I've been taking lessons with Catherine for over two years, and I absolutely love having her as my…read moremusic teacher. Not only is she sweet and patient, but she's obviously in love with music and teaching. At the same time, she's a professional. That is, she's always taken my lessons seriously and given me the respect I've needed to thrive. Moreover, I can tell she has done her best to make me feel comfortable and at home. I highly suggest her to students of all ages and talents.
When I first began my lessons with Catherine, my playing was littered with poor techniques I had acquired from previous teachers. This is where I experienced the extent of her patience and understanding. For instance, I was a terrible sight reader. At 17, I could only read as fast as turtles walk. Still, she would sit with me and go through the passages, encouraging me, never insulting me or making any negative comments. To me, this meant a great deal, because I had never imagined that someone as talented as her would be able to tolerate my reading and help me as kindly as she did. I always felt like she wanted me to succeed, like she was my biggest fan. All in all, she inspired me to try and better my reading, even when I was outside of a lesson.
I do not believe it is common to find teachers as talented and passionate about music as Catherine is. I love her, because she has taught me not just how to play piano, but how to play piano beautifully! Her genius extends beyond music theory and technique; this is a person with a profound understanding of performance. In the two years she has taught me, through her teachings and constructive criticism, I've been exposed to a study of music I was previously unaware of. Sadly, a lot of teachers fail to teach their students about performance. However, that was never a concern of mine when I was with her. And I hate to be vain, but I do play beautifully. And I can only thank Catherine for teaching me how.
I really admire Catherine as a pianist and person in general. But, as a business women, I respect her a great deal. I applaud her business model and work ethic. That is to say, although I am just a kid, she does treat me like a client. She has always taken MY goals into account and done her best to help me accomplish them. She takes me seriously, and she takes our time seriously. She is reliable, skilled, honest, and everything you would expect in a professional. Taking lessons with her has been a treat! I cannot stress enough how wonderful it is to be taught by her:)