Piano Alive
Learn about Encore's unique and effective group piano method
"Class is done? That felt 2 minutes!" -Jack, 10 year old Piano Alive student
"It's hard to believe that such serious music can be presented in a way that's just so fun." -April, Piano Alive Parent
"This program has brought me so far so soon. I wish this was how I was taught piano when I was a child, but at least now I can know piano this way for the rest of my life." -Deb, Adult Piano Alive Student
"It's hard to believe that such serious music can be presented in a way that's just so fun." -April, Piano Alive Parent
"This program has brought me so far so soon. I wish this was how I was taught piano when I was a child, but at least now I can know piano this way for the rest of my life." -Deb, Adult Piano Alive Student
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What is Piano Alive?
Piano Alive is a holistically-graded music method for all ages to progress through, within a group setting. Based off practical theory, it enables pianists to love playing both on the page and off the page, and know the why and the how behind it. Younger ages learn through color and games, older ages learn through musical "math" and quizzes, and everyone learns through real-world creative collaboration and songs that don't bore learners or listeners.
Piano Alive connects students with a range of learning styles to music as a whole, with piano as the tool to express themselves and experience excellence in technique, application of amazing theory that matters, and the joy of group playing.
This refreshing method has been developed over the past several years by full time instructor and pianist Danika Starrharrt. The results are proven to provide an exceptional foundation and creative springboard in piano -- the kind of inspirational pedagogy we wished we would've had in past generations!
Our track record shows... 95% of students who take a trial class sign up for one or more seasons. 80% of students who have complete a Piano Alive season are still studying/playing piano today. Long-term Piano Alive students transition seamlessly into learning whatever classical pieces they desire, writing songs and improvising intelligently, and playing in groups with confidence.
Piano Alive connects students with a range of learning styles to music as a whole, with piano as the tool to express themselves and experience excellence in technique, application of amazing theory that matters, and the joy of group playing.
This refreshing method has been developed over the past several years by full time instructor and pianist Danika Starrharrt. The results are proven to provide an exceptional foundation and creative springboard in piano -- the kind of inspirational pedagogy we wished we would've had in past generations!
Our track record shows... 95% of students who take a trial class sign up for one or more seasons. 80% of students who have complete a Piano Alive season are still studying/playing piano today. Long-term Piano Alive students transition seamlessly into learning whatever classical pieces they desire, writing songs and improvising intelligently, and playing in groups with confidence.
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About Danika Starrharrt
Known for inspiring the highest potential from her students and her welcoming, down to earth nature, Danika has been a full time music teacher for 20 years. She is a consummate creative performer on the piano who has released multiple vocal-instrumental albums, and her compositions have won awards both in film festival circuits and in statewide and national singer-songwriter associations. As a symphonic composer and multi-instrumentalist, Danika has conducted local orchestras and performed at concerto level on 7 different instruments. She currently performs with her group Starrharrt Symphonic, conducts Canyon County Youth Symphony, scores independent films, owns and operates Encore Creative Center in Idaho, and teaches and improvises and composes music daily.
All of our group piano instructors are trained in Piano Alive methods and work together behind the scenes as a team to keep each individual student challenged and class dynamics thriving.
All of our group piano instructors are trained in Piano Alive methods and work together behind the scenes as a team to keep each individual student challenged and class dynamics thriving.
It's like martial arts classes -- you build skills in your level until you test up. Test Ups are held every 8 or 9 weeks with Danika (currently on Saturdays). Test Up events are free of charge to enrolled students, unless you cannot make an existing scheduled Test Up event and need to book a private Test Up on your own schedule as Danika has opening (15 minutes for $25). Students opt in when they feel ready for a test and their teacher recommends it. A new level placement will be achieved if true mastery is shown for all concepts in their current level.
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Sign up for Piano Alive classes through the New Student Registration/Student Portal under the PIANO ALIVE "seasons."
For full classes we encourage you to waitlist yourself. When we have enough waitlisted we often will start a new class.
For full classes we encourage you to waitlist yourself. When we have enough waitlisted we often will start a new class.
Our instructors are here to have as much fun as you do!
We gather regularly to keep accountable to Piano Alive standards,
to train, to make music together, and to ever keep innovating.
We gather regularly to keep accountable to Piano Alive standards,
to train, to make music together, and to ever keep innovating.
