Education & Teaching Philosophy
Education & Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Gilya Hodos maintains a vibrant private studio that focuses on creating a balanced musician with a love of music. Lessons include instruction in music theory, music history, performance practice, improvisation, and technique. She enjoys working with a wide variety of ages and abilities, from students as young as 4 years old, through adults returning to music or starting for the first time.
Her guiding principle of education is to help students achieve a dedicated and permanent relationship with music. Dr. Hodos believes it is essential for musicians to have a vital and effective set of technical and interpretive skills; her experience has given her the flexibility to use a wide variety of approaches to best connect individually with each student.
As an active performer, she inspires a musical passion in her students through a positive, goal-oriented, and encouraging environment that provides them with an outlet for personal expression and strengthens their confidence. She provides her students with regular opportunities for public performances and encourages them to participate in local musical events.
As an educator, she instills a solid foundation in piano technique in her students, while developing their interpretive abilities through a well-rounded knowledge of solo, duo, and collaborative repertoire, stylistically appropriate performance practices, as well as a historical understanding of the composers whose music they are playing.
In addition to teaching collegiate level courses in Piano Performance, Western Music, World Music, and Music Theory, Dr. Hodos has also taught music history at the high school level, and developed a novel program at the elementary school level that combined poetry, music, and history.
Her goal is to impart an enduring awareness and appreciation of music that will enrich her students and enhance their musical performances throughout their lives.