Lessons Offered
Piano, Music
Where are Lessons Offered
In Teacher Studio
In Student Home
About Me
I love my piano teaching. I always have. I have taught for over 40 years. All ages, all levels!
My mother taught piano until she passed and she was 85 years old!
My forte is working with high school age piano students to:
A) prepare them for their college auditions
and/or
B) train them to be piano teachers so they can earn extra money and learn a valuable skill no matter what they choose to study in college
I love my little ones as well. Nothing is as wonderful as the smile on the face of a child that feels successful and excited about their accomplishment!
My adult students are some of my brightest smiles in my teaching! So eager to learn, so excited about each new bit of knowledge! Love love love them all!
My Musical Education Background
Piano lessons from the time I was 6 years old.
Accepted to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music on full scholarship in 1974.
Willis Music Company employed me as their Piano Teacher Consultant for New Publications and subsequently promoted me to Contact Center Manager and Director of Production of New Publications/Editor of all CD and Midi Accompaniments.
I went to all major conferences working in the Willis booth.
In November of 2002 Willis Music Company sent me on an Asian Lecture Tour where I gave lectures in 3 cities in Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong, and Singapore.
After leaving Willis Music I accepted the position of Assistant Executive Director of World Piano Pedagogy Conference. For almost 5 years I attended conferences to promote WPPC and helped run the actual WPPC event each year.
In the course of arranging and promoting WPPC the director added Excellence in Music to my job responsibilities and named me Chief Operating Officer.
This was a web-based store for the purchasing of piano music.
In all of my experiences editing, proofing, promoting, selling music, nothing compares to the joy of my actual teaching.
Genres and Subjects Taught
I am classically trained and teach the basics. I have access to, and enjoy all types of music.
Lesson Rates
My rates are 25.00 per half hour / 38.00 for 45 minutes / 50.00 per hour.
My consultations are free.
Ages / Skill Levels Taught
I teach all ages and all levels.
My Musical Influences
My mother - first and foremost. I would be nowhere without her pushing me out of her never-wavering love for me!
Mrs. Betty Lukashuk - my heart - I learned so much more than just playing piano and teaching piano - she is and always will be the biggest influence in my musical world.
94 years old and she is still teaching and holding piano classes once a week in her home!
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music - what an incredible journey that was! John Merreta, John Quincy Bass, Larry Kaufman, and all of the other professors that helped guide me will forever be heroes to me!
Service Area
Student Reviews
Ashley
Northern Kentucky, KY
Ruthanne has an innate ability to meet students where they are in the learning process. Yes, she is an excellent teacher for those who want to pursue music careers. She has the incredible talent, years of experience, and formal education for those high caliber students. Those traits paired with her tremendous patience also made her a perfect piano teacher for a student like me who enjoyed music, but was heavily involved in school activities and sports. Ruthanne was able to use her passion to ignite my love for piano that continues twenty years later as an adult. When I play the piano it brings warmth to my home and joy to my family.
Myranda &
DeFuniak Springs, FL
I (Joanna Hubbard) have two daughters that were enrolled in classes with Ruthanne, love the skills and way of teaching she uses. She is a fabulous woman with a heart's desire to share her passion with others!!!
Angela C
Florence, KY
I began my study with Ruthanne when I was around 10. I had previously taken from another teacher, but Ruthanne added something new and interesting for me. She demanded excellence and I wanted to please her. I continued to study with her through my formative years, and she helped me prepare for my college auditions. Resultedly, I received a half tuition music scholarship to Xavier University in Cincinnati. I completed my bachelor's degree, and have since acquired a master's degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and studied in Austria as a Fulbright grantee. I do not mention these accolades on my own behalf, but on behalf of Ruthanne. She helped to lay a foundation that has helped to sustain me through my career as a music educator and performer. She is a very fine teacher and person, and I feel privileged to have studied with her.
Leighann L
Evanston, IL
I can tell you that from a very young age I dreamed of being an excellent piano player. However, my impatience and inability to sit still thought otherwise. Ruthanne had to all but sit on me to keep me at the Piano for my lessons. Even though I was more of a sports child, she did succeed in teaching me the basics and even now, as an adult I can sit down and play a few things for memory. Her patience with my impatience kept me in lessons for a lot longer that anyone would have anticipated. Her knowledge, love for the art of teaching, and overall kind heartedness is what makes her such an amazing teacher. DO NOT go to any other studio or teacher! She is The Best of The Best! Thank you Ruthanne for sharing your gifts with me for all of those years and teaching me to appreciate all things classical!