About | melissamusicstudio

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About the Instructor - Melissa Beyer

Music was always a part of my life while growing up in Waterford, Michigan. I started studying music playing the piano at the age of 9 and the clarinet at the age of 11, through formal lessons and participation in music festivals. In middle school and high school, I played piano in the Jazz Band and was first-chair clarinet in the Advanced Band, as well as drum major in the Marching Band. Continuing my music studies at Eastern Michigan University, I graduated with a B.S. in Arts Management and Minors in both Music & Marketing. I then furthered my career in the area of Arts Administration with the Michigan Opera Theatre and continue to be a piano accompanist for many community organizations. I currently live in Troy with my husband of 22 years and our 2 sons . I truly value the benefits of early music education in the development of children. In addition to running my own piano studio of over 30 students for the past 10 years, I am also a Kindermusik Educator and currently teach classes at the Community House in Birmingham. In addition, I have been the Kindergarden/First Grade teacher for the Kensington Church music program "Kaleo" for the past 9 years. Being able to help children find their musical talents that God gave them is truly a joy and a blessing that I treasure every single day!

I am also a proud member of the following organizations:

* Michigan Association of Professional Music Teachers

* Music Teacher's National Association

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is based on positive reinforcement, providing structured but flexible lessons based on the individual needs of each student, and developing an overall understanding and appreciation for music. My ideals emphasize reward based teaching, my expertise in teaching children and adults with different learning styles, and my lifetime study of music. I am very passionate about sharing my love for music and I encourage students to embrace learning and have fun along the way. As a teacher I am patient, encouraging and approachable, as I believe it's important for students to learn in a nurturing environment where they are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them as well as have a chance to ask questions and give their input. I expect students to be prepared and focused on learning during their lessons and urge them to strive for excellence rather than perfection.

I use a combination of traditional and non-traditional methods for teaching piano and music theory, based on each student's individual learning style.