Appreciation for Kristi

Former student Katrina Grace, an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter in the Seattle area.

"Kristi taught my two children piano for several years, since they were 5 and 7 respectively and it was a wonderful experience. Kristi is very personable, patient and a good listener. She knows how to work with children and how to keep them interested and motivated and most important, how to make learning piano fun and rewarding for them.

We always looked forward to lessons and the kids were always anxious to please her and do their best. I appreciated the way Kristi would check in with them frequently to make sure they were enjoying the songs they were working on and kept in mind the sibling dynamics, looking for ways to keep their playing non-competitive. That, to me, showed Kristi understands children and how they think. This was especially helpful to my son who is 2 years older and expects to be better at everything than his sister.

Kristi was also very flexible and sensitive to our changing needs, be they due to schedule or the children’s changing interests.   She encouraged and supported creativity (my daughter loves to compose her own pieces) while making sure the fundamentals were being taught. I can highly recommend Kristi as a piano teacher or for any job that involves working with children."

-- Robyn Newell

 

"I am writing in regard to the wonderful years when our children, Tom and Allison, were lucky enough to take piano lessons from Kristi Thompson Szilak. Over a period of three years, Kristi was our wonderfully skilled piano teacher and her enthusiasm for music instilled a great appreciation and love for music in both our kids. She was always attentive to each child’s interests and tried to choose music and lessons which would appeal to them personally. Our son Tom, now in college, is a musician who enjoys playing guitar, writing music and singing a playing in a band. We attribute his positive exposure to music to his piano teacher, Kristi when he was in 2nd grade!"

-- Madeleine and Judd Eddy

"Kristi Szilak taught my daughter piano for five years, beginning when Lauren was 9 years old and concluding at age 14, guiding her from a beginning student to a talented pianist.  Kristi's strength as a instructor was making the learning and study of piano fun and exciting, allowing Lauren to pursue music of her choosing while ensuring that the literature was challenging.  I still experience a sense of joy remembering Lauren's last piano recital, listening to her flawless performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the pride Lauren felt following the performance.  I highly recommend Kristi Szilak as an inspiring, talented and motivating piano instructor."

-- Carol Caputo


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