Kirstie Bruno
Piano Lessons by Boston University Educator | Creative and Engaging
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Kirstie Bruno
Masters degree
/ 55 min
Kirstie - Your piano teacher
With over a decade of experience and a Master's degree in music, I am Kirstie Bruno, your go-to piano tutor for personalized lessons tailored to your needs. From chords and theory, to technique and performance skills to finding your niche, I cover it all. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, or even a young aspiring pianist, I've got you covered. I specialize in classical music, and various other piano styles, making each lesson engaging and enriching. I have taught students from the very beginning with no prior music or piano experience, students who have been self-taught from youtube tutorials, as well as students who are pursuing music in college but want a little more individualized instruction . Let's hit the right notes together and unlock your full piano potential. Contact me to start your piano lessons today!
Kirstie graduated from Boston University
Your piano teacher skills
Pedaling Techniques
Rhythm and Timing
Ear training
Piano Repertoire
Finger Placement & Hand Position
Performance Skills
Scales and Arpeggios
Piano Technique
CoTutorAI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
Flashcard
Spotlight
Zero Risk Guaranteed
15-days refund
Free tutor swap
No cancel fee
1-yr validity
24/7 support
Types of learners for piano lessons
Piano for beginners
Piano for advanced
Piano for adults
Piano for intermediate
Piano for kids
Piano lessons at a glance
I ofter personalized piano lessons blending ear training, creativity, and progressive instruction for students of all ages and levels. My engaging and empathetic approach caters to beginners, intermediates, advanced players, kids, and adults. I specialize in classical, jazz, digital, and acoustic piano, using a variety of online and offline tools like Sibelius, Ableton Live, Piano Marvel, and interactive whiteboards to enhance the online learning experience. With over ten thousand lessons taught, I have experience with all sorts of levels and abilities and am able to tailor each session to individual needs, ensuring a strong foundation and steady progress. My strength lies in making complex concepts easy to grasp, fostering a deep love for music in each student, and helping them achieve their piano playing goals effectively.
Different types of piano lessons
Piano
Grand Piano
Player Piano
Digital Piano
Upright Piano
Jazz Piano
Piano concepts taught by Kirstie
Student and Tutor reviewed piano pieces, practiced right and left-hand C major scales, and worked on the C pentascale. The Student demonstrated significant improvement in note identification. Homework includes practicing current songs, the new "Nutcracker March" section, and right/left-hand C major scales, with plans to explore a new Christmas song, "Winter Fantasy," in the next session.
Nutcracker March: Transposing & B♭ Introduction
Left Hand C Major Scale Fundamentals
C Major Pentascale & Performance Challenges
Accelerated Note Reading Proficiency
Expanding Repertoire & Holiday Music Preparation
The Student and Tutor focused on setting up the new violin, including adjusting the shoulder rest and microphone settings. The lesson progressed to fundamental bowing techniques and introduced the basic finger positions (0, 1, 2) on all four strings of the violin. The Student was assigned to memorize the string names (G, D, A, E) and practice various finger patterns with slow, controlled bowing.
Microphone Settings for Online Lessons
Understanding Violin Finger Numbers & String Names
Left Hand Position & Basic Bowing Technique
Practicing Finger Patterns on Individual Strings
Violin & Accessory Setup
The Student and Tutor worked on advanced piano techniques for worship music, focusing on a specific song's right and left-hand chord patterns. They also practiced the C# minor scale and explored how to add scale-based fillers to existing chord progressions. The Student was given specific patterns and scales to practice, with a plan to review progress in the next session.
Advanced Left-Hand Chord Voicings
C# Minor Scale Fingering and Practice
Right-Hand Arpeggio Patterns for Modern Worship
Integrating Scale-Based Fillers for Chord Transitions
Leveraging Sheet Music for Precise Arrangements
Student and Tutor worked on advanced violin techniques, practicing scales with new tempo goals and utilizing a digital 'Sound Check' feature for immediate feedback on pitch and timing. They completed 'Long, Long Ago' from Suzuki Book 1 and began 'Minuet No. 3,' focusing on dynamics and articulations, while also introducing advanced vibrato application to the Brandenburg Concerto. Homework includes practicing assigned pieces with new dynamics, rhythm awareness, and vibrato incorporation, with a plan to start Suzuki and Essential Elements Book 2 next week, and to begin 'Carol of the Bells' for Christmas.
Interactive Practice with Essential Elements Sound Check
Introduction to Complex Repertoire & Pizzicato (Carol of the Bells)
Joy to the World - Holiday Repertoire with Vibrato
Refining Brandenburg Concerto Performance
Developing Advanced Vibrato Technique
Suzuki Piece Mastery & Articulations
Advanced Scale Practice & Tempo Goals
The Student practiced violin pieces including "Carol of the Bells" and several exercises from the "Essential Elements" platform (songs 107, 109, 110), focusing on finger placement, tempo, slurs, and half notes. They also worked on A and D major scales, achieving a challenging two-bow D major scale. The Tutor assigned practicing with the "Viol" app for score-based feedback and specific songs (112, 113, 116) from "Essential Elements" for homework.
Gamified Practice with the Viol App
Essential Elements Online Platform for Repertoire
Refining Violin Technique: Finger Placement and Slurs
Mastering A and D Major Scales with Bow Control
Student and Tutor focused on practicing violin pieces, addressing specific finger placement and note value interpretation in "Young and Beautiful." They also began sight-reading a new piece, "Feliz Navidad," which introduced the concept of playing without sharps. Homework includes practicing designated sections of both songs, utilizing mscore for tempo adjustment, and working on a note-naming drill.
Adjusting Fingering for Natural Notes
Demystifying Dotted Note Durations
Mastering Musical Phrasing: Slurs and Ties
Enhancing Practice with Musescore Tempo Control
Introduction to Hand Position Shifting
Note Naming Drill: Speed & Accuracy
Approach & tools used in piano classes
DAWs
Looping Software
Chord & Scale Reference Apps
PDF Sheet Music Libraries
Backing Track Libraries
Virtual Piano Apps
Interactive piano lessons
Open Q&A
Parent feedback
Note taking
Chat for quick help
Mobile joining
Piano teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.
