The first time I touched the keys of a piano, I knew I had discovered a captivating new world to explore. I was 10 years old, young enough to possess the eagerness to learn, yet old enough to understand the value of music and the passion that must go into learning an instrument. I was intrigued; I immediately knew I had found my life’s purpose.
The first song I learned was “The Rose” by Bette Midler, taught to me by an old family friend who happened to be visiting when I first gained interest in the piano. The second song I learned was Mozart’s Sonata in C major, which I picked up from my mom playing. It was at this point that my mom decided it was time to get me a piano teacher. I have been constantly learning and advancing in the art of piano ever since.
Growing up I had a variety of teachers, but never quite found the right mentor for me until I began studying with the late Larry Elliott when I lived in Madison, Wisconsin. I was his student for 7 years, up until the day I moved to California and we were forced to part ways. He was an incredibly accomplished musician and artist who played for the Madison Symphony Orchestra when he was 16 years old. He was able to train me in a way that ignited my passion for music and helped me grow into the musician I am today. I strive to be the mentor to my students that Larry was to me.
Over the past several years, I have studied advanced piano, applied music, and piano ensemble under the expert guidance of Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky at Saddleback College, and recently earned two Associate in Arts degrees in Music and Liberal Studies. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Music, double-majoring in Piano Pedagogy and Composition, at California State University, Fullerton.
My current repertoire includes pieces such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata (1st and 3rd movements), Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, Chopin’s Ballade no. 1, Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu, Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat Major, Chopin’s Waltz Op. 34 No. 2 in A Minor, Mozart’s Sonata K. 331 in A Major, Mozart’s Sonata K. 333 in B-flat major, Bach’s two-part and three-part Inventions, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor (1st movement), Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 in G-sharp Minor, Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Op. 3 No. 2 in C-sharp Minor, among many others.
My career in teaching began in December of 2014, and I have been teaching students of my own privately since March of 2016. Currently, I have students all over southern to mid Orange County, from age 4 to adult. I am a recently-joined member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California (MTAC), and I am now able to offer the Certificate of Merit program to my more advanced students.
I would love nothing more than to share my love for and knowledge of music with you and guide you in your journey to becoming a skilled pianist.
— Miss Cassie