Cristina Marcu
TONE COLOR YOUR CREATIVITY:
PLAY THE PIANO
COMPOSE YOUR OWN SONG
ANALYZE AND APPLY MUSIC THEORY
BUILD CONFIDENCE
PERFORM
All You need is your creative imagination and the willingness to learn.
"I offer students of all levels a well-rounded musical experience — blending tools from classical to contemporary styles, and encouraging openness to creativity in the moment.
"My goal is to nurture a lifelong love of music while guiding students to build discipline, confidence, poise, and strong musicianship along the way.”
LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO GUIDE YOU TO PLAY :
PIANO Learn how to play the keys with confidence. You will master how to read music while you listen and explore the joy of sound making. Discern sound affects as you learn about tone color and feel your own freedom of expression. Creating harmony or dissonance with melody and accompaniment and contrasting dynamics.
COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION
Students learn to create a melody, whether that will develop into a structured piano piece or it becomes a song. You will be guided to unleash preconceived ideas and just trust being in the moment as your intuitive expression leads you to the next step. Writing music is part of your process to create a full composition regardless if it will be played for the piano, voice or another musical instrument.
Students learn to analyze music through different writing exercises, ear training and creating contrasting sounds on the piano.
"I weave music theory, improvisation, and composition into my teaching — with a focus on how to learn. This empowers students to read, listen, analyze, play with confidence, and trust their musical intuition."
PERFORMING ACTIVITIES
Students have opportunities to perform in recitals, Certificate of Merit (MTAC) exams, honors programs, competitions and master classes.
”As many years of experience as a pianist, composer and teacher, talent without discipline does not give one the chance to develop their music potential. It is important that a student learns technical skill for playing the piano, but the potential for music-making is not measured only by their ability to play the piano.”
BIOGRAPHY
As a child I began to study piano and music theory at the George Enescu Music Conservatory in Romania. My High School years were spent at the Manhattan High School of Performing Arts in New York and my college degree was received from USC Thornton School of Music.
For many years I was part of the piano faculty at San Domenico Music Conservatory in San Anselmo, CA and at the present with Crowden Music School in Berkeley, CA. I teach private lessons at my studio as well as on Zoom.
My very broad teaching experience of thirty years has given me the opportunity to guide students of all ages and levels to enjoy and trust the process of creativity.
“Inspiration is dedication to your creative, authentic self.” Cristina Marcu