Kristine Clay

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

I began playing the piano at age 7 and soon found my experience not only giving me a new skill but an outlet for stressful days and a way to express my happiness on good days. I firmly believe that ANYONE can learn to play the piano at (almost) ANY AGE with enough work and desire. That is what drove me to start teaching lessons more than 10 years ago. I teach out of my home where my beloved Korg digital piano keeps me company. I have degrees in Anthropology, International Relations, and Public Administration so my interests beyond music include politics, cultural affairs, and foreign languages.

My Musical Education Background

I received formal instruction for 11 years, from age 7 to 18 until I went to college. During that time, I also started offering lessons in my neighborhood and tutored kids who struggled to connect to their regular teachers. I was a regular accompanist for my church group and rehearsal accompanist for various high school choir events. I have regularly offered lessons in my home for the past 10 years.

Genres and Subjects Taught

I was trained in the classical style with emphasis on sightreading, musical notation, and technique. This strongly influences my musical pedagogy as I seek to assist students to become comfortable musicians, not just wrote performers. That means more time will be spent learning to read music than memorizing passages and more attention to sightreading unfamiliar music than long-term repetition of learned songs.

I maintain a personal focus with my students to allow them to play genres they enjoy most. While absolute beginners will be more limited, all students will be prompted to choose a "fun" book to accompany their instructional books. The fun book can be classical, jazz, blues, rock, folk...whatever! This will help students explore the kinds of music they are already interested or expand their horizons to new styles.

Lesson Rates

Beginner to Intermediate learners:
30 min lessons held in my home = $80 per month

Intermediate to Advanced learners:
1 hour lessons held in my home = $150 per month

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

I specialize in young beginners and adult beginners. Usually, children should be 7 or 8 years old, depending on maturity and dedication. Adults are welcome at any age. I am comfortable teaching absolute beginners (Level 1 or A) through intermediate levels (Level 6) with formal Alfred instruction books and advanced students using classical music and theory instruction.

My Certifications and Awards

Utah State Solo and Ensemble Competition 2003: I-
Utah Davis County Regional Solo and Ensemble Competition 2003: I+
Bountiful High School Sophomore Choir accompanist

My Musical Influences

Chopin, Chopin, Chopin. Quite simply I am enamored with pretty much anything Chopin ever composed. From his meloncholy etudes to lively turning waltzes and mazurkas, I have a favorite Chopin piece for every emotion and often turn to now-worn-out pages to pour my feelings out through the keyboard. Other classical composers I connected very well to are Lizst and Rachmaninov. I also started singing in high school and learned a lot of folk music which drew me in with soft melodies and gentle harmonies.

Service Area

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