Emily White
What do you teach at the Prep Center?
Piano.
Why did you begin taking music lessons?
My mother played the piano and played recordings of piano music at home, taught kids at a school on Saturdays, and held chamber music rehearsals in the house.
How old were you when you started music lessons?
Five with my mother, six more formally.
Did you always like to practice when you were a child?
I didn't like or dislike it, but couldn't sit more than 45 minutes alone until the age of 11.
How did you make sure you practiced enough to be prepared for your lessons?
I had no idea about being prepared. I just practiced all the things on the list and played through old pieces to fill up the time. My first teacher died, so I spent several months without a teacher and went through the books on my own. I wouldn't let my mother help, but we played duets together.
Do you have a favorite musical memory from childhood?
Performing in my teacher's soirée the first time and sliding under the piano at the end (in lieu of a bow). Also, accompanying my first tenor (who later became a house tenor at the Met) in a vocal piece at the age of seven.
How do you vary your approach when you teach children at different ages and levels?
With young kids, I prefer more simple rote imitation and turn-taking, and less explanation. Sometimes kids are frightened by the teacher's voice or by rhythmic clapping. Older kids and adults prefer to talk.
Have you had any students with notable accomplishments (acceptance to a select middle school, high school, or college; competitions; special performances)?
Four finalists and two honorable mentions at the IYAPC international competition in Washington, D.C.; many performers at Weill Hall, Steinway Hall, and Merkin Hall; soloists with orchestras in New Jersey and the United Kingdom; winners in the Brooklyn All-City Competition; several students at Mark Twain and LaGuardia music programs, Manhattan School of Music, Stony Brook, and Cincinnati Conservatory (full scholarship).
What are your most important goals for your students?
Literacy, listening skills, strong rhythm, phrasing, and understanding composers and styles.
What are the most important recommendations that you give to parents whose children study music?
Be present to support them and let them know how well they play, but compliment their practicing only when it is top quality.
What do you like best about teaching music?
Meeting all sorts of people and watching them enjoy musical success.
What are your favorite accomplishments?
Performance on the big stage at Carnegie Hall, Brahms Concerto No. 2 in Poland, master class in Transylvania, and four recordings for Arabesque/iTunes/Amazon.
