Rachel Herzer

Teaches: Piano

Pronouns: She/her

Teaching Philosophy: A piano instructor for over fifteen years, my teaching practice centers around adapting to each individual's needs and learning styles. My goal as a teacher is to foster a lifetime of musical appreciation and empowerment through a warm and encouraging studio atmosphere. With a teaching style that utilizes a well-rounded, classically based curriculum, my lessons aim to develop student confidence through building early skills of sight reading, theory, and critical engagement.

Music Influences: My teachers, colleagues and students! Silvia Roederer, my teacher at Western Michigan University, was exceptionally inspiring; more currently, fellow musicians and students inspire and bring about new insights all the time. Embracing the beginner’s mindset with a new instrument has also affected how I think about music and teaching - currently I’m wrapping my head around Irish traditional music on the concertina and the accordion, and finding all the mind bending ways it changes my perception.

When I’m not making music: When I’m not teaching, I’m working in the studio as a ceramicist. Otherwise, I’m spending time outside swimming, running or biking; or I’m hanging out with my husband and two dogs while listening to records and knitting.

Favorite Place in Maine: I love a day on the coast and one of my favorite ways to enjoy the water is to take a ferry to the islands - my favorites are Monhegan Island and Peaks Island.