Stacy Rock
About
A little more about me:
I was born and raised in Montana in a very small town. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic music teacher who taught me piano at a very young age. By the time I was 13, I was the accompanist for churches, a professional summer theater and high school competitions. Music was a passion for me. I had a studio in my parent's basement where I wrote and recorded songs on a little 4 track (yes, pre-digital!). I formed a band while in high school and we played local fairs and club dances.
While playing piano for theater groups, I was bit by the acting bug and starred in a professional production of The Sound of Music at the age of 17. I was then accepted into the prestigious acting program at Boston University. Although I was in school for theater, I was still playing piano professionally and writing songs. After graduating college, I moved to NYC and became the youngest piano bar player at the famous Monkey Bar in Mid-town Manhattan. I continued acting as well and starred in several independent films and theater productions. Two of the films won awards including the Firenze Award at the Cannes Theater Festival.
I've released two albums of original music and I am the producer and host of The LA Bushwick Book Club, a group of songwriters that read a book and write a song inspired by it. We recently started working directly with Penguin Random House and new releases from their authors. I am a two-time ASCAP songwriting award winner and have been invited by the famous Blue Bird Cafe to present as a songwriter. I currently work as a professional musician and private teacher.Hello! I am a professional, working musician and teacher. I love to share my passion for music with others and find their unique talents and creativity. I have over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults not only music but songwriting and theater work. I taught in the New York Public Schools with a company called TADA! for several years. We specialized in teaching music theory, musical theater song presentation, songwriting, and script building. With the combination of my classical piano training and my extensive theater background, I can always find a creative approach to bringing out my student's unique gifts. Whatever the student's goal, be it songwriting, classical piano, singing pop songs while accompanying themselves, my joy is finding the path to accomplishing their creative goals!
Teaching Style
Hello! I am a professional, working musician and teacher. I love to share my passion for music with others and find their unique talents and creativity. I have over 20 years of experience teaching children and adults not only music, but songwriting and theater work . I taught in the New York Public Schools with a company called TADA! for several years. We specialized in teaching music theory, musical theater song presentation, songwriting and script building. With the combination of my classical piano training and my extensive theater background, I can always find a creative approach to bringing out my student's unique gifts. I work with each child's personality and gifts and tailor the lessons to help them achieve their potential. Whatever the student's goal, be it songwriting, classical piano, singing pop songs while accompanying themselves, my joy is finding the path to accomplishing their creative goals!
Curriculum
My teaching method varies with the age and needs of the students. Most of my young students will begin with the Bastien Piano series. The Bastien series is a comprehensive set of books that start the young beginner in learning how to read music, sight-read, and understanding theory. The Bastien Piano Basics uses a gradual multi-key approach, with reading beginning in the C five-finger position. I listen and watch carefully as the child progresses to make sure we are moving at a pace the ensures they are fully digesting the lesson while also find the joy and musicality in the music they are creating.
Older students and adults all come to me with different needs. Some would like to learn theory and classical music, while others want to enjoy playing while singing their favorite songs. Some have previous experience and some are brand new students of the piano. All of these needs come with different approaches. We can discuss what your particular needs are before I create your lessons.
I also have a special class that is dedicated to songwriting. If you are interested in that for yourself or your child, please let me know. I have worked with students to enhance their reading and writing comprehension through songwriting, using texts that they are using in school.
Credentials & Affiliations
I have been a professional working musician for over 20 years. I the youngest pianist and singer at famed The Monkey Bar (NYC) and later moved to LA where I played at the Montage Hotel (Beverly Hills), Casa Bella and Prime Steak House in Ventura and other locations and private events around the Los Angeles area, specializing in multi genre and language music. I am a two-time award winner for 2008 and 2009. The ASCAP Plus Awards program recognizes writer members whose works are substantially performed in media not surveyed by ASCAP, or whose works have a unique prestige value for which adequate compensation would not otherwise be received. I attended Boston University for performance arts. I've taught elementary and middle school kids music and drama with the highly sought-after program TADA!, leading improvisation and theatrical games, helping children develop their musical theater singing voices and stage presence and teaching basic music theory. I've also developed original shows and songs with that same age group.
