Sowing Creativity
Cultivating Community
About
My name is Laurel Nolin
I'm a Lehigh Valley native with over 7 years of teaching piano and 18 years of performing piano experience. I believe each student can be musical no matter their age, adversity, or background. For me, teaching music through relationships is the most rewarding part of my job and I deliberately seek meaningful connections with each of my students in their piano lessons and music classes.
My Approach
1
Student First
Student-first piano lessons and music classes center the unique needs, interests, and learning style of each student. Rather than prioritizing one-size-fits all piano method, each lesson and class is tailored to the students enrolled.
2
Community Focused
Music-making in community exponentially enriches the cultural livelihood of everyone around. Our music studio structure, group classes, and learning materials highly emphasize doing music together.
3
Wholistic Growth
So much of life can be explored through music classes: thought, physicality, emotions, and spirituality. Art helps people flourish by enriching the whole person with developing problem-solving and communication.
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Teaching Philosophy
In both piano lessons and music classes, I craft my teaching according to the following principles...
Music as a Language
Through a combination of rote and reading, students explore music as they would any other language. Students can expect to learn the notes on the page like they would a sentence, using shapes and phrases rather than individual dots and dashes. Also, the rate at which students learn to read matches their developmentally appropriate understanding of their first written language. Rote learning has many advantages, including strengthening memory, ear training, and isolating technique practice. As a language, music has great power to resonate culturally as researched by Zoltán Kodály. To that end, I intentionally teach piano and music classes with a wide selection of international folk songs. This intercultural experience enriches the student's education with "heart-music" that belongs to everybody.
Self-Determination Theory
Students learn best when they have their own motivations and inspiration in piano and music classes. With all my students, regardless of their age, I plant seeds of self-determination in my teaching. Through simple prompting about student's process, interests, and experiences, the student begins to take ownership of their own learning. This student-led learning can lead to not only intrinsic motivation for practicing, but also more engagement in the musical exploration.
Learning Modalities
Students in piano lessons and music classes will receive instruction visually, aurally, and kinesthetically. While each student has their own primary and secondary modalities, the combination of all three is the strongest approach to wholistic musicianship. I encourage students to draw on their existing strengths in order to experience and understand in other ways, whether by singing, drawing, or moving. Since I have my own way of learning (aural), I actively check my lesson plans to ensure I am catering instruction to the student's primary learning modalities, not my own.
Healthy Technique
The goal of all music teachers is to teach ourselves out of a job. Part of inspiring musical independence is equipping students with the tools at hand. Proper positioning of everything from the feet to the head will help prevent injury, and promote lifelong music-making. I often prioritize "natural" positions such as a loosely rounded hand on the fingertips, heavy arms, and planted feet. My own piano technique has been shaped by mentors in Alexander Technique, Taubman, and Feldenkrais, among many others. Students can rest assured that I take injury seriously and will do everything in my ability to prevent it.
Education
August 2024
Masters in Arts Administration
Ohio University
At Ohio University, I served as a graduate assistant in the piano department, teaching undergraduate piano courses and accompanying instrumentalists and vocalists. My coursework in business and nonprofit management equipped me with valuable skills to successfully run a music studio. Collaborating with professionals from various disciplines expanded my perspective on the arts and the ways they intersect with different fields. Most importantly, I developed a strong appreciation for community-centric arts, deepening my commitment to making music education more accessible and meaningful.
May 2023
B.M. in Music Performance
Wheaton College (IL)
During my piano performance degree at Wheaton College, I was actively involved in both musical and leadership roles. For two years, I served as the accompanist for the Women’s Chorale, gaining valuable ensemble experience and collaborative skills. Beyond my studies, I took on leadership roles in student organizations, contributing to the campus music community. My dedication to academics and performance culminated in graduating summa cum laude, reflecting my commitment to excellence in both music and scholarship.
May 2023
B.M. in Music Pedagogy
Wheaton College (IL)
During my piano pedagogy degree at Wheaton College, I gained hands-on teaching experience by working with students of all ages and assisting in community music classes. This training deepened my understanding of effective teaching methods and the importance of making music education accessible. Since then, I have built on this foundation, accumulating seven years of teaching experience. My time in the program shaped my passion for nurturing students and fostering a lifelong love of music.