Pokie’s Piano Studio
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A personal path to musicianship

How we
learn.

Strong foundations, thoughtful practice, and plenty of room for curiosity.

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Philosophy

The goal isn’t simply to play the notes. It’s to understand the music—and make it your own.

I teach beginners with no previous piano experience through advanced students who perform regularly. Every student develops the core skills to read, listen, understand rhythm, practice independently, and communicate through sound.

The studio presents at least one recital each year, giving every student the opportunity to perform in a warm, encouraging setting. Students preparing for regional piano exams receive structured guidance and clear milestones along the way.

Questions

01What is your teaching philosophy?
It’s never too late to learn music. My goal is to develop a well-rounded understanding of music while helping each student reach their own goals. Music is about expression, so I approach every student as an individual and shape lessons around what they need.
02Do you teach online lessons?
Yes. A purpose-built home studio setup makes remote lessons focused and practical. If you have a piano and an internet connection, we can work together—from anywhere in the United States or internationally.
03What is the best age to begin?
For younger students, I generally recommend starting at age five or older. Children should be physically ready to play and comfortable recognizing letters. Waiting until a child is ready gives them a much happier beginning.
04Which method books do you use?
For many younger beginners I use the Piano Adventures series by Nancy and Randall Faber, supplemented with material chosen for each student’s level, interests, and learning style.
05What happens in a typical lesson?
We build a strong foundation: note reading, rhythm, musical language, technique, and efficient practice strategies. Repertoire is chosen to stretch the student while keeping music meaningful and enjoyable.
06How much should a student practice?
Consistency matters more than marathon sessions. For a 30-minute lesson, aim for 10–15 minutes most days. For 45–60 minute lessons, 30–45 minutes of focused practice is a useful goal.

What Students Said

The kind of progress that stays with you.

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Pokie is a patient, focused, and dedicated music teacher. We are all extremely happy with the progress and enjoyment we’ve gained from his lessons.

Judith D.Parent
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His structured yet patient teaching style transformed my sons’ attitude toward music and strengthened both their musicianship and confidence.

Evelyn H.Parent
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Pokie makes lessons engaging while maintaining a thoughtful structure. My son has made tremendous progress in notation and his practice routine.

Aparna R.Parent
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Pokie is a wonderful music teacher. He is patient, focused, dedicated to the student’s progress and enjoyment of music. Pokie is teaching my daughter, my son and even myself and we could not be happier. We highly recommend him.

Kathy V.Parent
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Both my daughter and I study with Pokie. He is a wonderful teacher and has helped us both enjoy playing and challenge ourselves.

Alex K.Parent
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We tried several teachers, but with mixed results. Luckily our neighbor introduced us to Pokie and piano instantly became a family hobby. My daughter and I have very different learning styles, yet Pokie is able to adopt his style to teach us both. He is ever so patient with my now 7 year old.

Maria B.Parent