Lisa Smith
Piano Faculty
"I believe that every student has the potential to thrive in music through attentive, experienced teaching and an uplifting environment. With a stable practice routine and nurturing guidance, a love for playing an instrument and expressing oneself through is available to everyone. Having accrued as much teaching experience as I have, I have gained the rich understanding that every student is uniquely different and each of them possesses very special abilities. My task as a teacher is to understand each of them, to bring out and develop their musical, technical, and intellectual skills, to guide them to work independently, and instill the love of music."
As a distinguished teacher in New Jersey, Lisa Smith's students have received numerous awards, participated in competitions, excelled in Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and appeared on the Carnegie Hall stage. She enjoys working with students of all ages and levels, with students as young as 3 years old, to elementary & middle school age as well as highschoolers pursuing music as a major, adults and professionals. Being a mother of four, and having had the experience of teaching all four of her children piano, Ms. Smith understands each student's unique needs, often incorporating technology into lessons, and has studied a wide variety of repertoire through her years of teaching. Her students are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive performance opportunities available to them, including participating in competitions, auditions, masterclasses, and student performance evaluation programs.
Lisa Smith comes from a musical family, her mother a pianist and avid music educator introduced her to music at a young age. She began her piano study at age of 4, has won top levels and awards from the National Guild Auditions, MEA Competitions, and Outstanding Artist Achievement Awards from Montclair State University. She holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Montclair State University. Her teachers include Eleanor Statemore, Olegna Fuschi, Barbara Holmquest, Edmund Battersby from the Juilliard School of Music.
Ms. Smith is a member of New Jersey Federation of Music Teachers, Music Educators Association, and Music Teachers National Association.