Denise Taylor
has been sharing the joys of making piano music with the greater Madison community since 2004. ​ She is experienced teaching all levels, grades K-12 as well as intermediate-advanced level adults. Her teaching style attempts to instill a love of playing piano above all – but she also knows that outstanding skills and musicianship will fuel one’s enjoyment of piano. Students are given a detailed and customized lesson plan each week, further directing their progress. All the while, Denise keeps a gentle tone and sense of humor throughout lessons.​
Denise advocates performance as a critical learning mechanism and is highly experienced in audition and competition preparation. She has prepared students for success at the Wisconsin Youth Concerto Competition, the Bolz competition, local concerto competitions, WMTA District and Regional auditions, Honors Recitals, Federation Jr Festival, among others. Throughout the year, she offers regular performance opportunities that align with the seasons and holidays. Students are given opportunities for additional enrichment including chamber music, group music theory, and special classes in history or theory.​
Denise is active in the music community at large. She is currently Co-Chair of the WMTA District Auditions for the Madison area, Past President of Madison Area Music Educators, and a founding board member of Bach Around the Clock. She regularly serves as a judge or organizer at city and state-wide youth music events.
Credentials
Royal Conservatory of Music Specialist
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​Piano - Advanced
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Piano - Intermediate
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Piano - Elementary
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Theory - Intermediate
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Theory - Elementary
Memberships and Certifications
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Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM)
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Madison Area Music Educators (MAME)
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Nationally Federated Music Clubs (NFMC)
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Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
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Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA)
Credentials
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PhD, History of Music - University of Michigan
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Master of Arts, History of Music - University of Michigan
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Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance - University of Southern California
Student Testimonials
"Iris has been with Denise for four years, and it’s been an incredibly positive experience. Denise is super organized, always planning and lining up classes well in advance. She ensures that students have access to all competition opportunities and goes above and beyond by volunteering at every music festival event. We’re so grateful for her dedication and the supportive environment she’s created for her students to thrive in their musical journey."
-- Xinyi, parent of Iris X.