Teaching
Mary teaches private lessons and classes to students ages 3 through adults. She has 30 years of teaching experience. Please see below for pictures and recommendations.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Mary teaches private lessons in: piano, keyboard, guitar (acoustic and electric), ukulele, voice, violin, viola, cello, bass (acoustic and electric), recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, trumpet, harmonica, and drums. She teaches all levels of piano/keyboard, and beginner level for all other instruments and voice (approximately the first 2 years). Mary has created a holistic approach to teaching, and incorporates improv, composition, theory, ear training, and more into her lessons, as needed. She also offers a unique opportunity for her students to be multi-instrumentalists.
In addition to teaching children who attend public and privates schools, Mary also teaches children who are homeschooled and children with special needs. Lessons are available in person and online.
CLASSES
Mary has created and taught many different types of classes over the years. Recently, she simultaneously created music programs for three private schools (pre-K through high school). She is also currently helping two churches create a worship team and develop worship musicians. In addition, Mary teaches Sound for Wellness classes.
Mary has experience teaching pre-school music, general music (k-8), elementary, middle, and high school orchestras, bands, and choirs. She also has experience teaching high school music theory, music history, and ear training, as well as preparing students in high school musicals and chamber groups. Mary has created and taught a number of her own classes and developed curriculum for them. On the collegiate level, Mary was an adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Mary holds graduate degrees in piano performance and music education. She earned state certification in music education (k-12 instrumental and vocal), collegiate certification in piano pedagogy, and training in pre-school music education.
If you're interested in lessons and/or classes, please get in touch with us through the contact info at the bottom of this page. Mary will be happy to speak with you!
Recommendations
When I went searching for a music teacher, I was looking for someone very technically competent and intellectual. While I certainly found that in Mary, I found much more that I didn’t expect.
Studying with Mary, there’s always a positive surprise. For example, she has taught me things about relaxing to help me play that have also helped me relax as a person. She teaches not only how to play but how to learn to play.
When I’m not sure where to go with a piece, Mary can always dig a little deeper and show me the way. If you want to talk about technique, philosophy of music, history of music, or feeling the music, Mary can make it relevant. Even when I am not as well-prepared for the lesson as I would like to be, Mary finds a way to make the time valuable and rewarding.
Mary has had a profound effect on my playing and on my life. I know that, wherever my playing goes, Mary will always be right there “on the page” with me.
Thanks, Mary! -- Nancy W.
Mary Comtois has successfully taught our two sons piano for over three years. Her talent and teaching method have helped them both enjoy and excel in their playing. Both have participated in school and regional ensembles with Mary's guidance. Mary's dedication to her students is evident and has influenced our sons' commitment to continue to play piano. – Judy N.
Thank you for the opportunity you gave me to have these lessons. I would never have learned the piano as well as I do now without you. Thank you for all that you do and for helping me in my musical skills. All your advice was very helpful. I know I’ll be able to come and ask you about anything if I need to. God bless your music ministry and let His light shine through you and all you do!
– Rosemary Q.
Ms. Mary Comtois has been my piano teacher for approximately 4 years. She is extremely knowledgeable but also has the unique ability to bring piano playing and theory to a level that is easily understood. Additionally, I feel that the lessons are personalize to fit my learning style. I truly appreciate her patience and encouragement. -- Carole D.
I have been studying music and learning to play the saxophone with Mary for a year. I have been through many music teachers in my life as I used to play the piano since I was 10 years old. Most of the music teachers I have found are only interested in teaching how to play the instrument. Mary not only teaches the finer things about your instrument of choice but brings to it her overall knowledge of music theory, holistic studies, and her love of God and is able to wrap it all together where you know without a doubt music is definitely a gift from God. The one thing that truly amazes me about Mary is she takes the time to gets to know you, your personality, what techniques enable you to learn the best, your experiences and background and is able to intertwine it with her knowledge and experience and brings about a whole new understanding that I have never experienced before with other music teachers. What touches me the most and demonstrates that Mary really is concerned about the individual coming to a wonderful understanding about music is that she prays for each of her students before a lessons and ask God to help her communicate what that particular person needs to understand that day and how through music she can glorify our Lord and Savior. I truly am blessed to find and work with Mary. She definitely brings about a whole new world in music. -- Bobbi N.