Learn in Freedom > Piano Lessons by Grace Bunday
Conserve energy and save your time by taking piano lessons from me, Grace Y. Bunday. I will travel to your home near highways 101 and 7 in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. I have been teaching in Minnetonka, Deephaven, Shorewood, and Eden Prairie since 1993. I delight in sharing the joy of music with students of all ages.
Learn more about me, contact me, or read testimonials from my student families.
I studied at the University of Minnesota School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music (Piano Performance) magna cum laude in 1991. I am a member of the national musical honor society Pi Kappa Lambda and the national academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa. I am a professional certified member of Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) and was coordinator of the MMTA state piano contest in 2007. My students have enjoyed good success in piano competitions, but most of all they have observed their steady progress through more and more challenging piano pieces, and a deepening understanding and enjoyment of music.
I use a great variety of piano method and theory books while teaching my various students. I completed the Suzuki Piano Pedagogy IA and IB courses in March 1993, although I rarely use Suzuki instruction methods with my current students. The aim of my instruction is for each learner to learn to play in freedom, with sound motion and artistic fingers, using all senses to perceive and express music. My approach is to teach students to read music and to play piano by ear. I teach balanced sitting posture and good hand position for musical expressiveness and safety from injury. I also teach music interpretation through developing logical rhythmic sense and musical phrasing.
My goal is for my students to be life-long music lovers and piano players. I will help each learner learn a variety of piano literature, music theory, and ear training, and will provide learners ensemble practice and performance opportunities. My curriculum is designed to give your child a complete picture of music through piano lessons and to develop lasting musical skills and enjoyment of music.
My professional experience includes various previous positions.
I speak both Mandarin Chinese and English. I have been a Chinese teacher for Edina Center for Academic Excellence.
I look forward to hearing from you to arrange a lesson schedule.
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learninfreedom.org
We first met Grace Bunday six years ago. We have two daughters who were six and eleven at the time, and were interested in taking piano lessons. Grace was referred to us by a friend of ours from church who was raving about this wonderful piano teacher they have! Having observed Grace teach my daughters for many years now, I have seen the qualities of Grace that make her such a wonderful teacher.
She has tremendous patience for listening and communicating with her students to assess their interests in music which greatly helps encourage their study. Our experience with piano lessons has been somewhat cyclical with ups and downs in our interest in practicing. Grace will explore different genres of music, different methods of teaching, different curriculums as well as use recitals, competitions, and games to engage the student, and get them through a rough time. I do believe that one of my daughters may have discontinued her studies altogether had she not been distracted from her discontent with a jazz composition.
Grace astutely looks at the developmental progress of her students and adjusts the piano curriculum to her student’s needs. At one point in time it was determined that my daughter needed to spend some more time working on her technique before moving on, and Grace made that adjustment.
Grace shares her passion for music with her students in many ways. One of the most impressive is when she plays at their recitals, and blesses us all with her beautiful gifts.
We have found Grace to be reliable, flexible and dedicated to teaching. It is a privilege and a joy to have Grace visit our home every week. We highly recommend Grace to our friends who want to study piano, every chance we get.
Grace has been a musical blessing to the Watson children. Her approach to music is both professional and passionate. With endless patience, she has been able to install a passion for classical piano in my very active son. He is 9 years old and wowed his classmates, teachers and parents alike by playing Beethoven's Fuer Elise at his school's talent show. Grace allows young students to develop at their own level which instills in them the confidence to move towards more challenging musical pieces. With finger strengthening techniques, she prepares her students for music that is more technical as they advance. Grace builds a strong musical foundation in students, so they are able to fully enjoy a life long appreciation for music.
Grace has been a wonderful piano, as well as flute teacher for my daughters. She has a passion for music and teaches with kindness, patience and respect for each student, no matter their level. She has a wealth of knowledge to impart as is evident in her resume, yet always comments on how her students also allow her to learn. She is accommodating in her scheduling and flexible if need be. One of the best parts of working with Grace is that upon occasion, she may come early or stay a few minutes late to practice a piece she’s working on. By doing so, she inspires and models the results that come from practice. I highly recommend Grace as a teacher!
Grace is an accomplished musician and an excellent teacher. Our active son enthusiastically looks forward to lessons each week. We are thrilled to see his appreciation for music continually grow. It is a gift to listen and watch her students perform with such poise and focus at recitals. We feel privileged to have Grace as a teacher and friend to our family.
Grace Y. Bunday piano lessons in Minnetonka, Deephaven, and Shorewood copyright © 2013 Grace Y. Bunday, all rights reserved.
And since both technique and interpretation are functions of clear thinking and freedom from rigid habit, technique and musicality are—or should be—continuous with one another.