Otha Lewis
Discover classical piano through personalized lessons that emphasize musical nuance and sound technique.
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Otha Lewis
Diploma degree
Enroll after the free trial
Each lesson is 55 min
50 lessons
20% off
/ lesson
30 lessons
15% off
/ lesson
20 lessons
10% off
/ lesson
10 lessons
5% off
/ lesson
5 lessons
-
/ lesson
1 lessons
-
/ lesson
Otha - Your piano teacher
My name is Otha Lewis, an American piano teacher of 7 years teaching students in both in personal and remote capacities. I hold an Associate's Degree in Piano Performance, soon graduating with a Bachelor's from California State University - Northridge. My approach to teaching ensures that students are an active participant in their learning not just at home in the practice room or executing the performance of a piece, but understanding and critically thinking about their intent, musicality, and process. I have learned that progress happens best when a student of any level has a well-rounded understanding of multiple musical facets: history, theory, ear training, rote, technique, creativity. Every student requires a unique approach, simultaneously tuned to their strengths and improving their weaknesses. Come join me in exploring the world of music! Let's grow together as musicians!
Otha graduated from Fresno City College
Your piano teacher skills
Chord Theory
Finger Placement & Hand Position
Pedaling Techniques
Piano Technique
Music theory
Performance Skills
Ear training
Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for Adults
Piano for Beginners
Piano for Kids
Piano for Intermediate
Piano for Advanced
Piano lessons at a glance
Anyone can read a method book and attempt to apply it. I did so for 17 years before I ever sat in front of a piano teacher, internalizing the good and the bad that comes without a guide or professional direction. Of the good comes my approach to teaching, relating back to the steps I took to learn by repetition and rote, and further developing upon such a foundation with the invaluable information and practice I continue to received in my college education. Not only must a student graduate from levels of piano playing through any number of methods to evaluate progress, they must do so with a thorough comfort in multiple levels of execution. Here, I separate my approach from other teachers, favoring constructive methods of the 19th century to supplement the modern pedagogical practice. My curriculum has served over 50 students, tailored to suit students of all levels and ages, and aims to remain as open as a possible to develop supplementary material as needed, composing exercises for a specific need if warranted.
Different types of piano lessons
Piano
Grand Piano
Digital Piano
Upright Piano
Classical Piano
Piano concepts taught by Otha
The Tutor introduced a new piece for the Student to learn and reviewed Opus 802, focusing on pattern recognition and rhythmic accuracy. The Student was assigned specific practice exercises from both pieces. The Student was also instructed to begin learning the first piece of 599, and explore the app the Tutor recommended.
Pattern Recognition in Music
Hand Positions and Root Notes
Rhythmic Interpretation: Short and Long Notes
Contrasting and Parallel Motion
Counterpoint and Musical Dialogue
Efficient Practice Techniques
The lesson covered piano techniques using pieces from Opus 802 and 667, focusing on hand position, finger strength, and sight-reading. The student practiced anchoring techniques and recognizing musical shapes. The student is to continue practicing the assigned pieces, focusing on specific measures, with a shift in lesson schedule to Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Shape Recognition and Execution
Baseline Awareness
Parallel Motion
Anchoring Technique
Efficient Hand Movement
Four-Voice Technique
The tutor and student worked on advanced piano techniques for Bach's minuettes, focusing on fingering, hand positioning, and rhythmic subdivisions like triplets. They also began an introduction to Scott Joplin's "School of Ragtime," breaking down initial exercises and discussing the characteristic syncopation. The student was advised to practice the A section of Minuet 3 and explore the introductory ragtime piece independently.
Musical Register and Hand Position
Rhythmic Subdivisions: Triplets
Syncopation and Ragtime Rhythm
Strategic Fingering and Hand Flexibility
The Student received an introduction to basic piano techniques, including finger placement, rhythmic patterns, and movement concepts like skips and steps. They practiced these concepts through rote learning a piece, focusing on hand coordination and musicality before reading the sheet music. The plan is to study the score and work through assigned materials.
Piano Note Organization
Rhythm: Short and Long Notes
Finger Numbering
Moving in Skips and Steps
Parallel and Contrary Motion
Reading Sheet Music: Note Distance
The Student was introduced to musical notation and rhythm, practicing note values (quarter, half, whole, and eighth notes) and their relationships to a consistent pulse. The Student started learning to read sheet music by identifying notes on lines and spaces, and understanding the function of clefs and measures. They began learning a simple piece to practice these concepts, and will continue with the piece and reading notes next session, working through the assigned workbook pages as homework.
Pulse and Tempo
Note Types and Duration
Musical Staff and Note Placement
Measures and Bar Lines
Piano Hand Positions and Finger Numbers
Parallel and Contrary Motion
The Tutor and Student worked on understanding major scale construction through tetrachords and identifying key signatures for both major and minor keys. They practiced determining tonality by analyzing key signatures and musical context clues within provided examples, with a focus on reinforcing these concepts through repetition and ear training.
Major Scales and Tetrachords
Key Signatures and Relative Minors
Chord Function and Tonality
Approach & tools used in piano classes
Chord & Scale Reference Apps
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
Ear Training Software
Virtual Piano Apps
Metronome Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Note taking
Chat for quick help
Parent feedback
Open Q&A
Record lessons
Piano teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.
