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The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with felt hammers. The hammers immediately rebound allowing the strings to continue vibrating at their resonant frequency. These vibrations are transmitted through a bridge to a soundboard that amplifies them.
The piano is widely used in Western music for solo performance, chamber music, and accompaniment. It is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the most familiar musical instruments. It is sometimes classified as both a percussion and a stringed instrument. According to the Hornbostel-Sachs method of music classification, it is grouped with Chordophones. The word piano is a shortened form of the word pianoforte, which is seldom used except in formal language and derived from the original Italian name for the instrument, clavicembalo [or gravicembalo] col piano e forte (literally harpsichord with soft and loud). This refers to the instrument's responsiveness to keyboard touch, which allows the pianist to produce notes at different dynamic levels by controlling the speed with which the hammers hit the strings. Learn more about the piano from Wikipedia Wikipedia Piano |
Joyce Harkey Piano Instruction |
 Joyce teaches private piano to students of all ages at the Kirkwood Highway location of Accent Music. She believes that musical excellence is best achieved in an encouraging environment and recognizes that the end result should be life-long skill and enjoyment of music. Using music to bring honor and glory to God is something that brings her much satisfaction. She is an experienced accompanist (instrumental and vocal) and plays regularly on the worship team of Pike Creek Bible Church (Polly Drummond Hill Rd.) She has taught general music in a school setting, including Sight-singing, Music History and World Music Cultures. She is a member of the DE State Music Teachers Association and the Music Educators National Conference. She received her B.A. from Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA where she studied piano with Dr. William Goode. Music coursework included: She is the mother of five children ages 15, 13, 12, 9 and 7 and has been married to her loving husband for 20+ years. Joyce charges $25.00 per 1/2 hour lesson. Payment is taken 4 lesson blocks in advance, paid monthly. |
Debbie Adams Piano, Voice, Flute Instruction |
 Debbie teaches Piano, Flute, and Voice here at Accent Music, Inc. She charges $25.00 per 1/2 hour lesson and takes payments 4 lesson blocks in advance, payed monthly. |
Gina Degnars Piano Instruction |
 Gina earned her BA in Piano Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and has studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Having performed extensively throughout the East Coast in genres including classical, jazz, pop, rock, new age, and world music, her musical experience is diverse. This experience enables her to cater to the specific needs of her students, designing the lessons for the individual. As a singer/songwriter, she has captured the attention of Grammy winning producer Phil Nicolo as well as Grammy nominated producer, David Ivory, both with whom she has recorded her original material. She has been the 'local pick of the day' on WXPN, performed live on WSTW, and has been a finalist in the International Song Writing Competition. Gina's original band "has reigned as Delaware's most unusual act, and one of its most compelling" (Out and About Magazine), and has performed sold out shows in prestigious New York and Philadelphia venues such as The Bitter End, World Cafe Live, The Tin Angel, and The Khyber. Gina currently records and performs as a solo artist and with her brother, Rich, sings and plays for the Kirtan group "Mandala", is the music coordinator for the contemporary service at Asbury UMC, and is a Teaching Artist for the Delaware Division for the Arts in Education. Gina has been teaching professionally for 15 years. All skill levels are welcome for piano and vocal training. Students must be at least 7 years of age for piano and 14 for voice. Payment is $25 per 1/2 hour lesson, due monthly. "I believe in celebrating the unique nature of each and every student, and in helping them discover where their true talents lie, while colorfully developing the skills necessary to become an extraordinary musician." -Gina |
Selma Jones Piano Instruction |
| Selma graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor in Music Education degree, with Piano Performance as her major instrument. Also, she received a Master in Instruction and Education. Selma has been playing piano from age 5, and is currently teaching Music Appreciation, Chorus and Drama in middle school. Selma has over 20 years experience teaching children in Delaware public schools, teaching band, chorus, general music and ballet. She has directed many concerts and has staged musicals. Her greatest professional love is teaching private piano lessons, and she will gladly design her teaching style to the individual she instructs. She will accept any age and proficiency level from beginner to adult. Lessons incorporate technique, theory; ear training and composition can also be part of the lesson at the student's request. Her goal is to help the student enjoy learning to play the piano to feel the lifelong satisfaction playing an instrument can bring. |
Vince Lardear Woodwind and Beginning Piano Instruction |
| Vince Lardear went to Indiana University and received a Bachelor of Music degree as well as a performance certificate. He also obtained a Master of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has studied with David Baker, Jimmy Heath, Barry Harris, Lee Konitz, and Phil Woods. He placed 3rd in the 1999 East Coast Jazz Festival's Emerging Artist competition. Vince is a former member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. This year, Vince has released a new CD featuring many of his compositions performed along with the Marty Nau Quartet and perennial jazz poll winner Phil Woods. He has many years of teaching experience, and specializes in saxophone, but also teaches clarinet, beginner flute, and beginner piano. He offers instruction at the Kirkwood Highway location to any student age 9 and over and any skill level for saxophone and clarinet, and any beginner flute or piano players. |
James Stewart Piano, Keyboard Instruction |
| James Stewart, a North Carolina native, is a critically acclaimed keyboardist, producer, performer and music educator with over 25 years of experience in the music business.
