I love playing piano and I love working with students of all ages so a career teaching piano is the perfect fit for me! And that's exactly what I've been doing for the past 27 years.
It all began when I was 7 yo and my mom took me to my first piano lesson in our small farming community in western Oklahoma. I was a music major in college and began teaching my first piano students before graduating. After a year of teaching piano full time, I decided to pursue a Master's Degree in Music Education, emphasis in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma. I loved my time at OU and grew so much in piano pedagogy courses and lab teaching.
After finishing my Master's, I moved to Chicago for a teaching position at the Wheaton Conservatory of Music. I taught college level group piano as well as private piano and group theory classes in the Community Music School. While at Wheaton, I got acquainted with the Suzuki Method, becoming certified at the beginning level.
In 2000, I began doctoral studies at the University of Miami (FL). I was awarded a full-time graduate assistantship as the Director of the Keyboard for Kids preparatory piano program. I loved this role overseeing the students in the program, working with parents, and supervising the other teachers. I completed the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Keyboard Performance and Pedagogy in 2005.
From 2003-2017, I was Assistant Professor of Piano/Pedagogy at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. Teaching responsibilities included piano pedagogy courses, supervising student piano teachers, applied piano lessons, and group piano classes for music majors.
All this changed when I met Sam Huskey, who is the Director of Choral Activities at Conway HS. Sam and I met, fell in love, and got married! I am now adjunct faculty at UCA, accompanying and teaching applied lessons. I also accompany Conway HS choirs...and anything my husband directs :)
I'm thrilled to be a part of the Greenbrier/Conway communities. Let's play some piano!