ABOUT ANGELA
Angela believes that piano study can lead to a love of music, providing enjoyment throughout one’s life and leading to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Over more than three decades, she's had the pleasure of working with students ages 4-18 years of age. Some have returned to study in their young adult years. Her goal is to teach in a way that fully engages each individual student, combining enjoyment and discipline. Having grown up in a musical household, she takes joy in passing along a tradition of delight and excellence in the study of music.
Angela has 33 years of music teaching experience providing private piano and group class theory & performance. She is a Peery certified teacher accredited in the twelve foundational fundamentals of classical expression and technique . Through specific Peery technique tools combined with diligent study and practice, students are trained in sound creation. These skills can provide students with the ability to play at a very high level and compete if they so choose. Many of her students have found success at the Regional and State levels in piano competitions.
She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Music Education, specializing in Piano Pedagogy (the science of teaching piano). There, she studied pedagogy with Reid Alexander, former Director of Piano Pedagogy Studies at the University and student taught with Tony Caramia, currently Director of Piano Pedagogy Studies at the Eastman School of Music. Her former piano teachers were Anna McGrosso, Joel Shapiro, Claire Richards and Jean Vitale.
Angela is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and attends their conferences, as well as The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Currently, she is on the executive festival board of the Springfield Federation of Music Clubs, an affiliate of the National Federation of Music Clubs. Her students participate in the Decatur Area Music Teachers Association’s annual examinations to grow as well-rounded musicians. In addition to teaching piano, she performs locally for services at Christ the King Parish.
A native and current resident of Springfield, Illinois, she is married, has a daughter in Springfield Public Schools, and a cat named Alaska, that keeps the whole family busy and entertained.