Mauranui
Music
Learning a musical instrument is a microcsm for life.
​The main shift in a young person's learning really occurs in the areas of practice habits, learning to deal with mistakes (they are gifts that show us what we yet need to learn!), patience, and above all, listening. In short, the ability to look into the heart of a matter or issue and to bring forth a possibility or outcome, a future that otherwise wouldn't have happened. In essence, the ability to develop one's life as a creative process.
From time to time, I will also write pieces for my students, some of which are included below for you to listen to. I have a very personal approach to teaching each student, a quality that I hope the pieces below will reveal.
- Richard van Oosterm
Exercises to achieve a reliable hand shape:
We have been fortunate to have Richard teach piano to our two sons, aged 7 and 10, for the last three years.
Richard is an exceptional musician and teacher. Both of us are teachers in the public school system and have each had experience coaching and providing leadership for sports teams and other student groups; this gives us an experienced perspective when it comes to recognizing effective mentorship.
Richard has high expectations for his pupils and positively encourages their development by focusing on their individual skills, talents and interests. He is firm and kind in his teaching style and, as such, brings out the best in his pupils.
Richard has been generous, friendly, warm and humorous with our entire family.
We look forward to our weekly visits and hearing a tale or two about his long musical journey that spans several countries and genres! We would recommend Richard as a piano teacher without hesitation.
David & Monica Anderson
July 2019
"Richard has been the most amazing piano teacher for our daughter Evangeline. Not only is he extremely talented and professional but he has an encouraging warmth to his teaching style. He has written many songs for Evangeline that she played for her recitals. We have enjoyed Richard as our daughter's piano teacher for the past five years and look forward to many more."
Lynnae & Todd