Tonya Pruhs

My name is Tonya Pruhs.  I've been teaching piano for 40 years, I started teaching as a teenager and  never stopped.  I can help you learn to play the piano or get your current skills better.  Learning to play the piano well enough for classical music and even pop music, it takes time, effort, patience, and practice.  I am here to help you through that process.  I can help you set goals, develop good technic, and learn how to perform and memorize if you wish.  

I earned a BM degree in Piano Pedagogy/Performance and also BS in Education from USU, both on full scholarship.   I have taught many students of different ages and levels over the years.  My students have won awards in piano competitions, earned Gold Cups in Federation, and two performed at Carnegie Hall from placing in an international competition.  I enjoy teaching students in all levels.  I have the ability to help students reach their potential, no matter what their abilities are.  I believe everyone can benefit from learning to play the piano.  It teaches life skills.

My teaching style is to customize to each student.  I've been told by parents and previous students that they like that I can be tough when need to and also lenient when need to and that I'm good at helping all levels of students set and meet goals.  I'm strict for those that need that and I'm casual for the students that need that type of teacher.  I can adjust to the needs of each student.  I always want my students to be well rounded and learn theory along with performing.  I have them learn technic by following charts with scales and arpeggios that they progress through.  I try to incorporate ear training and sightreading  in lessons when I can and sometimes have group classes for masterclasses and theory and eartraining.  Since students might do many things with their piano training later in life, I like to prepare them for anything.  They might accompany a choir, or instrumentalists, or play in church, or the organ in church.  They might teach piano or join a jazz band in college.  They might want to be a piano major in college.  They might end up composing their own music.  They might just play for their own enjoyment in life and help their own future children with learning piano.  My job is to help them find their love in music and have the background they will need to do whatever they wish in the future.