My name is Cheryl Woodford. I have taught children, teens and adults from a home studio since 1993.I am a dedicated, gifted, full time teacher, with a lifetime of experience playing and teaching piano. I have taken lessons most of my life and always strive to play and teach better. My style is down to earth, flexible and challenging. I want students to enjoy lessons and the songs they are learning, so they will stick with piano and have all the benefits that playing piano brings. The greatest feeling is when my students leave their lessons smiling! I want to teach my students everything they need to know to be great piano players and to be able to play whatever they like. I always give choices of songs to learn. I am happy to help with any music that students need to learn for school or church. I love when students talk to me and ask questions!
Anyone interested in learning more about Hands Together Piano Studio can come for a free 30-minute introductory session
This is an opportunity to see the studio, meet the teacher, take a mini-lesson, and get answers to any questions you may have about tuition, scheduling, instruments and practicing. I hope to hear from you. Please get in touch to schedule a free information session!
Served areas
- Eastern Montgomery County, Northeast Philadelphia, Lower Bucks County
Associations and certifications
- Music Teachers National Association - Nationally Certified Teacher of Music
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My name is Cheryl Goresko Woodford, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, and owner of Hands Together Piano Studio. I have been teaching children, teens and adults since 1993 from a beautiful, conveniently located, home-based studio in Willow Grove, PA. I specialize in teaching classical piano lessons, with an emphasis on reading music easily, knowing chords and music theory, and learning to play piano beautifully with great technique.
The fundamental goal at Hands Together Piano Studio is to maximize the likelihood of students acquiring and retaining music as a lifelong companion. There are four specific goals that our program and methodology are centered around. I am a dedicated, gifted, full time teacher, with a lifetime of experience playing and teaching piano.
Hands Together Piano Studio is a beautiful home-based studio conveniently located at 210 Church Street in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, close to the intersection of Davisville Road and Old York Road (Route 611). There is ample street parking. Look for the rainbow colored flag with the treble clef! There is no charge for the introductory session.
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People
Cheryl Woodford
Owner
University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Music
Temple University, Graduate music courses, M.B.A.
Studied the Taubman approach with Sheila Paige and Alex Ramirez
Music Teachers National Association - Permanent Certification as Teacher of Music in Piano
President of Local Music Teachers Chapter for 4 years
Current student of Alex Ramirez
Continuing classes through Music Teachers National Association and The Golandsky Institute
Temple University, Graduate music courses, M.B.A.
Studied the Taubman approach with Sheila Paige and Alex Ramirez
Music Teachers National Association - Permanent Certification as Teacher of Music in Piano
President of Local Music Teachers Chapter for 4 years
Current student of Alex Ramirez
Continuing classes through Music Teachers National Association and The Golandsky Institute
Reviews (9)
Bob Jones
Oct 24, 2017
I started my daughter at age 7 and she studied with Miss Cheryl for 5 years. It was the most amazing experience for my daughter and the program is well defined and Miss Cheryl is an amazing teacher. Now that my daughter is 16 years old and considering music education I look back and credit Miss Cheryl for giving my daughter the gift of music and the early education that put my daughter years ahead of other students at our schools music program.
John Ll
Jun 11, 2016
Very UNprofessional Liked her at first. Thought she was patient. Even when I found out she charges a lot more than other instructors (Most piano teacher charges $40-50/hr, she charges $78/hr as of Nov. 2015), I stayed because I wanted my daughter to have the consistency. Then my job got much more demanding and I couldn't do 30 min. drive one way anymore, so I found someone else just like her - teaching in a small studio that is part of her home, professional with 20+ years experience - but only 5 min. drive and charges much less.
Next time I saw Cheryl, I told her that I found someone closer and cheaper and I wanted to "discuss" it with her. I said discuss, not quit, because I was still on the fence about changing the piano instructor for my child's sake. She became a totally different person. She got very upset quickly, told me I owe her another month of fee (which I paid right there and then), started to ask me so many questions about the new teacher that I felt like I was being interrogated.
When she asked me name of the new teacher, I felt so uncomfortable that I told her I don't remember her last name and only gave her first name coz I was concerned that she would do something. I tried to understand from her point of view-losing one student, probably not the end of the world, but obviously not a pleasant thing. Then my daughter asked her about her dog as she walked towards her dog (she usually tells my daughter to touch the dog), she quickly got up and put a chair between her dog and my daughter and told my 6 year old not to bother her dog.
Right there and then, I decided to change the teacher. For the next whole month, she gave me a silent treatment. She would ignore me when I say hello or good bye. She wouldn't answer my questions. She wouldn't teach anything new but just go over the same thing over and over again. She was also not very patient with my daughter anymore. She would be like "What's wrong with you?!" Three weeks later, she finally talked to me just to tell me the next week will be the last.
I said, "But I thought the week after is the last?" She went "FINE!" then back to silent treatment. Thank God my daughter is no longer with this woman. She has to be in her late 60s or early 70s. And she says she has over 20 years of experience. Then I KNOW for fact, that my daughter is not the first student she has ever lost. She was totally unprofessional about the whole thing and made me feel very bad about last year that we went to her. If anyone I care about wants to take her lesson, I would sincerely suggest them to find someone else. Anyone would be more professional than Cheryl.
