Piano Lessons

Why are piano lessons at Kansas City School of Music the number one choice in Johnson County? It is because of our exceptional faculty and our comprehensive curriculum. When we hire a new piano teacher, we try to find the best teacher in Kansas City. That has always been our philosophy. Guided by a comprehensive piano curriculum, our piano lessons are then tailored to fit each student’s individual needs. Students at our school don’t just play piano; they excel at it.

Master Teachers

All of our piano instructors have degrees in music performance and extensive experience in music education, and they are dedicated to developing confident and passionate musicians. Learn more about our piano instructors here:

Scott Smith - School Director, Piano

Scott Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Park College and has completed graduate work at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Central Missouri State University, and Bob Jones University. He studied under Joanne...

ssmith@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Rebekah Thompson - Piano, Voice, and Musikgarten

Rebekah Thompson is a piano and voice teacher at the Kansas City School of Music. She holds a Master of Music Education from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Choral Music Education from Brigham Young University. S...

rthompson@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Shenwei Geng - Piano

Shenwei Geng is a pianist, educator, and collaborator. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Missouri - Kansas City under the tutelage of Dr. Rosenkranz, where she was accepted with a full-ride...

sgeng@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Kayli Slayden - Voice and Piano

Kayli Slayden is a senior music major at Mid-America Nazarene University. Although piano is her concentration, she has studied voice throughout her years at MNU. Kayli is concurrently completing a second major in theater with a concentration...

kslayden@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Michael Navato - Voice and Piano

Michael Navato has studied piano and voice seriously since he was a young child. By the time he graduated from high school, he had reached an advanced level in his musicianship and technique. He will soon complete his bachelor’s degree in m...

mnavato@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Un Chong Christopher - Voice and Piano

Un Chong Christopher is a voice and piano teacher at the Kansas City School of Music. She holds a Master of Music in vocal performance and a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music....

uchristopher@kansascityschoolofmusic.com

Comprehensive Piano Curriculum

Our piano lessons are designed to train students in every aspect of the instrument and develop a solid musical foundation. Our piano instructors follow a curriculum that covers all aspects of sight reading, repertoire, piano technique, ear training, music theory, and musical interpretation. Each lesson will be customized based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their interests.

Performance Opportunities

We know from experience that performing is a key part of fully learning an instrument. That’s why we offer many opportunities for our students to perform a variety of styles and in a variety of settings. We hope you’ll join us for one of our upcoming recitals. Additionally, students systematically progress through 24 levels of curriculum ranging from beginner through advanced, and must pass an exam at each level. These exams will ensure that they are confident and prepared going into each performance.

Exceptional Facilities

The quality of facility won’t make or break a student’s ability to learn an instrument, but it can certainly make it more enjoyable. At Kansas City School of Music, our Overland Park campus is conveniently located. The facility has soundproof walls and temperature control, as well as pianos for accompaniment purposes. Our state-of-the-art facilities are just a small part of our standards of excellence.

Keyboard Ensembles

Our keyboard ensembles offer a great way for students to learn in a group setting and work collaboratively with other musicians. We create ensembles based on the students’ age and ability level so that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow as a musician. These groups offer an enriched musical experience that enhances their experience in private lessons.

Parental Involvement

Parental involvement is crucial to a young student’s success. Our piano instructors here at Kansas City School of Music are happy to offer you advice and guidance for getting involved with your child’s music education. We require parents to sit in on lessons if their student is in preschool or elementary school. Visit our parental involvement page to learn more about this.