Best Piano Instructor Glendale Near Me

4worldlovers: They say that music is the language of the soul, and nothing could be truer for inspiring musician, Patti Graetz. She has earned her reputation as a talented conductor and skillful performer. From the operatic stage to the conductor's podium to the teaching studio, Patti Graetz continues to delight audiences around the world with distinctive programs and passionate performing. Explore the site and check out a few of her live performances below.

Music has the power to transport us to another time and place. For more than thirty years, Patti Graetz has harnessed that power with a broad audience of fellow music lovers and passionate musicians alike.

She is an accomplished operatic soprano, voice and piano teacher and choral and orchestral conductor.

She is the newly appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra and teaches voice, piano and guitar in her home studio.

Ever since a young age, Patti found great joy and satisfaction in making music

Since she was four, she knew she wanted to be a singer. She made her debut at the age of five singing "White Christmas" in the school Christmas program. When she was seven, she started piano lessons and began a rigorous regimen of piano practice and the study of music theory.

By the time she was in 7th grade, she played well enough to become the choir accompanist at school, but singing was her passion. She taught herself to play guitar and played flute in band from 6th grade all the way through college. She started voice lessons in high school and, going through an intense multi-audition process, earned a place in the Texas All-State Choir for 3 years - quite an accomplishment.

Her high school choir director and mentor, Coloma Lafferty, was the inspiration that led her to pursue a career in music and attend Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she sang in the famed Concordia Choir under the legendary direction of Paul J. Christiansen. Patti loved choral singing and conducting, but her passion was to have a career on the operatic stage.

After Concordia, her performing career began in community theater and as a professional soloist in major works. She had supporting and leading roles in numerous musicals and operettas, including Pirates of Penzance, The Music Man and Desert Song. She was the soprano soloist in performances of Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem, Poulenc's Gloria, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem and

Vesperae solennes de confessore. She won the graduate doctoral division of

As a recitalist, she loves presenting diverse programs of classical vocal repertoire, but it is singing 20th Century repertoire where she excells. Compositions by Samuel Barber, Vincent Persichetti, Igor Stravinsky, John Corigliano, Lee Hoiby, Richard Hundley and Craig Bohmler are second-nature to her.

She returned to Texas and auditioned for Houston Grand Opera where she sang in 21 operas in three seasons. She shared the stage with famous singers such as Dame Joan Sutherland, Eva Marton, Mirella Freni, Placido Domingo and numerous others.

It was there that she met her accompanist, coach and mentor, composer, pianist, Craig Bohmler. She knew immediately upon hearing his compositions that he was a world-class composer, not to mention a brilliant pianist. Craig and Patti have collaborated on numerous recitals and she has premiered

She was selected to participate in a summer opera program through The Musicians Club of America and had the great fortune of receiving instruction from the staff of the Metropolitan Opera. She learned foreign-language diction from Nico Castel, was coached by Joan Dornemann, stage directed by Mignon Dunn and Janet Bookspan. This experience led her to move to New York to continue her studies and career pursuits.

Patti toured nationally with Texas Opera Theater before moving to Arizona to be near her coach-accompanist Craig Bohmler. Craig is also a well-known composer and Patti has premiered many of his works for soprano. An enthusiastic advocate for Craig's music, she produced his opera "The Achilles Heel" for Showcase Concerts, which was awarded a $10,000 grant. Under her direction for ProMusica Arizona, "Mountain Days: The John Muir Musical" was also awarded a $10,000 grant

Craig also introduced her to her teacher of more than thirty years, Lois Alba. This cherished teacher taught Patti to sing with beauty, freedom, expression and flexibility using the techniques of the Italian school of "bel canto" singing - a technique Patti has shared with students the world over.

Patti won the Arizona district Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions two years in a row, as well as being a finalist for the San Francisco Opera's Merola Young Artist program.

4worldlovers:
Marina is a true professional yet so very personable as well. Our two boys have attended now for almost 15 weeks and their progress is impressive. We have been so appreciative of Marina’s manner of teaching and interaction with our children. Specifically, she is incredibly patient and seems to find genuine joy in teaching. She delights in the children as individuals and encourages their creativity. She recommended, before 10 weeks of lessons, the boys participate in a musical festival. With a touch of hesitation, they chose to participate. They were well-prepared by Marina in time for the performance and had a wonderful experience. Even with extra practice at home to prepare, the workload is quite feasible which is an added benefit as the boys attend a rigorous school. Unlike some other children’s extracurriculars, taking the boys to piano lessons in Marina’s peaceful home is both pleasant and relaxing. In addition to the skills they’ve acquired at Marina’s Music Academy, our younge...

Highly recommend marinas music Academy. My daughter started piano lessons with Marina when she was 4 years old. When we first met Marina my daughter had no idea how to play a piano.Only couple months and my daughter is playing songs now. Marina is very talented and excellent teacher. We recommend this music academy to everyone we know!

Ms. Marina has a great demeanor and knows how to deal with kids to make them cooperate. She uses different strategies and techniques to help them learn. I send my two boys to her (5 & 8) and they love her. She is patient and teaches more then just reading notes. There is a history that comes with learning piano. She is very generous with her schedule openings as well. I am happy we found her.

4worldlovers:
Jacqueline Courson is a professional pianist in Phoenix, Arizona offering the following services: