The Piano Room

Being a piano teacher isn't just a profession, it is a passion.

I have found that being a piano teacher is the most rewarding job; I am not just teaching notes - I am touching lives! Being a teacher is truly an amazing responsibility that extends far beyond teaching students to play a musical instrument. Our actions can instill a love of music and the desire to learn - it can nurture a sense of independence and the self-confidence to take on challenges and solve problems, not to mention enhance children's self-esteem. The caring trusting relationships between my students and myself make my job the best. I love to think of the miraculous gift of music that I am giving to students and to everyone who hears them.

Beyond being a teacher, my crucial responsibility is to serve as a healthy role model, demonstrating caring and excellence that challenge each student to become committed, to whatever degree talent and aspiration allow.

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A little bit about me...
I started playing the piano when I was 8 years old. Throughout the 10 years of classical study with my aunt, Janet Alessi, I learned to love music and it became the main passion of my life. Throughout my high school years, I performed extensively and participated in numerous local, state, and national competitions and evaluations. My aunt gave me the gift of music, and she is one of the main reasons that I am teaching today.

Throughout my studies with my aunt, I participated in the National Piano Guild Auditions, and I participated in the SMEA annual piano student evaluations, where I was honored with five gold medals. Through NJMEA, I participated in their annual concert auditions, for which I received a five-year trophy for being selected to perform in their recitals for five consecutive years.
In 1993, I was selected through SMEA to perform for their annual showcase recital, in which I received an "Outstanding Performance Award." Also in 1993, I was chosen as the Monmouth County Representative for the NJ State Teen Arts Festival.
During high school, I began performing for private parties and wedding ceremonies, as well as volunteering performances for senior citizens homes and local community recitals. I was the choral accompanist for both the elementary and high school productions. For two summers, I attended Stokes Forest Music Camp and studied under recording artist, Joseph Smith.
In 1996 I graduated from Ocean Township High School as a Spartan Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. I was voted for senior superlative as "Most Musical!"

 

Studio beginnings….
Teaching piano was always something I wanted to do, even from a very young age. I admired my aunt for all that she accomplished and hoped that I could follow in her footsteps. With her guidance, I decided to take on some private piano students. While I was a junior in high school, I advertised locally with flyers and gained some students. Throughout my college years, I would come home on the weekends to keep up with the piano lessons. Some of my very first students still remain taking lessons with me today! I am very proud to say that some of them have even gone on to study music in college and have taken on piano students themselves.

 

The College years…
I attended Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. It was there that I studied under Veda Zuponcic for four years. While attending Rowan, I was Vice President of the University Piano Forum as well as accompanist to the many musicians at the college. While living in southern Jersey, I taught piano at the New Jersey School of Music and Old Towne Music. In 1997, I joined Montclair State University's Summer Program at Stokes Forest, NJ, where I was a counselor, piano teacher, ensemble coach and theory teacher for several summers. Along with my college studies and private piano lessons, I continued to perform for private parties and ceremonies and also accompanied local schools and preschools. I graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2000.

 

After college…
After graduating from Rowan, in September of 2000, I became the Music Director at Chesterbrook Academy in Voorhees, NJ. I taught music for grades K-8, as well as directed two musicals and the school talent show. During that time, I also gave after school piano lessons. I would continue to come home on the weekends to give piano lessons for my "Ocean crew." After completing my year at Chesterbrook, I decided to leave and focus my efforts fully to The Piano Room, as well as continue with my music studies.

While living in Voorhees, I taught piano lessons privately and began my association with the Community Education Recreation (CER) Program for Voorhees Township. Through the CER Program, I offered piano lessons, as well as music theory and music history classes. I continued to go home on the weekends to teach my Ocean students as well as teaching at Monmouth Music in Red Bank.  In 2004, I moved the South Jersey studio to Haddonfield, where lessons were held at the Conservatory of Musical Arts for two years.  I then became the assistant director of Stokes Forest Music Camp. 

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In 2007, I started the next chapter of my life and got married! Over the past ten years, I moved my studio back home to Monmouth County where my husband, Bill, and I started a family where we now have four beautiful children together - Ellen, Bill Jr., Emily and Anthony. I'm currently balancing my time between raising those four angels and teaching my wonderful group of students.  I also continue to further my studies in both piano performance, as well as piano pedagogy. In 2017, I became a licensed Kiddy Keys Instructor, and I am currently enrolled in Julliard's Piano Artistry Class taught by Dr. Michael Shinn. 
 

The Piano Room is home to a spectacular group of students who make each and every day a delightful reminder of why I chose this profession! Over the past 20 years, I've been privileged to see so many students discover their natural skills and abilities and reach results they never dreamed were possible. I've watched them grow and reach their highest potentials and I'm forever blessed to have taken each and every one on their musical journey, creating experiences and memories that they will cherish for a lifetime!

 

My Affiliations

New Jersey Music Educators Association

Shore Music Educators Association

Music Teachers National Association

American College of Musicians

National Guild of Piano Teachers

The Cecilian Music Club

Licensed Kiddy Keys Instructor
Certified Piano Marvel Instructor

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