Piano Classes and Private Lessons
The heart of Laetitia’s teaching philosophy is to teach the language of music through creative play, the regular exploration of sounds via improvisation and composition, and the arranging of music that students want to learn. We learn best when we are doing something that we love (even when it’s hard!) and the process of doing is the teacher. To best serve her community Laetitia offers several different learning modalities: creative improvisation group class for students 12+ with no outside practicing required, method-book based group class for students 7-11 and 12+ with some practicing required, a small-group Young Composers Project class for ages 9+, and private lessons for older, self-motivated students who are committed to daily practice and want to develop their repertoire, technique, and creativity through improvisation and composition.
Create First! 3 Piano Class for 12+
Open to 4 students ages 12+
Thursdays 5:45-6:45 September-May
Using the Create First! Solo 3 book by Forrest Kinney, we will explore all of the improvisation patterns within this book. This class is designed to be a relaxing and inviting space where students explore these improvisation patterns as a group, in pairs, and individually. From these improvisations students are invited to compose their own music and we will study several different compositional techniques to explore and try.
Students must be competent sight readers to be able to read the notes of the patterns. Students are required to purchase the spiral bound version of Create First! Solo 3 as well as a book of manuscript paper.
Piano Safari 1 Continuation 7-11
Each class open to 4 students ages 7-11
Three Classes: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30, 4:35-5:35 and Thursdays 3:30-4:30 September-May
I am thrilled to continue with the successful and fun Piano Safari 1 curriculum that we began last year. Piano Safari curriculum teaches students to read music intervallically, allowing them to read faster and more fluently than using absolute note names. Supplemented with fun duets, ensembles, and solos students develop complete musicianship, gain confidence, and learn skills that can be applied to endeavors beyond piano. Students will continue to improve their ability to read music, to develop their piano technique, to learn pieces by ear, and explore different improvisation and composition activities. This year students will successfully graduate from level 1 and be ready for level 2. Students who would like to join this class but didn’t do Piano Safari 1 last year are invited to join with instructor approval of appropriate level of prior music-reading ability.
Piano Safari for the Older Student 1 Continuation 12+
Open to 4 students age 12+
Thursdays 5:45-6:45 September-May
Piano Safari for the Older Student 1 was a blast last year and we will continue with the same curriculum this year. Piano Safari curriculum teaches students to read music intervallically, allowing them to read faster and more fluently. Supplemented with fun duets, and ensembles, students develop complete musicianship, gain confidence, and learn skills that can be applied to endeavors beyond piano. Students will continue to improve their ability to read music, to develop their piano technique, learn pieces by ear, and explore different improvisation and composition activities. This year students will successfully graduate from level 1 and be ready for level 2. Students who would like to join this class but didn’t do Piano Safari for the Older Student 1 last year are invited to join with instructor approval of appropriate level of prior music-reading ability.
Young Composers Project Preparation Class for 9+
Open to 3 students ages 9+
Thursdays 4:35-5:35 September-May
This class is designed for 3 self-motivated students who want to submit a composition to the Young Composers Project for Washington State in February 2024. Students need to be competent music readers and motivated to write down their music on staff paper at home between class sessions. Half of the class will be spent working one-on-one with students to help them with notation. The other half of the class will be spent improvising and composing together, either as a group or in pairs. Joining this class needs instructor approval.
Private Piano Lessons
Private Piano Lessons: Laetitia offers individually tailored piano lessons with personally designed weekly lesson plans and assignments to optimize musical growth during the lesson and at home. In addition to learning piano technique, music reading, and music theory, students are actively encouraged to compose and improvise daily. Laetitia regularly improvises, arranges, and composes with her students in lessons.
Laetitia’s students have the opportunity to participate in:
- Three studio recitals a year
- the Kitsap Music Teachers Association Carnival
- the Washington State Music Teacher Association musicianship exams
- the Washington State Young Composers Project
Private lessons are the right fit for students who are:
- Self-motivated
- Willing to practice their assignment 5 days a week
- Want the private lesson time to learn how to practice and learn challenging repertoire, develop their technique, learn music theory, refine their creative voices and learn different compositional and improvisational techniques
Laetitia also offers private notation lessons for students who want to specifically learn how to write down their compositions.
What students and parents have to say:
Get in touch with Laetitia:
- llppianostudio@gmail.com
- (206) 948-4102
- Bainbridge Island, WA