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December 23, 2025

How Oclef Lessons Differ from Traditional Lessons

I’m sitting at the desk in my house on a cold December morning. To my right is my electric Korg keyboard and in front of me sits my desk and computer. It’s a very different setup than when I started teaching back in 2004. In the early days of teaching, I sat next to my students at my parents’ Baldwin upright piano as the student played. Today, I teach between 25-30 students daily from my home office, about to enter my 4th year as an Oclef instructor. Over these past four years, I’ve thought l...

June 22, 2024

How Oclef's Piano Lessons use Community to Strengthen Family Bonds

How Oclef's Piano Lessons use Community to Strengthen Family Bonds
As I sit at my desk, reviewing our upcoming events calendar, I'm struck by the vibrant tapestry of experiences we've woven for our Oclef families. From the summer BBQ Blues & Bash to the whimsical Valentine's Masquerade, each event is more than just a date on a calendar—it's an opportunity for families to come together, share in the joy of music, and create lasting memories. At Oclef, we've always believed that music education is about more than just teaching notes and rhythms. It's about fo...

November 04, 2018

Food is important.

Food is important.
But they really need daily watering and care. If you consistently water and care for your crops, the total success of the harvest will be bigger. More crops will survive and grow properly.

November 02, 2018

Why are there levels for students learning piano?

Why are there levels for students learning piano?
First of all, for those wondering, these levels are all made up. Some group of people decided a while back to start categorizing pieces by difficulty and then organizing them into 10 levels. Level 1 is the easiest and 10 the hardest.

October 31, 2018

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Over the last 4 years I’ve also learned so much about group format and see it as an integral part of this new model. This new daily model would include a classroom where 4 students would come to practice for units of 20 minutes (with unlimited sign ups allowed). They would have access to top-of-the-line electronic pianos, comfortable headphones and friendly teaching fellows or a teacher always available to help.