Otha Lewis
Discover classical piano through personalized lessons that emphasize musical nuance and sound technique.
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Otha Lewis
Diploma degree
/ 55 min
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
Performance Skills
Piano Repertoire
Music theory
Rhythm and Timing
Scales and Arpeggios
Piano Technique
Finger Placement & Hand Position
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Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for beginners
Piano for advanced
Piano for intermediate
Piano for kids
Piano for adults
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
Student and Tutor reviewed the student's progress on several piano pieces from various Opus collections, focusing on challenges with finger independence, tempo control, and chord transitions. They practiced using a metronome more effectively for complex passages and established strategies for breaking down new, challenging pieces. The Tutor emphasized playing through mistakes to gain useful information rather than stopping, and the session concluded with assignments for continued slow practice on specific sections.
Metronome Mastery: Adaptive Tempo & Precision
Strategic Practice for Chord Shapes & Left Hand Independence
The Power of "Fail-Through" Practice
Anticipatory Hand Repositioning for Smooth Transitions
Navigating the Intermediate Plateau
Student and Tutor started with piano warm-up exercises, followed by a review of musical motion concepts like parallel and contrary motion. They then began learning an ear-based arrangement of a new song, focusing on coordinating right-hand skips with left-hand sustained notes across different finger positions, including accidentals. The Tutor will provide the music for the new song for homework.
Independent Hand Coordination: Skips vs. Steps & Rhythmic Contrast
Adapting Hand Positions & Fingerings for Accidentals
Review of Hand Motion Principles
Composing & Arranging by Ear
Strategies for Overcoming Frustration in Practice
Student and Tutor engaged in a piano lesson, focusing on technique and interpretation across several pieces: Opus 139 No. 73, Opus 802 (various sections), Opus 500, and Opus 299 No. 19. They discussed tempo interpretation, effective practice strategies for difficult passages, and the pedagogical reasoning behind specific fingerings. For follow-up, the Student was assigned to prioritize Opus 599 No. 19, practice Opus 802 Nos. 14 and 15 extremely slowly, and begin Opus 802 No. 11.
Initial Piece Learning & Hand Grounding
Tempo Interpretation & Performance Practice
Metronome Mastery for Tempo Progression
Fingering Philosophies & Practicality
Effective Etude Practice Strategies
The Tutor and Student worked on piano technique, focusing on exercises from Opus 802 and a song from Opus 599. They practiced combining hands separately before attempting them together, and the Tutor introduced a pattern-based reading method for complex passages. The next session will continue reviewing these pieces and introducing new material.
Understanding Musical Patterns: Steps and Skips
Fingerings as Guides
Not Absolute Rules
The Repeat Sign: A Navigator for Musical Structure
Parallel Motion in Music
The student and tutor focused on advanced piano techniques, exploring wrist elevation, articulation, and tempo interpretation based on musical analysis. They practiced specific passages from Czerny etudes, discussed tempo indications and their derivation, and began analyzing a Beethoven piece, emphasizing precise voicing and articulation. The student was encouraged to practice specific etudes to further develop technique and prepare for an upcoming exam.
Elevated Wrist and Finger Technique
Articulation and Phrasing Nuances
Tempo Interpretation and Metronome Use
Voicing and Orchestral Texture in Piano Music
Developing Precision Through Gradual Tempo Increase
The Student and Tutor worked on advanced piano pieces, Opus 802 and Opus 599, focusing on developing technical proficiency, musical interpretation, and pattern recognition. They practiced specific exercises to improve hand positioning, fingering techniques, and rhythmic accuracy, with plans to continue polishing these pieces.
Pattern Recognition in Music
Rhythmic Subdivision and Metronomic Accuracy
Fingering Techniques and Problem Solving
Developing Musical Interpretation and Phrasing
Handling Musical "Walls" and Awkward Passages
Approach & tools used in piano classes
Virtual Piano Apps
Ear Training Software
Chord & Scale Reference Apps
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
Metronome Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Weekend lessons
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