Students meet weekly with Rene for instruction on all aspects of music. Choices for private lessons are 30 minutes (for ages 8 and under), 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. School age students are grouped by age and ability for group lessons about 6 times a year and perform in 2-3 recitals each year. Students participate regularly in events sponsored by Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association.

Private Lesson Information

Piano lessons cover all aspects of learning to play the piano. 

• Students begin to read music from the very start. 

• Students learn rhythm.

• Technique and theory are reviewed through weekly assignments. 

• Sight-reading is emphasized at every lesson. 

• Students are taught to improvise using their sight-reading, technique, and theory skills.

• Students learn music from all eras.

• Collaboration with other pianists or instrumentalists as well as composition are encouraged.

CLASS LESSONS

Class lessons give students a chance to make new friends, share their music, play games, practice performing their pieces in front of a friendly audience, learn about music history, prepare for theory exams, listen to professional recordings of well-known music and gain skills that will help them in their music studies. The classes are formed with age and ability in mind and we meet on Saturday afternoons 5-6 times throughout the school year.

FESTIVALS

Students in René's studio participate in a variety of events sponsored by NVMTA. More information about these events can be found here:  https://www.nvmta.org/event-overview/. 

Fall Festival emphasizes Contemporary music.  I usually register the top 10 best prepared students for this event.

Theory Mastery Day has graded tests up to level 12. These are provided from VMTA and required for all of my students except for primer level.

Piano Ensemble Festival is for duets/trios.  Optional.

Piano Concertos are played on two pianos (available in the studio).

Bach/Baroque Festival/Competition is for music by Bach or other composers who lived from 1600-1750.  This is an option usually after at least three years of piano study and by invitation.

Composition Contests: One of the NVMTA Composition contest winners is chosen each year to have their piece orchestrated by the McLean Symphony.  There are also some $$ prizes. I also encourage students to participate in the PTA Reflections Contest.

Sonata Festival is sponsored by NVMTA and is held in the Spring. I usually register the top 10 best prepared students for this event. (optional)

RECITALS

Students in Rene’s studio participate in 2-3 recitals each year. All students are expected to participate in recitals.

1.Late October/Early November for all private lesson students. Repertoire usually includes 1 contemporary and 1 historical piece memorized piece.

2. The Winter Recital is for all students participating in the Bach/Baroque event or who have prepared a piece written by Bach or another Baroque composer.

3. Late Spring Recital for all private lesson students. Repertoire is varied for this event.