| Teaching Experience |
I have been teaching adults and children for over 23 years. I taught at the College of the
Mainland in the Continuing Education Program for 16 years.
In the third grade, I took piano lessons with Sister Vera at the Loretto Academy in Santa Fe,
New Mexico. After a year of piano lessons, I learned enough to figure out the notes to different
pieces of sheet music like Autumn Leaves, and I would practice on my own. When I would
play the wrong notes, Sister Vera would slap my knuckles with a ruler. I thought to myself at
the time, if I ever teach piano lessons, I would only use positive reinforcement. To this day I
never reprimand, but instead do my best to help the student feel comfortable and hope to lift
their spirit toward greater levels of achievement.
In 1985, I had an idea to teach the children in Countryside, in League City, Texas to play the
piano. So I gathered up all the children in the neighborhood and started teaching them how to
play the piano. None of the children had a piano so every afternoon they would come over to
my house to practice on my piano. After three months, I invited the parents in for a little recital.
The parents could not believe how well their children could play. After the recital, I decided to
go back to college and get my music degree. I studied under the guidance of Sophia Gilmson, a
concert pianist from Russia who is currently teaching at the University of Texas.
The College of the Mainland needed a piano teacher for their Continuing Education Program so I
began teaching the students at the college. It was a challenge, as every six weeks eight new
students would be looking to me for guidance. I learned it was easier for the students if I
worked with the inexperienced students at the beginning of the class, and then worked with the
intermediate students at the end of class. I kept a full teaching load at the College of the
Mainland for sixteen years.
After teaching at the college for so many years, I decided to teach private lessons. My husband
built me a lovely piano studio in Hitchcock, Texas. It has a beautiful waiting room complete
with a waterfall, gold fish and classical music playing. Parents can relax and fall asleep while I
am working with their children in the next room.
Students who took piano lessons with me at College of the Mainland often continue their studies
with me at my new studio in Hitchcock.
I have enjoyed teaching adults and children for over twenty three years now. I look forward to
sharing my passion for piano music with you.
Mainland in the Continuing Education Program for 16 years.
In the third grade, I took piano lessons with Sister Vera at the Loretto Academy in Santa Fe,
New Mexico. After a year of piano lessons, I learned enough to figure out the notes to different
pieces of sheet music like Autumn Leaves, and I would practice on my own. When I would
play the wrong notes, Sister Vera would slap my knuckles with a ruler. I thought to myself at
the time, if I ever teach piano lessons, I would only use positive reinforcement. To this day I
never reprimand, but instead do my best to help the student feel comfortable and hope to lift
their spirit toward greater levels of achievement.
In 1985, I had an idea to teach the children in Countryside, in League City, Texas to play the
piano. So I gathered up all the children in the neighborhood and started teaching them how to
play the piano. None of the children had a piano so every afternoon they would come over to
my house to practice on my piano. After three months, I invited the parents in for a little recital.
The parents could not believe how well their children could play. After the recital, I decided to
go back to college and get my music degree. I studied under the guidance of Sophia Gilmson, a
concert pianist from Russia who is currently teaching at the University of Texas.
The College of the Mainland needed a piano teacher for their Continuing Education Program so I
began teaching the students at the college. It was a challenge, as every six weeks eight new
students would be looking to me for guidance. I learned it was easier for the students if I
worked with the inexperienced students at the beginning of the class, and then worked with the
intermediate students at the end of class. I kept a full teaching load at the College of the
Mainland for sixteen years.
After teaching at the college for so many years, I decided to teach private lessons. My husband
built me a lovely piano studio in Hitchcock, Texas. It has a beautiful waiting room complete
with a waterfall, gold fish and classical music playing. Parents can relax and fall asleep while I
am working with their children in the next room.
Students who took piano lessons with me at College of the Mainland often continue their studies
with me at my new studio in Hitchcock.
I have enjoyed teaching adults and children for over twenty three years now. I look forward to
sharing my passion for piano music with you.
Gayle's Beginning Piano Lessons
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