Thank you for your interest in Rugaber Piano Studio.
I have maintained a teaching studio for 38 years in my home studio, in Webster Groves.
My degrees are in classical piano performance & piano pedagogy, but also play by ear, thus I have performed in St. Louis for venues, events for 40 years. Because of that, I like to expose the student to many styles - classical, jazz, contemporary, etc.
I customize lessons & teaching materials for each individual student - every student has different needs and strengths at the piano.
I am a strong believer in aural training, so we incorporate ear training into most lessons, in addition to sight reading. I also work with students to develop an ability to improvise to some degree. Some students come with that talent, & some need help in how to begin that process.
We have recently been learning to compose & that is a thrill to some students, scary for some. But, I believe in continually widening their experiences at the piano.
I regularly incorporate theory and technique into students’ weekly practice.
Music games are a very important part of my lesson format, for the elementary through intermediate level student. I regularly incorporate music games into the lesson & have found that it is a highly effective way for students to absorb & understand new aspects of their piano lessons.
I believe that students develop a strong core knowledge of their piano playing in my studio, and gain a lifetime love for this instrument.