ABOUT susan Stanger
Susan Stanger holds Associate music diplomas in both teaching and performance from the Western Board of Music. She received numerous scholarships during her years of study, and won the silver medal for the Piano Pedagogy viva voce examination.
Specializing in improvisational skills and composition, Susan has taught piano in Edmonton for over 38 years and recently moved to Charlottetown, PEI where she will continue her teaching journey.
She has held the post of organist and music director at a number of churches in Edmonton, and was resident composer and music director for several years at the Artstrek summer drama school. For many years she marked theory exams for the Western Board of Music, which was an examining board affiliated with the Universities of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Susan has also been the producer, director and composer/arranger for the musical theatre company, “The Harmony Staff” for the past 25 years. This group provides personalized dinner shows for businesses, charities, churches, and other groups, using members of the hosting organization as characters in the show. Some favourite show titles have been Sherlock Holmes' Other Brother, Moose Demeanors, and Harmony Tours Around the World.
Susan has provided workshops for teachers who use her two work books with their students.
- The Ear Book helps students easily hear and recognize intervals. It uses original songs for each interval.
- Timing Counts is a book of rhythm exercises that can be used in a piano studio or in a full classroom.
Sue teaches using a very clever, thematic approach.
A note from Sue
I've been teaching children and adults to make and love music on the piano for over thirty years now, and I still love it.
I’ve been working with adult piano students for the past thirty-eight years, and it’s been a remarkable and enjoyable experience!
Over this time, I have developed a teaching method that allows adults who have never played music on the piano to sound really good in a short time—and sounding good enhances piano playing experience greatly.
Adult students who have played piano in the past can also benefit from this method. Because such students already an understanding of rhythm and may be able to read music, we can move forward very quickly, and with wonderful results.
I've learned a lot about teaching and about what works and what doesn't work. The most important lesson I've learned is that no two students—not even twins—are alike. And so, no two students can be taught in exactly the same way. I've also learned that almost everyone who takes on the study of music can become a good pianist. Most students may never make a living as musicians, but they can learn to play the piano well for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of friends and family.
Here are my goals as a teacher:
Sue
I’ve been working with adult piano students for the past thirty-eight years, and it’s been a remarkable and enjoyable experience!
Over this time, I have developed a teaching method that allows adults who have never played music on the piano to sound really good in a short time—and sounding good enhances piano playing experience greatly.
Adult students who have played piano in the past can also benefit from this method. Because such students already an understanding of rhythm and may be able to read music, we can move forward very quickly, and with wonderful results.
I've learned a lot about teaching and about what works and what doesn't work. The most important lesson I've learned is that no two students—not even twins—are alike. And so, no two students can be taught in exactly the same way. I've also learned that almost everyone who takes on the study of music can become a good pianist. Most students may never make a living as musicians, but they can learn to play the piano well for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of friends and family.
Here are my goals as a teacher:
- To create a love for music and for playing the piano in each person I teach.
- To make each person I teach a well-rounded musician.
Sue
Our son (who quite frankly, would rather be playing sports) was given a different
kind of instruction that kept him engaged with more popular music.
~ S. Rabuka
kind of instruction that kept him engaged with more popular music.
~ S. Rabuka