Thank you for visiting my site. As of April, 2024, I have three open lesson slots. I am currently accepting new students, and students who start when I come back from spring break on April 8 will have first choice of lesson times over the summer. Even over summer, I will have some extra time available to take on new students, which is not common. Please contact me to set up your interview.
What do YOU want to do with music?
Are you interested in playing for fun, for yourself or others?
Do you want to be able to write your own music?
Do you want to be able to play serious classical music? Pop? Jazz?
Do you want to make a career in music?
I can help you reach your musical goals, whatever they may be. From performing on the concert stage to relaxing playing music at home, I'm happy to help you do what you want to do with music!
January 30, 2021
Fifteen of my students and colleagues were able to attend a workshop about Arabic music presented by Lebanese composer Wajdi Abou Diab . Wajdi presented a brief explanation of Arabic music theory, then offered a master class of students' performances of music from his books Longa and Sama'i with Piano Accompaniment and Arabic Folk Tunes for Solo Piano. After that, we spent some time discussing various composing philosophies and work. Wajdi has provided a wonderful writeup of the workshop here. He presented a fantastic workshop, showing both his teaching and musical heart. I look forward to the next time we can work together, and I'm very proud of all my students who performed at the workshop.
July 18, 2020
We've had a very successful summer of music with all online lessons. For safety and convenience, I'll be continuing lessons online for the foreseeable future. I'm working on my school year schedule, so if students need to dust off their instruments from the summer and get a head start on lessons for the school year, contact me now. I'm currently scheduling current and new students, and will be happy to work with you and your schedule, knowing that schedules nowadays are subject to change with minimal notice.
Still open for teaching!
As of 3/23/2020, I am on my planned spring vacation. I will return to teaching on Sunday, April 5. Though I'm hopeful we will no longer be under "shelter in place," I am currently set up for teaching lessons via video in most any format of your choosing - FaceTime, Skype, Google Duo, Glide, Messenger, and if you have another platform you prefer, I am happy to look into it. I have been teaching via video for several years to good effect.
If you're looking for a way to get something new started while we have some time to do so, music is a great opportunity. I teach piano, band instruments, and recorder at all ages and all levels. Please contact me if you'd like to reserve a time beginning the week of April 5. If we are still under quarantine, I'll have flexible availability during the school day. If we are back to school, I'll have some afternoon and evening times available for lessons at my home.
All current students: I will be teaching my regular schedule beginning April 5.
To all, stay well, healthy and safe, and if I can help bring some joy and kindle interest in your musical lives, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Welcome to my music studio!
If you are looking for my composition page, please visit angelapiano.com
Teaching: If you are looking for a private music lessons for your child or yourself in the Joliet / Plainfield area, please feel free to look through these pages for general information. For more specific information, please call or email and I will be happy to give you that information and answer any questions you may have.
I teach in a fun, energetic, and effective style for all age levels from four years old through adults, and from beginners to students preparing for college. An area of particular strength for my teaching is intermediate level students, who have learned the basics of music and their instrument, but who want and need to explore different subjects and styles of music, such as:
- playing pop and jazz styles of music
- learning to accompany from the piano
- composing and arranging.
Having decades of professional experience in all these areas gives me the ability and enjoyment of passing that knowledge to young musicians, giving them the ability to put new practical application and imagination to their knowledge and musicianship. I also keep up-to-date with new music education technologies, and actively use such programs and apps in my studio as Finale Notation Software, SmartMusic, and Home Concert Xtreme by TimeWarp Technologies all to further engage students in their learning process.
My primary instruments are piano and bassoon. I also teach all other band instruments.
Composing: I have been an active composer/arranger for my students and my churches for several years. As a writer of music for students, I strive to make the music interesting and enjoyable, as well as finding ways to build technical facility and musical interpretation. Pieces range in styles from arrangements of classical pieces to assorted contemporary styles. I've even written a mariachi bassoon septet.
In my vocal music, my goal is to write music that is strongly melodic and accessible to congregational singing. My choral works are generally written as two-part or as SAB, as most of the churches I've been involved with have had smaller choirs.
In my writing, I tend to focus on accessibility for younger and non-professional performers. I've found that it's much more pleasing for performers and audience alike to experience less technically demanding music performed well than difficult music performed not as well.
I strongly and regularly encourage students to compose their own music and work with them to develop their own musical stylings.
Performing: I currently play piano for the Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet and other churches throughout the Chicago area. As a bassoonist, I am a founding member of the JSO Woodwind quintet, which performs for various events throughout Chicagoland. Because my primary musical focus is teaching my students, my performing schedule is light.
I actively work with students to enable them to be excellent performers, whether in their band program, as a solo pianist and as an accompanist, and playing in local symphonies.