About Rose City Piano STudio
When you learn how to play piano, you have a gift that will last a lifetime.
Who studies at Rose City Piano Studio?
The young and the young-at heart. A few sarcastic curmudgeons.
Individuals seeking new insights, reasonably-terraced challenges, accountability, playfulness and gentle humor.
Friends and couples looking to connect with each other by sharing the music that they love.
Everyone is different, and everyone is welcome.
Click here to let Jessica know where you'd like your music to take you.
Even experienced pianists might have longstanding habits that prevent them from playing at their best.
Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash
What teaching method does Jessica use?
It starts with you. Your abilities, goals, interests, your schedule, your motivations. I will often draw upon several approaches to tailor an experience that is right for you.
We always prioritize injury-free technique that facilitates powerful, versatile performance. This is a cornerstone of my teaching philosophy.
I can help you or your child:
Develop and deepen an understanding of, and appreciation for, the language of music
Establish a foundation in injury-free piano technique, or rehabilitate a problematic one
Play challenging passages more fluently and evenly
Memorize music more quickly
Sightread without fear
Improvise conversationally
Perform with greater confidence
Learn goal-setting strategies, exercise the self-discipline of achieving goals, and experience the profound solace and sense of accomplishment that comes with achievement.
Engage with a larger local music community of your peers
The discipline required to gain mastery over an instrument begins with mastery of oneself.
…but sometimes you’re just there for the joy of sharing music with your friends, and I’m here for that too.
Why is there so much emphasis on technique at Rose City Piano Studio?
Great question!
1. Injury-Prevention
Injuries are not simply a problem faced by students and amateurs. In 2017, a well-known pianist suffered what was almost certainly a preventable injury, forcing him to suspend all performances indefinitely.
Unfortunately, poor technique can be a silent scourge that begins as a nuisance over a period of years. Injuries to the soft tissues of the hand can take a minimum of 3-6 months to heal, and are likely to recur.
Re-evaluating and rehabilitating technique will help avoid repeated damage to the delicate nerves and tendons of the hand.
Ideally, all piano students would have access to the principles and training necessary to establish healthy piano technique, and could avoid injuries from misuse altogether.
2. Advancement
Poor technique makes “easy” music harder to play.
Healthy technique makes “harder” music easier to play.*
Pianists with a strong foundation in healthy technique advance more quickly and with less effort.
More food for thought:
Many students reach a plateau at some point. Piano lessons are no longer as rewarding as they used to be. Progress has come to a standstill.
"I used to play the piano, but I lost interest and quit," or "I just wasn't talented enough" are common refrains for students who give up when they hit this plateau.
Oftentimes these students had great potential, but advanced to a point where they could no longer compensate for the ways in which their physical movements were undermining their performance.
*Once a habit of performance is established, it feels easier. When retraining technique, new motions will feel unusual until they’ve been practiced consistently enough to become second-nature. This is why I always advise beginners to start with teachers who offer a strong technical foundation.
3. Joy!
Great technique means you will play with greater ease.
Playing with greater ease is more enjoyable.
It's that simple.
For more about Jessica Carnevale and her teaching philosophy, head over to the Teacher Bio.
History of Rose City Piano Studio
Rose City Piano Studio was originally founded by Jessica Carnevale in sunny Tucson, Arizona. For well over a decade it was known as Rosewood Piano Studio. It was a family of incredible music students who often shared their music with the community through events sponsored by the local teacher's organization.
Recently, Jessica relocated to the "City of Roses." The evolution from Rosewood Piano Studio to Rose City Piano Studio was only natural.
In-home lessons are offered to neighborhoods in Lake Oswego and nearby, and online lessons mean the doors to Rose City Piano Studio are now open to dedicated piano students all over the world.
Rose City Piano's Facebook Page can be accessed here:
www.Facebook.com/RoseCityPianoStudio
