Teaching with Pianimals Kids Club
Teaching a child to play piano is like opening the door to a lifetime love of learning and music.
Our Process & Philosophy
Pianimals™ Kids Club utilizes the Pianimals™ Phonics4Piano method which uses stuffed animals combined with a phonics-based approach to introduce and teach piano and musical concepts to young children. Our program is open to children ages 3.5 – 8 in daycare centers, preschools and schools with after-care programs.
“Being a retired school teacher and a musician, I love watching young children grow and develop cognitive skills, while learning to play the piano. Pianimals Kids Club gives children a foundation in music. This gives them the opportunity to pursue their interests in music later on or expand their love of music, which can last. a lifetime.”
~ Sharon Shapiro
Our Teachers
Meet Mairi Daley
My desire to learn and play the piano came from learning to play guitar. My son brought back a guitar from Ireland and gave it to me as a gift. This led me to purchase my own portable keyboard. I try to practice one or the other daily.
Growing up their was always music playing in our household. My Dad loved country, my one Sister heavy metal, my other Sister soft pop and folk and my Mom a little bit of everything. We had a baby organ which my sister played by ear. I convinced myself that I wasn’t musical at an early age, but I never stopped my love of music and dance.
In college I discovered my “nerdiness” for computers, numbers, patterns. I realized these translated well into the study of music reinforcing mathematical concepts. In the past I parent-taught a hands-on science program to young children at Lakota. I am delighted to be able to teach piano using the Pianimals Kids program.
Young children are so joyful and I am privileged to help grow their love for learning music and playing songs on the piano.
Meet Nicholas Pfarr
Introduced to the piano at a tender age by my mother, I have fond memories of climbing up on the piano bench at five years old and composing my own songs.
So, I have my Mom to thank for fostering my lifetime love of improvising and playing classical piano. She was a professional pianist and filled our home with music as she routinely practiced pieces to accompany local opera singers, classical vocalists, Neapolitan songs to Sacred Music Choirs. And then there were the square dances where she played with my dad on fiddle. (He was a fine artist in his own right and introduced me to another of my life loves.)
I’ve been a music teacher with Pianimals Kids Club since 2015 at several locations: CMH Montessori, Loveland (currently), Goddard, Mason, and Mayerson JCC, Amberly.
It’s been such a joy teaching the young ones. I appreciate their fresh new perspectives and I delight in their progress and in seeing each new skill develop as realization dawns on their faces.
I also teach private lessons to adults. I enjoy both the social connection and, of course, the instructional aspects—sharing musical insights of technique, emotion, and timing that help unlock a seemingly complicated puzzle—and their imaginations!
Meet Noah Jacobsen
I am a Freshman at Northern Kentucky University. I am currently majoring in music composition with the primary instruments of piano and flute. In my free time I like to write/practice music, I like to cook and bake (when I’m not in my kitchen-less dorm), and I like to try to keep my houseplants alive.
Become a Pianimals™ Teacher!
Teaching with Pianimals™ Kids Club is a wonderful way to help young children develop a lifetime love of music and earn extra money at the same time. We encourage you to apply and look forward to receiving your application.