After a rough beginning to his career, Stewart attended Berklee College, where he studied with Bob Winter of the Boston Pops, and played alongside David Rosenthal, Josh Sklar and Steve Vai among others. After graduating from Berklee, Stewart relocated to California where he logged hours as a producer, engineer and performer, working with artists such as Robbie Nevil and Alice Cooper. Stewart has also recorded three solo albums, and is currently in the process of recording his fourth and most anticipated work. James teaches students at least 7 years of age, and his rates are $25 per lesson, paid for in blocks of four |
Collette Coward |
 *************************ON HAITUS***** ******************** Colette Coward is a native of Richmond, Virginia and currently resides in Bear, Delaware. She received her B.M. degree in Music Composition at Georgia State University and will soon pursue a Masters Degree in World Arts and Culture/Ethnomusicology. This accomplished pianist, vocalist, composer, and mime artist has traveled all over the world and has worked with several well-known artists such as Bruce Hornsby, India Arie, Bobby McFerrin, Dionne Farris, Caron Wheeler, Raphael Saadiq, Speech of Arrested Development, Xscape, Takana Miyomoto, The Atlanta All-Stars, and a host of others. She is also currently the alternate keyboardist for Beyonce. Colette has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Carter Center, Disney Land, The Essence Awards, National Black Arts Festival, Copenhagen Gospel Festival, and was featured on the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars as a student composer and recipient of the Joe Sample /Rhodes Composition Scholarship. She also received the Lucille Allen Scholarship for Composition at Georgia State University. Colette has served as an instructor and coach of various art forms for nearly 20 years and is dedicated to the growth and nurturing of creative gifts in people of all ages and backgrounds. Collette charges $30.00 per 1/2 hour session. She takes payment in advance in 4 week blocks. |
Mario Padovani Guitar/Piano/Vocal Instructor |
 *************************ON HAITUS***** ******************** Mario Padovani brings 27 years experience as a professional musician to his role as a music teacher. He has studied voice, theory, harmony and composition with Henry Kerr Williams, former conductor of the Valley Forge Symphony, the Delaware Valley Philharmonic and the Kansas City Philharmonic. He has also studied voice under Jacqueline Beach Falcon (Wilmington Music School) and Dr. Melanie DeMent (University of Delaware). He has studied jazz arranging and composition under John Dougherty of Las Vegas. He released his debut CD, "A Letter to Your Heart" on Matchbox Recordings, Ltd. in the United Kingdom in 2004 as well as a single, "My Beautiful Bird (for Robin),� featuring David Ragsdale of KANSAS on violin in 2005. He is currently working on the soundtrack for the film "A Sicilian Tale" to be released in December 2008. The film is being directed by Frank Lisi and stars Joe Polito, Ealine del Valle (Donnie Brasco, The Sopranos), Sal Darigo (Invincible, The Sopranos) and Vinnie Vella (Casino, Analyze That). He is currently recording his second CD for release in early 2009. |
Jeff Knoettner |
 Jeff, a Berklee College of Music (Boston) graduate, has extensive teaching experience spanning over twenty years with both NJ School of Music and currently Accent Music on Concord Pike.
Jeff's performance resume is impressive, including performing in such settings as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, The Tino Gonzalez band, who opened for likes of Buddy Guy and B.B. King to name a few. Jeff also is a founding member of the Cartoon Christmas Trio, which has been featured on WHYY radio interviewed on ABC's "Dave Polec's World" and was named one of the "Seven things you must do the week before Christmas". Lessons are individually tailored to each students unique needs, and Jeff teaches all skill levels at almost any age. Lessons are $25 per lesson, paid for in advance in monthly payments. Jeff and his wife Karen hold Bi-Annual Recitals in the spring and fall for students to showcase their talents. |
Karen Knoettner |
| Karen, a graduate of the University of Delaware, studied classical piano for ten years under Margaret Sutherland, Nancy Pressley (University of Delaware), and spent a semester studying with David Brown. She also was honored with the Music Merit Scholarship in 1983 while attending UD.
Karen has performed professionally in several different settings. As a runner up in Miss Delaware in 1986, her talent was the piano solo "Maleguena". She also played keyboards for a christian music band "Promise" in 1992, which saw success and was featured on television. Karen has taught professionally for over 11 years, teaching beginners to intermediate skill levels from ages 4 to adult. She is notably good with children, and has even devoted her time to special needs children, as a part of the YMCA's "Free To Be" program, which teaches children with Down's Syndrome and Autism. Lessons are $25 per half-hour lesson, paid for in blocks of four |
