Premier Piano Studios

The Teacher Who Makes Kids Ask to Practice

Ms. Shaffer of Premier Piano Studios in Clinton Township, MI has been teaching piano since 1992 — a run of more than three decades that spans classroom work, church music direction, and private instruction. Before concentrating full-time on her studio, she spent twelve years as a music instructor in school settings: Bethlehem Christian School from 1992 to 2000, then Zion Christian Academy through 2004. Since 2004 she has also served as Pianist and Head Music Director at River Church, a role she continues alongside her teaching.

Her competitive background predates her teaching career. In 1986 she took first place at the A.O.G. District National Statewide Finals, followed by a first-place regional finish the following year. She holds certification from the Music Teachers National Association at the national level and is credentialed with the Michigan Music Teachers Association (MMTA). Those credentials reflect a formal grounding in music that she brings to a broad curriculum — classical note reading, improvisation, chord work, music theory, scales, ear training, and original composition.

What stands out in the four parent reviews on file is a recurring pattern: children who were either reluctant or struggling elsewhere become self-motivated learners under Ms. Shaffer. One Rochester parent describes a son who had previously worked with another teacher and was falling behind. After switching to Premier Piano Studios, the frustration disappeared. Another parent, Jon Phillips of Clinton Township, says he searched for months before landing here — and reports that his two daughters now practice without being asked.

That shift from obligation to enthusiasm shows up again and again in the feedback. A parent from Chesterfield notes that her son finds the lessons genuinely fun, while a Clinton Township mother reports her daughter has been going for six months and is eager to play for her friends. The details are consistent enough to suggest a deliberate teaching approach rather than isolated good luck.

Ms. Shaffer describes her own goal in straightforward terms: teach each student in a way that builds lasting enjoyment, not just technical skill. Her stated curriculum backs that up — the inclusion of improvisation and original music scores alongside classical fundamentals gives students tools to create, not just reproduce. She works with beginners through advanced players and takes adult students as well, so the studio is not limited to children.

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