music from the University of Pittsburgh and took
many graduate courses at Temple University. I have
studied piano with concert artist Sheila Paige, who
is an expert in teaching the proper body mechanics
of playing piano. I continuously participate in
educational programs through the Music Teachers
National Association (MTNA). I am currently a
student of Julia Vieland.
I received national certification through the MTNA
in 1999 and was president of my local chapter for
four years. Some of my students participate in
non-competitive performance activities through this
organization. I also hold informal performance
classes during the year to give students the
opportunity to play for each other in a relaxing
environment. This helps prepare them for a large
family recital in June with about one hundred family
members and friends in the audience.
Piano is the joy of my life. I feel fortunate to be
able to earn a living teaching piano and being able
to pass on the gift of music to my students.
Cheryl Goresko, NCTM (Nationally Certified Teacher
of Music)
Associate Simply Music Teacher
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