Kathleen Massoud
About
I have happily taught piano students of all ages and levels since 1980 when my husband and I began Massoud Piano Studio in our home. I received my advanced piano training at Hartt School of Music as a piano major and later on at Longy School of Music, where I was selected to perform the Bach Concerto in D Minor with the Chamber Orchestra in 1978. I am the composer of 13 published collections of educational piano pieces (Alfred Publishing), including a Sightplaying series in addition to over 20 sheet music solos. I have been a longtime member of National Guild of Piano Teachers as well as an adjudicator for NGPT, and past president of my local chapter of Music Teachers National Association.
Teaching Style
Although I am classically trained, I am happy to explore and teach other genres of music if the student so desires, including Pop music. My students especially enjoy playing compositions that I have written and have been published. I offer online lessons via Zoom or FaceTime which many students have found convenient and which allows me to teach students anywhere in the country. I like to adapt my teaching style and expectations to the individual student, as every student has a unique personality, skill set and goals for taking lessons. I try especially hard to find music that is motivating for each student. I aim to make piano lessons relaxing and no-pressure for my adult students who usually have busy lives and not as much time to practice. Every year all my students have the opportunity to participate in a Spring Recital video production where students prerecord their pieces at home.
Curriculum
I like to use the Piano Adventures series by the Fabers for most students, including the My First Piano Adventure series for the youngest beginners (ages 5-7). I like to incorporate Music Theory in context with learning individual pieces as well as Piano Technique. I emphasize learning good note-reading skills and have found students do well with the app, Note Rush, as well as my sightreading series, "Let's Sightplay!". I especially love teaching adult beginners and have found the "Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Piano Course" works well with students when supplemented with fun sheet music solos.
Credentials & Affiliations
In the past I have been an adjudicator for the National Guild of Piano Teachers and a longtime member and participant as well. I was past President of my local chapter of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association.). I was awarded First Place in the MTNA Piano Contest held at Boston Conservatory in 1974. I won First Place in a Concerto Contest in 1974 and performed the Mozart Concerto No. 21 in C Major with the Fall River Symphony, and in 1978 I performed the Bach D Minor Piano Concerto with the Longy Chamber Orchestra in Cambridge. I have many of my piano compositions published by Alfred Publishing and previously with FJH Music. Along with my husband, I was the presenter of a workshop titled "Duets For My Teacher and Me" at a MTNA regional Convention in 1993, featuring the duet books I had written that had just been published.
