Keren Johnson

Piano, Music Together®, Music Discoveries Camp

Artist Statement

What is your philosophy about teaching and music education?

Keren believes that each student has a unique learning style and is passionate about providing a personalized teaching approach to each individual. Within that personalization she works hard to ensure that each student is equipped with the ability to read music fluently and enriches lesson times with music theory, history, and artistic expression, allowing each student the ability to pursue their individual music passions and pursuits by equipping them with the techniques and skills needed to be successful in those areas. She also believes in the power of being an active listener of the music language and fills lesson times with thoughtful discussions to develop the “musical ear”. 

What has lead you down the path of teaching your musical specialty?

Keren grew up as one of six children, all pianists, raised and homeschooled in northern Vermont. As a homeschooled student she knows the value and necessity of understanding learning style in order to provide a highly customized lesson that fits the needs and personality of each student. In 2009 Keren was awarded several merit based scholarships for her piano performances and began undergraduate studies for a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Vermont under the tutelage of Paul Orgel and graduated magma cum laude in 2013.  

What inspires you and your teaching techniques?

Keren’s teaching techniques are greatly inspired by her friend and mentor: Paul Orgel. His attention to detail and finesse for artistry at the piano were key in her development as an artist. Keren’s grandfather (or Pépère, as she calls him) also played a key role in instilling a joy and love for music in Keren’s life that has spurred her onward in her ambitions as a pianist and instructor. She enjoys moments conversing with Pépère about the Preludes and Fugues by J.S. Bach and other beautiful and technical piano works that challenge and delight. Keren has an insatiable desire for learning in her own life and her enthusiasm is contagious to her own students. She views each lesson as another opportunity to stoke the light of curiosity and passion within her students and help them achieve great goals, both in piano studies and in life in general. She diligently lays out technique and practice habits that will ensure success for her students. 

Teaching Bio 

Teaching piano has been Keren’s dream career since childhood and she began teaching private piano lessons in her own studio in 2006. Her passion for providing quality piano lessons has only grown over the years and in the fall of 2019 Keren joined MCMC as a faculty member to teach piano. Her joy for learning and music education continues to grow with each passing year and she eagerly looks for opportunities to continue her own music education and also seeks to inspire young artists to also adopt the mentality of a life-long learning journey in their own lives. 

Performance Bio

Keren has performed in many local and church concerts and was nominated twice and performed in the President’s Concert, a private event held each year at the University of Vermont and open only by invitation to the President of the university, select members of the community, and visiting dignitaries. She has put music performance on hold for a time as she focuses on raising and home schooling her two young daughters, but she is a strong advocate for the importance of performance in music education. She believes that music is one of the few ways we can adequately convey messages of the soul, and as such, sees performance opportunities as an invaluable gift to both the performer and the listener. Performance also strengthens technical skills of the pianist and elevates the artistry of each student to new heights. Keren strongly encourages her students to seek and take advantage of performance opportunities to round out their music education and she works hard to equip each student with important techniques and skills to produce an effective and successful performance.