Greetings to students interested in learning to play the piano! I am Valerie J. Pogue and I have been teaching piano for almost twenty years in my home studio and in various piano-store studios both in Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After raising three sons I returned to college and received my Bachelor's Degree in Music (Piano Performance) from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1994. I went back to college again and in 2006 I received teacher certification in choral and general music from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I live on Milwaukee's lovely east side and teach on a beautiful Steinway baby grand in my home.

I always include music theory lessons along with learning to play the piano. I want students to understand more about music than just "notes and rhythms". Chord structure belonging to the diatonic system is basic to a comprehension of the music of the western world and serves to give a student a good foundation. I also encourage students to sing along when playing because this increases the musical brain. Encouragement from me combined with expectations for practice on the part of the student are essential for success!

The world of music is grand and glorious and can serve a human being with beneficial satisfaction all of her life. I greatly enjoy helping people to acquire the skills to be able to access this wonderful world.