Next time I saw Cheryl, I told her that I found someone closer and cheaper and I wanted to "discuss" it with her. I said discuss, not quit, because I was still on the fence about changing the piano instructor for my child's sake. She became a totally different person. She got very upset quickly, told me I owe her another month of fee (which I paid right there and then), started to ask me so many questions about the new teacher that I felt like I was being interrogated.
When she asked me name of the new teacher, I felt so uncomfortable that I told her I don't remember her last name and only gave her first name coz I was concerned that she would do something. I tried to understand from her point of view-losing one student, probably not the end of the world, but obviously not a pleasant thing. Then my daughter asked her about her dog as she walked towards her dog (she usually tells my daughter to touch the dog), she quickly got up and put a chair between her dog and my daughter and told my 6 year old not to bother her dog.
Right there and then, I decided to change the teacher. For the next whole month, she gave me a silent treatment. She would ignore me when I say hello or good bye. She wouldn't answer my questions. She wouldn't teach anything new but just go over the same thing over and over again. She was also not very patient with my daughter anymore. She would be like "What's wrong with you?!" Three weeks later, she finally talked to me just to tell me the next week will be the last.
I said, "But I thought the week after is the last?" She went "FINE!" then back to silent treatment. Thank God my daughter is no longer with this woman. She has to be in her late 60s or early 70s. And she says she has over 20 years of experience. Then I KNOW for fact, that my daughter is not the first student she has ever lost. She was totally unprofessional about the whole thing and made me feel very bad about last year that we went to her. If anyone I care about wants to take her lesson, I would sincerely suggest them to find someone else. Anyone would be more professional than Cheryl.
Google User
Feb 22, 2016
A talented musician and a skilled teacher, Cheryl is dedicated to supporting her students' growth and success. She offers customized lessons based on individual needs and goals, all within a pleasant studio environment. As an adult learner brand new to playing an instrument, I appreciate Cheryl's (years of) experience, enthusiasm, patience, high expectations, creativity, and flexibility.
I have taken lessons from Cheryl for a year and a half and, in that time, her expertise has guided me from piano basics to now reading music and teaching myself songs (with her stewardship, of course). Cheryl is an excellent teacher and a lovely woman. I would not hesitate to recommend her.
I have taken lessons from Cheryl for a year and a half and, in that time, her expertise has guided me from piano basics to now reading music and teaching myself songs (with her stewardship, of course). Cheryl is an excellent teacher and a lovely woman. I would not hesitate to recommend her.
Kathleen Redmond
Nov 01, 2015
Lilianne Ager
I began taking lessons from Cheryl six years ago after I retired, and I am so glad I did. Learning the piano requires patience, repetition and practice. It also requires a teacher who is patient, caring and understands the process of learning to play, plus the myriad of things required like concentration, proper fingering, counting and reading music. Cheryl has provided me with all the things to make my learning possible. I can now play many different pieces of music from classical to modern, making my journey to learn piano enjoyable.
Sherrie Gabage
Thanks and appreciation for being Jess's piano teacher for 11 years. You may not realize the impact you've had not just on Jess, but on the three of us as an entire family. Our appreciation of music grew right along with Jess's. You and your piano studio became part of our lives. I am proud of the fact that I am not a soccer mom; I am a music mom. Jess's commitment to her piano skills pulled us all together.
It was a group project that brought us closer as a family. For that and for being an amazingly committed piano teacher, we thank you. You'll always be a part of our family history.
It was a group project that brought us closer as a family. For that and for being an amazingly committed piano teacher, we thank you. You'll always be a part of our family history.
Vivian Reese
My son just turned 7 years old and has had only 23 lessons. In this short time he has built a repertoire of over 18 wonderful songs. He is very excited to learn because Simply Music makes it very easy. It is a wonderful gift to have music filling our home everyday, and to hear him singing while playing is priceless. Not only that, but I have learned the songs along with him.
Jennifer Lutton
Vanessa W
My son has been taking piano lessons with Cheryl for almost a year and a half and I am so impressed with his progress. Cheryl uses the Simply Music method, which starts with learning to play actual songs, then moving on to learning about rhythm and reading notes. What works for us is that the teaching method is not rigid - my son gets the opportunity to be creative.
He already knows how to play dozens of songs and is still so enthused about going to his lesson each week. I also like that Cheryl expects him to work hard, which makes him strive to do his best. The key is that from the very start, you are playing actual songs, not just scales. Also, the books, CDs and DVDs put all the pieces together - you build this great foundation and hear progress each week. I would recommend learning to play the piano using Simply Music at the Hands Together Piano Studio.
He already knows how to play dozens of songs and is still so enthused about going to his lesson each week. I also like that Cheryl expects him to work hard, which makes him strive to do his best. The key is that from the very start, you are playing actual songs, not just scales. Also, the books, CDs and DVDs put all the pieces together - you build this great foundation and hear progress each week. I would recommend learning to play the piano using Simply Music at the Hands Together Piano Studio.