How I
teach!

Students come first

Looking for fun piano lessons in Mountain Home ID that meet your child right where they are?  Learning to play well takes time and patience, but it should also feel joyful.  The hardest part of teaching piano isn’t scales or technique – it’s helping students stay encouraged and excited long enough to see how rewarding music can become.  Once they reach that turning point, the music itself becomes the motivation.  Before that, it’s my job to keep lessons lighthearted, flexible, and full of small wins that make them want to keep going.

Every student is different, so I watch and listen closely – their words, their body language, their focus, even how they sit at the piano tells me what they need for that day.  When attention starts to fade, we switch gears.  Sometimes we play a rhythm game, sometimes we move to a new song or try a creative activity.  Changing things up keeps lessons fresh and prevents burnout.  A bored student stops learning; an engaged student can’t wait to show what they’ve discovered.

I bring a mix of structure and play to every lesson.  We might toss a ball to match rhythms, use stickers to mark tricky notes, or pretend we’re performing in a concert hall.  There’s usually some laughter, a bit of silliness, and always encouragement.  My goal is for students to end each lesson feeling proud – not perfect, just proud of progress.

Over time, I want each student to fall deeply in love with music and feel confident expressing themselves through it.  Piano can be more than just a skill.  It can be a source of calm, creativity, and joy that lasts a lifetime.  When a student discovers they can make something beautiful on their own, it changes how they see themselves.

I also focus on helping students become well-rounded musicians.  Reading sheet music is important, but it’s just one part of the picture.  We explore improvisation, composing simple melodies, and playing by ear – learning how music works, not just how to follow notes.  Some students light up when they realize they can make up their own songs.  Others find peace in playing from a book.  Both paths are valuable and both deserve to be celebrated.

Many people have the false assumption that playing by ear is a natural gift that can’t be learned.  Or that sight-reading is too hard for them to master.  Both of these beliefs are just not true.  While you may have natural tendencies toward one skillset or the other, they can both be learned and practiced.  I am living proof.  I was once so tied to the notes on the page that I felt lost without sheet music.  Now, I am comfortable with or without it.  I am able to play by ear and keep up with lead sheets and chord charts as comfortably as sheet music.  This came with practice and conscioius effort to improve the skills I was lacking in.  I’m still learning.  It’s never too late.

As your piano teacher in Mountain Home, I want lessons to fit comfortably into your life. I come to your home so that practice feels natural, not like another appointment to rush to.  You don’t need to tidy up or have a perfect piano setup – just a place to play and a willingness to explore music together.

Every student I teach reminds me why I love this work. Watching confidence grow, hearing those first smooth melodies, and seeing a child beam after mastering a new piece – those are the moments that matter most.

If you’re ready to start piano lessons that are flexible, personal, and full of joy, I’d be honored to teach in your home here in Mountain Home, Idaho.