Studio
Description:
Darden Hanson Burns began studying the piano at the age of seven.
She attended Carleton College, Cornish College where she received the Bachelor of Music degree, the Aspen Music School and Seattle Pacific University where she studied music education. Her teachers have included Ronald Kmiec, Anne Mayer, William Doppman, Mary Norris, Deborah Dewey and Marty Forrest Kinney. Darden has performed extensively as a collaborative pianist with singers and instrumentalists. In addition to her classical music background, Ms. Burns plays and improvises popular music on the piano, sings and plays the folk guitar. She lives with her husband and two daughters on Bainbridge Island where she teaches piano and promotes musical activities in her community.
Darden has been teaching private piano lessons since 1976. She is an active member of the Kitsap Music Teachers Association, the local chapter of the Music Teachers National Association from which she holds a Professional Certificate. She continues her education by attending music workshops for teachers and taking private piano lessons.
Darden has studied with many piano teachers and explored many teaching methods. In her own teaching she draws from a variety of sources and materials striving to create a curriculum for each student that is comprehensive and thorough. She believes that a strong foundation in music reading, music theory, ear training and good technique is essential to playing the piano and she integrates these into lessons from the beginning. This provides the foundation for studying classical repertoire, popular music, jazz, improvisation and composition.
Darden enjoys teaching students of many levels and ages who are keenly interested in playing the piano and who practice regularly. Usually first grade is the earliest time a child is ready to begin piano study and practice effectively on his or her own. A piano recital for family and friends is given by Darden's students twice a year. Additional performance opportunities are provided by music teachers and community arts associations. Darden's goal as a teacher is to make lessons fun as well as educational and she strives to make learning the piano an enjoyable experience for each of her students.
