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.

We feel that piano instruction to young children is an excellent developmental tool to help build a child’s motor skills, develop hand and eye coordination, build self-confidence and support a child’s intellectual development. Because the children in the Pianimals™ Kids Club learn to play at their own rate of accomplishment, every child feels successful in their piano playing. Instruction is given in 15 minute or 30 minute lessons depending on the age and development of the child.

“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 Jean Bradley

My desire to learn and play the piano stemmed from listening to both of my grandmothers. Their pianos had always intrigued me and by the time I was four years old, like them, I had a keen desire to learn to play.

My parents bought our first piano when I was nine and I was finally able to begin taking lessons. I loved practicing the piano and continued to do so for several years. At my last recital, I performed “The Warsaw Concerto” playing all 17 pages by heart.

In 1965, I attended Adrian College in Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Chemistry, and also completed an English Major. Although I loved my studies, it had often crossed my mind that I would have liked to have majored in music instead. Then came marriage and five children which obviously led to a very busy life, but I always found the time every day to practice the piano. Three of my five children eventually turned out to be John Phillip Sousa Award winners if you can believe it!

Patterns, counting, and numerical components included in the study of music reinforce mathematical concepts. The Pianimals Kids method is very well-suited for teaching these factors, especially to younger children. Most of my students are four to five years old and I’ve had great success using the Pianimals kids Method since 2014.

Young children are delightful, love learning music theory, and playing songs on the piano. It has been such a rewarding experience teaching them, and I have been blessed to be able to continue to do so.

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 fairly new to PKC, I have been teaching for three months now. I teach at the All About Kids on Cavalry Dr. in Florence. I most enjoy it when the kids get all excited to learn crazy new concepts such as “the left hand” or for new songs like “Fanny the Fish”.

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.

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