Denise Taylor
has been sharing the joys of making piano music with the greater Madison community since 2004. She teaches all levels, from grades K-12 to intermediate and advanced adults. The goal of her teaching style is to instill a love of playing piano above all – but she also knows that outstanding skills and musicianship will fuel one’s enjoyment of piano. Students are given a detailed and customized lesson plan each week, further directing their progress. All the while, Denise keeps a gentle tone and sense of humor throughout lessons.
Denise believes performance is a key way to develop piano abilities and is highly experienced in audition and competition preparation. She has prepared students for success at the Wisconsin Youth Concerto Competition, the Bolz competition, local concerto competitions, WMTA District and Regional auditions, Honors Recitals, and the Federation Jr Festival, among others. Throughout the year, she offers regular performance opportunities in-line with the seasons and holidays. Students are given opportunities for additional enrichment including chamber music, group music theory, and special classes in history or theory.
Denise is also active in the music community at large. She is currently Co-Chair of the WMTA District Auditions for the Madison area, and she is a past President of Madison Area Music Educators, as well as a founding board member of Bach Around the Clock. She regularly serves as a judge or organizer at city and state-wide youth music events.
Credentials
Royal Conservatory of Music Specialist
-
Piano - Advanced
-
Piano - Intermediate
-
Piano - Elementary
-
Theory - Intermediate
-
Theory - Elementary
Memberships and Certifications
-
Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM)
-
Madison Area Music Educators (MAME)
Credentials
-
PhD, History of Music - University of Michigan
-
Master of Arts, History of Music - University of Michigan
-
Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance - University of Southern California
Student Testimonials
"Iris has been with Denise for four years, and it’s been an incredibly positive experience. Denise is super organized, always planning and lining up classes well in advance. She ensures that students have access to all competition opportunities and goes above and beyond by volunteering at every music festival event. We’re so grateful for her dedication and the supportive environment she’s created for her students to thrive in their musical journey."
-- Xinyi, parent of Iris X.