Grace Garner
About
I’m a professional musician! I’ve been playing piano for 19 years, organ for 6, and I have a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Bridgewater College. I am the church music director at a Lutheran church in Virginia.
I started taking piano lessons when I was six. From there, I just never stopped! From elementary school through highschool, I took piano lessons from a teacher in the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and was able to to win several awards for my piano at guild auditions (juried performances once a year), such as the Sonatina Award and the Paderewski award, as well as the National Guild Diploma.
When I was in highschool, I developed a passion for ensemble music as well. I played in my high school’s band and jazz band for three years, and continued playing in my college jazz band as well. During this time in highschool, I also began playing piano at churches professionally, often accompanying choirs and instrumentalists but just as often simply helping with the service music.
While I was attending Bridgewater for my Piano Performance degress, I worked as a piano and music theory tutor, as well as the manager for the Bridgewater “Screamin’ Eagles,” which allowed me to visit London for our performance in the London New Year’s Day Parade of 2024. I also enjoyed organ lessons throughout my college career and was able to apply them as an organist at several churches throughout my college years, and now enjoy using my organ skills each week as a church music director.
I was honored to receive an “Outstanding Musician” award from Bridgewater College’s music department upon my graduation.
Now, a few years later, I’m thrilled to be working as a Music Director, serving as the church musician and organist and running the choir and handbell ensemble. I have a small piano studio, and am excited to expand it and continue guiding new musicians!
Teaching Style
My love of music doesn’t only extend to performing! I’ve been tutoring and teaching piano for the last several years, first in college and now in my own studio. There’s nothing I love more than seeing someone play their favorite piece for the first time and watching their face light up. I have experience teaching students of all ages; elementary school, college-aged, and golden years alike.
I enjoy adapting my music curriculum for the goals of each student; whether they’re looking to go into music themselves and progress through technical levels quickly, or whether they simply want to enjoy a hobby and learn some of their favorite tunes. Students in my studio receive instruction in foundational music theory, classical and popular music, and music appreciation and history. Remember, music is for everyone! Young or old, beginner or returning, all students are absolutely welcome in my studio.
Curriculum
My teaching method depends on the level of the student. For more students continuing or returning to music, after meeting and assessing their musical skill I will recommend music books (Classical, Pop culture, or Worship-related as would suit their stated interests and goals) that are at their level, and once they have purchased them, together we will work on the pieces, with my instruction and technique bolstering their own private practice to help them learn their selected piece.
For beginner students, I prefer to start off with an adult learning piano course so they have solid material to refer back to during private practice time. These books help to explain foundational music theory, notation, and technique as we go. I will guide students through these courses until we decide that they are at the place where I can begin recommending beginner pieces outside of the course, which will challenge their knowledge and help them grow in the skill.
I recommend that adult beginner students start with "Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Piano Course," or "Adult Piano Adventures: All in One Course - Book 1" in the Faber Piano Adventures series. Alfred's seems to have good stretches for the hands and has lots of practice exercises for each new concept, although they only have a few songs students might recognize while learning. Faber has less hand exercises but more recognizeable songs to learn along the way, and both do a good job of explaining music theory.
I am also happy to provide resources outside of the lessons, such as helpful worksheets, youtube videos, and music exercise websites which students may find helpful between lessons.
Credentials & Affiliations
Piano Performance Degree from Bridgewater College
Music Director at St.Paul's Lutheran church in Hampton, VA
2 years of teaching piano in a private studio post-college
3 years of being a piano and music theory tutor in college
17 years of applied piano lessons
19 years of experience playing piano
4 years of applied organ lessons
6 years of applied organ lessons
Awards from the National Guild of Piano Teachers:
Guild Diploma
Paderewski Award
Sonatina Award
"Outstand Musician Award" received from Bridgewater College Music Department