Piano By Jocelyn

Thank you for your interest in Rugaber Piano Studio.    

I have maintained a teaching studio for 38 years  in my home studio, in Webster Groves.  My degrees are in classical piano performance & piano pedagogy,  but also play by ear, thus I have performed in St. Louis for venues, events for 40 years.    Because of that, I like to expose the student to many styles - classical, jazz, contemporary, etc.

I customize lessons & teaching materials for each individual student -  every student has different needs and strengths at the piano.  

I am a strong believer in aural training, so we incorporate ear training into most lessons, in addition to sight reading.   I also work with students to develop an ability to improvise to some degree.  Some students come with that talent, & some need help in how to begin that process.   

 We have recently been learning to compose & that is a thrill to some students, scary for some.  But, I believe in continually widening their experiences at the piano.  

I regularly incorporate theory and technique into students’ weekly practice.

Music games are a very important part of my lesson format, for the elementary through intermediate level student. I regularly incorporate music games into the lesson & have found that it is a highly effective way for students to absorb & understand new aspects of their piano lessons.

I believe that students develop a strong core knowledge of their piano playing in my studio, and gain a lifetime love for this instrument.