Testimonials

“For as long as I can remember there is one thing I have wanted to do with my life: be a singer songwriter. I spent my whole childhood singing and taught myself to play guitar, but piano seemed so out of reach. So many keys and so many weird shaped notes… it seemed like it would be 10 years before I could play along with my favorite song on the radio. After at least ten years of trying out different teachers, learning how to play simplified versions of Mozart (boring!!), and giving up and quitting within a month, I decided it was time to crack down and find me a teacher who knew exactly what I wanted to learn and how I wanted to learn it. Michelle’s approach to teaching piano is absolutely amazing for anyone of any age. In my first lesson we discussed the artists I liked and the songs I wanted to learn to play, and I learned a Paramore song in the first lesson. I was able to even play and sing along for my family within that first week of practicing! She really tailors the lesson to you and the best way you learn, and you’re off and running from the first day. I am so glad I found her. No more ‘beginners’ piano books and dreading my piano lessons. If I hadn’t, I’d still have my dusty electric piano sitting in my room mocking me! I can finally call myself a piano player…and I can finally accompany myself while singing. Downside to working with Michelle: we have too much fun and I can’t take her home with me to play piano all day. Also, I spend time practicing piano more than I do on my college homework…whoops!”
–Chelsea D.

“Before I started lessons with Michelle, I hadn’t played an instrument or written a song. Her warmth, encouragement, and fun style of teaching helped me learn to play piano and guitar quickly, as well as write and record original songs. I am now pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter. Two years after beginning my lessons with Michelle, I have been accepted at The Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, CA beginning Fall 2011.”
–Brandon Scott

“What can I say? I love the piano. I’m a singer and have always been drawn to the piano. And I’d heard you can start at any age. So there I was at 50 and ready to dive in. Well, there’s no one better to take the dive with than Michelle. She is the kindest, funniest and most delightful person I’ve met in a long time. She’s even a better teacher. And just when I thought I couldn’t be more excited about learning to play, she’s made it even more exciting. I can’t wait to learn and then practice, practice. I would have never thought I could learn a song so quickly. She breaks it down in a way that makes it seem so easy. And she teaches using music and songs I LIKE. She seems to know all genres of music from Classical to Alternative as well. I enjoy her approach and bright personality so much.Today I’m playing songs and although I still have much to learn, she is my hero.Thank you for helping to take my music to another level and for giving me a deeper appreciation for an art I love so much.”
–Karen M.

“I am happy to recommend Michelle! If you are looking for a traditional teacher who does exercises and drills, she’s not the one. If you are looking for someone who uses the joy of music to teach, motivate and inspire, you’ve found your match! My 11 year old has been taking lessons with Michelle for a year and has really found her stride. Michelle started her with songs from the beginning (my daughter already had a bit of foundation) and teaches her theory and technique by using the content of each particular song. She started her with pop songs she was interested in from the radio and she has slowly transitioned to more classical pieces. Michelle has a wide range of knowledge of genres and instruments and is a visual artist as well. I also took voice lessons with Michelle for about six months in preparation to sing at my wedding. (Terrifying but with her encouragement turned out awesome!) We always look forward to our lessons in large part because we look forward to being with Michelle. She is funny, kind and talented. As a mom, it is important to me that my daughter wants to play with minimal nagging from me, so she can experience music as a creative outlet of her own and we have reached that goal.” — Lena

“Michelle Phelps brings skill, support, enthusiasm, and engenders a sense of joy in learning to play music; my definition of a great instructor for beginning piano.”
–Roy

“Michelle is an excellent teacher. I started with the desire to accompany myself while singing, and she was a perfect match. She started me out with a challenging song that I was interested in, and her support & guidance got me to learn it and also to see how to approach breaking down piano accompaniments to my skill level. Of course, we were developing my piano skills as we worked together too. She also had the flexibility to adapt to my changing piano & musical interests. I became very interested in music theory & she was right there with theoretical know-how to help me figure out about scales, key signatures, relative minors & to help me analyze pieces of music I was learning from piano literature. Reading piano music was something I hadn’t known how to do before I started taking lessons. I was pleased to know that she could teach me in this new area of interest as well. I can’t speak highly enough of her musical knowledge and ability to teach to the skills, ability, and interests of her students. She is so personable, and her great attitude and belief in my abilities has been and is very motivational. You will be doing yourself a musical favor to study with Michelle.”
–Carol M.

“I really enjoy and love my music sessions with Michelle. Michelle is very good at tuning into a person and their individual needs for creative self expression. For me this includes deep emotional support from Michelle, as well as her helping me with fine-tuning my melodies, chord changes, and strumming styles. As I share with her my song writing ideas, she gives me constructive feedback along the way.”
–Nancy

 

 

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