Looking for Ann Arbor piano teachers? The Ivory League Piano studio serves students looking for piano lessons in Ann Arbor, music teachers in Belleville and Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor music lessons are only a 5 to 10 minute drive from anywhere in either city. Check out the web site for lots of great information and photos, plus student endorsements.
Highlights and features
- Private Piano lessons and music theory computer lab
People
Ms. Cheryl
Owner
The following short article says a lot about my individual philosophy, purpose and vision for sharing music with children!
I have been asked some times what motivates someone to teach piano for 25 years? Another thing I sometimes hear is, You must like teaching the older students more than the 5 and 6 year olds.
The answer to both of these questions is found in the bigger picture or vision. It is this individual vision that was the catalyst for making a program which would encourage children and parents to hang in there through the first few years to learn to read music well enough to experience the real goal.
So what is this bigger picture or vision?
It can be concluded in one sentence. We all have a deep need to connect and communicate.
When we watch a movie, the script offers the first level of communication. But even the most eloquent words cannot move the heart like a piece of music can. It is always the underlying music in the movie which moves us to the deeper level of communication.
When a parent tells me, My kid has been playing that song all week long. They never seem to tire of playing it! I know the child is experiencing the joy that comes from the depths of their own soul. They are developing the ability to not only appreciate but to take part in this deeper level of communication as the music flows through their own fingers.
Laying the foundation in someone's life for this deeper experience of communication makes teaching this instrument a lifetime passion. Knowing that people will use it to feel the love, joy and beauty that resides in their own heart makes it fun. Knowing that some students will use it to assist others experience this level within their souls through public performance makes it worthwhile. Knowing some students will use it to connect with their personal sense of the sacred through worship makes it a noble profession.
Every time a 5 or 6 year old sits on the bench in their first year, I get as much joy as I do when working with the older students. I have seen so many students with no experience of the piano at all and in a few short years they are playing intermediate level music and have a repertoire of personal favorites that have struck a chord within their own hearts. I see where that young kid will be in a few years and that is what makes me even more passionate after 25 years than I was in my first 5 years.
It is the reason I created a computer lab for the studio, a sight reading library which enables students to take books home, digital pianos which create accompaniments for students, and a reward table with new themes every 2 weeks to keep it fun for kids. It is the reason I created The Music Circle Key Signature series and several other music books.
I trust the private teacher will become even more valuable as we see so many music programs being cut from school budgets.
If you have managed to read this entire article about me I hope you leave the page knowing I am really all about you.
That is the larger picture and every parent that enrolls their children in The Ivory league Studio partners with me to enable their children to develop this ability to communicate beyond the world of reading and writing.
I have been asked some times what motivates someone to teach piano for 25 years? Another thing I sometimes hear is, You must like teaching the older students more than the 5 and 6 year olds.
The answer to both of these questions is found in the bigger picture or vision. It is this individual vision that was the catalyst for making a program which would encourage children and parents to hang in there through the first few years to learn to read music well enough to experience the real goal.
So what is this bigger picture or vision?
It can be concluded in one sentence. We all have a deep need to connect and communicate.
When we watch a movie, the script offers the first level of communication. But even the most eloquent words cannot move the heart like a piece of music can. It is always the underlying music in the movie which moves us to the deeper level of communication.
When a parent tells me, My kid has been playing that song all week long. They never seem to tire of playing it! I know the child is experiencing the joy that comes from the depths of their own soul. They are developing the ability to not only appreciate but to take part in this deeper level of communication as the music flows through their own fingers.
Laying the foundation in someone's life for this deeper experience of communication makes teaching this instrument a lifetime passion. Knowing that people will use it to feel the love, joy and beauty that resides in their own heart makes it fun. Knowing that some students will use it to assist others experience this level within their souls through public performance makes it worthwhile. Knowing some students will use it to connect with their personal sense of the sacred through worship makes it a noble profession.
Every time a 5 or 6 year old sits on the bench in their first year, I get as much joy as I do when working with the older students. I have seen so many students with no experience of the piano at all and in a few short years they are playing intermediate level music and have a repertoire of personal favorites that have struck a chord within their own hearts. I see where that young kid will be in a few years and that is what makes me even more passionate after 25 years than I was in my first 5 years.
It is the reason I created a computer lab for the studio, a sight reading library which enables students to take books home, digital pianos which create accompaniments for students, and a reward table with new themes every 2 weeks to keep it fun for kids. It is the reason I created The Music Circle Key Signature series and several other music books.
I trust the private teacher will become even more valuable as we see so many music programs being cut from school budgets.
If you have managed to read this entire article about me I hope you leave the page knowing I am really all about you.
That is the larger picture and every parent that enrolls their children in The Ivory league Studio partners with me to enable their children to develop this ability to communicate beyond the world of reading and writing.
Photos
Reviews (4)
Kathy Woods
My girls have been taking piano lessons from Cheryl for only a few months but it is already apparent that she is a very good fit for us. We were taking group lessons from another studio but my 12 year old wasn't happy there and progress was very slow. I decided to switch piano teachers and I am very happy that we have found Cheryl. I can't believe how quickly my girls are progressing and they even practice without being asked.
They seem to respond very well to her calm and encouraging style of teaching. I love that she gives them every tool possible to be successful including strategies for learning to play the piano, such as ways to achieve better muscle memory in their fingers. I love the atmosphere here as well. As a mom who stays while my girls take lessons, I always have a comfortable place to sit and feel like I am at home.
- Kathy Woods
They seem to respond very well to her calm and encouraging style of teaching. I love that she gives them every tool possible to be successful including strategies for learning to play the piano, such as ways to achieve better muscle memory in their fingers. I love the atmosphere here as well. As a mom who stays while my girls take lessons, I always have a comfortable place to sit and feel like I am at home.
- Kathy Woods
Tanya Piotrowski
Our 10 year old daughter has been taking lessons from Cheryl for four years and our 7 year old son started just last year. Both kids have had a wonderful experience learning piano from Cheryl and they are proud of their own abilities. Cheryl provides a very nurturing environment for learning. She finds creative ways to keep them motivated and enthused, and if they ever become frustrated or discouraged she helps them to see that her job is to make playing the piano easy for them. I can't say enough about the wonderful qualities I see in Cheryl and her devotion to teaching piano to kids!
Cheryl Pastor
"The Pastors' feel that Ms. Cheryl is one of the most patient, encouraging, creative, and experienced piano instructors. Both our children, Taylor (16 years) and Brendan (11 years) have enjoyed learning their lessons with Cheryl for approximately 7 years. We are very pleased with their continued progress and will highly recommend her for anyone wanting to learn to play beautiful music."
- Frank and Cheryl Pastor
- Frank and Cheryl Pastor
Amy Young
Cheryl Wiker has been teaching our boys piano for over 7 years. She is clearly a very knowledgeable piano instructor, but even more importantly, she is truly gifted in the way she works with children. She has firm expectations, but expresses those expectations in a very loving and caring way. She knows when to push and when to let up. I questioned whether it was a good idea to start our younger son with piano when he was in preschool.
With any other instructor, this probably would have been a problem. But Cheryl has an amazing ability to tailor her instruction to meet the developmental needs of children of all ages. I've actually learned a lot about how to be a better parent from watching her over the years!
Amy Young
With any other instructor, this probably would have been a problem. But Cheryl has an amazing ability to tailor her instruction to meet the developmental needs of children of all ages. I've actually learned a lot about how to be a better parent from watching her over the years!
Amy Young