Welcome to MrsBehrensPiano.com!
I am a professional piano teacher located near Basalt, and I travel to your Roaring Fork Valley home for lessons, including the communities of:
Aspen
Woody Creek
Snowmass Village
Old Snowmass
Basalt
El Jebel
Carbondale
Glenwood Springs
About me:
* I have more than 20 years of experience teaching piano to both children and adults at a variety of proficiency levels from beginners up to those about to enter college as music majors.
* I have a Bachelors of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where I studied under Professor Doris Lehnert (with a direct line of piano teachers back to Ludwig van Beethoven!).
* I have obtained and continue to maintain professional certification as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) through the Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA), and am a member of Colorado State Music Teachers’ Association (CSMTA).
* Click these links to see and hear my June 2017 performance of Grieg’s Notturno and Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C#-minor.
* Please scroll to the bottom of this page and click on “Comments” to see testimonials from some of my former students and parents.
* Additional client reviews and information are available on my Facebook Page and on Google Maps.
About lessons:
* I teach towards a classical style of piano music. I begin with students off-staff, but usually within 2-3 months they are reading music on the staff. I teach musicality from the beginning, encouraging students to listen to the sounds and not just play the notes. Theory is coordinated with the music that is currently being learned.
* Beginners normally arrange a 30-minute lesson slot once per week. As students advance, it may become beneficial to change to a 45-minute lesson slot each week.
* For lessons in your own home, you must have a piano in good condition and properly tuned, or a weighted-touch keyboard with standard sized keys.
* Beginners generally should practice 15-20 minutes daily, and as they get more proficient, practice times should increase. Students in a 45 minute lesson should be practicing 45-60 minutes (or more) a day.
* Recitals are generally planned 2 times each year, May and December. Participation is highly encouraged.
How to Begin Lessons:
Please email or call me to arrange a no-obligation teacher/parent/student meeting at the lesson location. During this meeting, I give a complimentary mini lesson, to gauge readiness of beginning students, or assess the level of transfer students, and answer any questions the student or parent may have.
Contact:
email: ddbehrens@gmail.com
Phone: (970)-510-0429 text capable
Debra Behrens taught both our daughters piano lessons for several years. She was reliable, provided a well rounded base and foundation of music,as well as music theory. What I most appreciated in Debra’s approach was her ability to advance each child in their area of interest. For our older daughter she enjoyed more complicated dramatic pieces, while our youngest enjoyed jazz. This helped to keep them engaged and enjoying their musical advancement. I highly recommend Debra Behrens and her passion for music!
Debra taught both my children piano for many years. You won’t find a better piano teacher! She is professional and encouraging, and always found music my children enjoyed practicing/playing. Those years of lessons have paid off, and it’s a joy hearing them play proficiently today. I highly recommend her!
Mrs. Behrens taught me piano for many years when I was in school. She taught me to appreciate many genres of music and valuable performance skills. Under her teaching I played in multiple recitals, helping to boost my confidence in front of others. While she always wanted to see me progress in my method books, she would also let me pick music I would enjoy playing, so I always had a wide variety in my repertoire. When given the opportunity, I still enjoy sitting down at a piano and playing some of my old favorites.
Mrs. Behrens was my piano teacher for many years while I was in school. I really enjoyed my lessons during those years and still enjoy playing and performing on the piano. Mrs. Behrens worked with me to build my knowledge of music and I have greatly benefited from my time spent with her.
Debra Behrens taught many children in our neighborhood and surrounding community for the two years she resided in California. Her students learned an enormous amount under her tutelage–her teaching style is extremely positive and encouraging. Our California community was very sad to lose Ms. Behrens as a teacher: Colorado residents are lucky to have her back home!
What a fabulous piano teacher! Our three children took piano lessons from Mrs. Behrens for about 4 years when they were in their early to mid teens with wonderful results. Mrs. Behrens demonstrated genuine interest in their musical preferences while inspiring them to try new styles of music and providing them with a well-rounded exposure to serious music and music theory. She is a patient and encouraging teacher who connects well with her students. She helps all of her students make beautiful music — not just “play the piano.” At recitals she creates an atmosphere where everyone feels they have made an important contribution to the “concert” whether they were a beginner or an advanced musician. All three of our children still play the piano even though they are now in their twenties.