I took piano lessons with Ms. Debbie from 2005-2018, and every step of the way Ms. Debbie taught me piano in the best way possible. Not only did Ms. Debbie provide amazing foundational skills in music reading, piano repertoire skills, and overall playing skills, but more importantly, she made me love music and playing piano. She prepared me amazingly for the MTAC's Certificate of Merit piano testing from Levels 2 to the advanced level (Level 10), resulting in outstanding performances in all of the levels I participated in! More than anything though, Ms. Debbie instilled the discipline of practice, a keen eye for detail, and musical expression that very few teachers would be able to inspire in students. Thank you so much for your years of support, motivation, and patience Ms. Debbie!! read more

This review is for Debbie. I had an unpleasant experience dealing with her. She was very disparaging and prejudiced about my special needs kid. I felt she had a bad attitude and showed a lack of respect. People like her make me thankful for the majority of helpful and supportive teachers, caregivers in the community. I hope she increases her awareness about special needs and tries to become more thoughtful. read more

I took lessons as a young teen, and have recently decided (now in my late twenties) to start taking lessons again. Admittedly, I am not the most diligent student when it comes to practicing, but I couldn't ask for a more patient, knowledgeable, and understanding teacher. As an adult who pays for their own lessons, I feel the price is very reasonable when compared to a music school or studio, and the environment is much more comfortable and welcoming. I have been a student of Debbie's for almost two years now, and couldn't be happier with my choice. I would recommend Debbie to anyone interested in taking piano, regardless of their age. read more

I wholeheartedly recommend Debbie for piano lessons. If you've been looking for an outstanding piano teacher, either for your child or as an adult yourself, look no further. I studied under Debbie for over 12 years before I moved away from the bay area and my experience was always outstanding. Her teaching style is both positive and efficient, which served to instill a passion for piano within me - I attribute my love of the piano today largely to Debbie's attitude & teaching style. After laying a solid foundation of the basics, we progressed through increasingly advanced material. By the time I moved away, I was playing Rachmaninoff and had everything I would need to continue learning new material on my own. From sight reading to finding the correct fingering to interpretation of pieces, I have always felt that my training has enabled me to quickly and accurately learn even the most difficult of pieces. Debbie has her students participate in the Music Teachers' Association's Certificate of Merit program, which hones musical theory as well as sight reading & performing skills in front of an evaluator. These exams were invaluable, as having a firm understanding of theory is incredibly useful when learning new pieces. It sometimes took me many months to learn some of the complex pieces for these exams, however with Debbie's excellent planning, I always learned them in time and went fully prepared into these exams. I was also chosen multiple times to play in the Branch Honors Recitals, again thanks to her excellent guidance. In addition, she holds annual recitals to further develop students' stage-performance ability. I think this is crucial for all developing musicians and has certainly allowed me to get rid of my stage fright when playing in front of large audiences. Finally, Debbie is such a nice person and is always engaging and lively. I firmly believe that a positive atmosphere is needed to cultivate a lifelong passion for the piano, and with her skills and experience, I feel that Debbie is among the very best piano teachers in the Bay Area. read more

I took piano lessons from Ms. DeMar for over 12 years and she is a wonderful, caring teacher as well as a fantastic pianist. She instilled in me a love for music, as well as a solid music theory foundation, that continues to this day. I still think back fondly on our piano lessons and the recitals that she put together. I would highly recommend Ms. DeMar to anyone who is interested in learning how to play the piano! read more

Ms. DeMar is a great teacher! She taught me piano from ages 5 - 18, and provided a very comprehensive piano education. Not only did I learn how to read music and play piano from her, I also learned advanced music theory, music history, and conquered stage fright through performing at piano recitals. Ms. DeMar really cares about her students, and adapts her teaching style to suit the needs of each one. She knows how to make piano fun for them, especially ones like me who didn't like to practice piano that much. :) read more

My daughters have been going to Ms. Debbie for 7-8 years.. She is good and thorough in piano. My kids are enjoying learning piano from her.

I took lessons from Debbie many years ago from my early childhood up until I was 18 years old. I'm so thankful that I had a teacher who was very patient with me, because there were times when I really did not want to play anymore and she somehow managed to keep inspiring me and not let me quit. To this day, I still love to play many of the pieces I learned when I was younger, and I'm able to teach myself to learn new songs as well. When I went to college, I decided to minor in music, and boy was I ahead of the game when it came to music theory, rhythm and technique. Debbie instilled in me the basis for reading and playing music. Had I not learned this, I don't think I could play so much on my own now. I remember Debbie being very patient and kind and she of course knows her piano. If you have a style of music that you like, she will go out of her way to find music that will suit you and help you learn it. I would highly recommend her for piano lessons! read more