Joan Chrislip
Piano
Joan Chrislip’s goal is to give her students the basic skills necessary to become lifelong musicians and lovers of music. Lessons are fun; students’ talents and abilities are encouraged. Joan is a firm believer that everyone can acquire the ability to play music if they’re willing to practice every day.
In Joan’s studio, a basic core curriculum is used which emphasizes music reading skills and knowledge of scales and chords, so students can understand what they’re playing. Supplemental materials are based on each student’s interests. Joan’s students have learned to play videogame music, anime themes, a wide array of popular music, and their own compositions. Of course, classical music is also well represented.
Students have the opportunity to play in events throughout the year including studio recitals, Junior Music Experience and events sponsored by the Ohio Music Teachers Association.
Joan is a founding teacher of the National Music Certificate Program (formerly RACE program) and has also taken several of the written and practical examinations herself. For the highly motivated or college-bound music student, there is no better way to prepare thoroughly and attain a high level of musicianship skills. For NMCP candidates, 45-minute lessons are recommended.
Joan believes children are old enough to begin traditional piano lessons when they’ve acquired some reading skills, perhaps reading at the first grade level as a minimum. That way, decoding marks on paper is something they already have experience with. Lessons for beginners are 30 minutes in length. This time is broken into sections (playing, clapping rhythms, writing, music games) to make it easier for young students to remain focused. Traditional lessons usually start at ages 6-8.
For younger students — as young as 3 or 4 years old — Ms. Chrislip offers Suzuki lessons. This instruction method, developed long ago by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and now used throughout the world, makes it possible for children who are too young to develop note-reading skils to reap the benefits of playing a musical instrument.
And for adults, it’s never too late to learn to play the piano! Joan welcomes students of any age and feels a particular empathy for adult students since she began formal lessons at age 18.
While an acoustic piano is the ideal instrument from a musical point of view and digital pianos have many advantages, students will make adequate progress for the first year of study with a simple electronic keyboard. Keyboards should have a minimum of 61 full-sized keys and a non-battery power supply.
Joan Chrislip is a native of Seattle, Washington. She has accompanied hundreds of silent movies and also composes music. She attended Ringling Brothers Clown College and played the calliope at Circus World in Orlando, Florida. Music interests include baroque music, 20th Century classical music, early jazz and swing, tangos, sambas and folk music from around the globe. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Music History from the University of Washington, 1996. Joan has been teaching for 12 years and has taught in the Cincinnati area since 2000. She’s a member of the Ohio Music Teachers Association.