Michelle Humphries Piano Studio

My mother says she knew I was going to play the piano before I could even walk!  I would sit on her lap at church and "play" on the pew in front of me! 

My father was a Southern Baptist minister, and in the 1970's, money was very tight for our family.  My mother bought an old upright piano when I was in the first grade, but I wasn't able to take formal lessons until I was 10 years old.  By the time I was in the 9th grade, I was playing the piano every Sunday and I was accompanying my high school choir.  I taught my first lesson when I was 17, the summer before my senior year of high school.  I continued my piano training by attending Jones County Junior College and The University of Southern Mississippi were my concentration was in piano performance.

Through the years I have been the church pianist for many churches and have accompanied many choirs, both in the church setting and in the secular world.  I have also directed several children's choirs, youth choirs, and adult choirs.  I am currently a member of East Heights Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi where I am the pianist and member of the sanctuary choir.

My goal as the piano teacher is to develop a sense of love for music in your child by introducing them to a variety of music types, composers, etc, as well as teaching them the basic fundamentals of music (music theory).  Professional standards will be maintained and definite goals will be established for each student.  I belong to professional organizations, attend workshops and educational programs, subscribe to professional publications, and engage in other activities on a continuing basis in order to provide opportunities for professional growth and enhance my own teaching skills.

The goal of the parent should be to work as closely as possible with the teacher, encouraging students to practice, do homework, and attend as many extra functions as possible.

Students and parents should remember that learning to play the piano is an ongoing process, requiring desire, discipline, dedication, and TIME.