The Heart of Piano Conservatory's piano teacher,
Miss Connie Tatum, M.M., NCTM
provides high quality piano instruction to most ages and levels.
She has been a piano teacher for about 30 years.
Miss Connie Tatum, M.M.
Miss Tatum provides quality piano lessons in a home environment.
"There is no one who could have been a better piano teacher for my son. The combination of depth of musical knowledge with an incredible patience with energetic children is something I have not been able to find elsewhere. Miss Tatum combines service, such as playing at nursing homes, with interesting experiences, such as the Monster Concert, and professional opportunities, such as the Piano Guild. The refreshments after piano recitals alone are worth driving him to lessons every week.
Thank you, Miss Tatum." Dr. Keith Tookey
During the time that Miss Tatum completed her Master's Degree,
Bachelor's Degree, and Associate's Degree
in Piano Pedagogy (piano teaching),
she had several years of instruction in piano teaching.
This instruction benefits her students in the following ways:
As a piano teacher, Miss Tatum teaches her piano students
the correct way to play the piano from the beginning
- which is the easiest way to play the piano.
When students think that piano playing is easy, they are more likely to enjoy playing the piano and want to continue.
The fact that Miss Tatum has had several students win local competitions and receive top grades in the Guild Auditions shows that she does teach her students the correct way to play the piano. Even if you are not personally interested in winning competitions (and that’s ok), you know that the piano instruction you are receiving is of the highest quality.
As a piano teacher, Miss Tatum gives her piano students
the opportunity to play a wide variety of music,
from classical to many styles of contemporary.
Students who play music that they like tend to practice more – and they usually want to continue piano lessons. Miss Tatum works hard to find music that a student likes.
As a piano teacher, Miss Tatum provides her piano students
with the opportunity to earn awards.
Students have the opportunity to earn candy, musical items, gift cards, and other awards through many types of piano activities. Parents report that their children are faithfully practicing and working toward a particular award which they want to purchase from the “store.” Please click on “Practice & Incentives” above for further information.
Miss Tatum is a member of several professional piano teacher organizations
which offer her piano students many opportunities to associate with other piano students.
Piano lessons can sometime seem like a solitary activity. Miss Tatum strongly feels that piano students need several opportunities to associate with other piano students. To be able to offer these opportunities to her students, she is a member of several piano teaching professional organizations (see below). These organizations sponsor several annual piano activities and performances in which her students may participate. When students participate in these activities, they are able to associate and work with other piano students in a social environment. Please click on "Student Activities", above, for more information.
As a piano teacher, Miss Tatum provides an annual opportunity for parents and students
to receive a second opinion about the piano student's progress.
Since all students of The Heart of Piano Conservatory play a program for a Guild judge each year, parents will get a second opinion of how the student is progressing from the student’s Report Card. Please click on "Student Activities", above, for more information.
Miss Tatum has excelled not only in her professional career
as a piano teacher but in school.
Degrees & Certificates
- Master of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy (piano teaching), University of Illinois
- Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy (piano teaching), Summa Cum Laude, Illinois Wesleyan University
- Associate in Arts & Science Degree, Piano Pedagogy (piano teaching) emphasis, Illinois Central College
- Certificate of Achievement in Piano Teaching, Illinois Central College
Honors
- Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano, awarded by Music Teachers National Association
- National Honor Roll of Guild Teachers
- Presser Scholar, awarded by the Presser Foundation, in recognition of outstanding achievement as a Music Major at Illinois Wesleyan University, 1987
- Outstanding College Students of America, 1989
- Pi Kappa Lambda, Music Honor Society, 1987
- Phi Kappa Phi, Honor Society, 1987
- Phi Theta Kappa, National Honor Fraternity of the Community and Junior College, 1985
Memberships
- National Guild of Piano Teachers
- Music Teachers National Association
- Illinois State Music Teachers Association
- Peoria Area Music Teachers Association
Student Honors
- Several piano students of Miss Tatum have won 1st and 2nd place in the local Sonata Festival Competition.
- Piano students of Miss Tatum routinely receive high grades in the annual Guild Auditions.
- Miss Tatum has successfully prepared piano students to enter college as a music major.