Hello there!  I’m Marcia Vahl, the piano instructor and founder of Maple Grove Piano Studio.  I grew up in Minneapolis and its suburbs, a place rich with music and culture.  I began piano lessons at age twelve, with a piano we moved from my grandmother's house into our home, and with inspiration from parents, grandparents, and others in my life.

 

My high school years were filled with playing for a large church, playing "by ear" for youth group, and accompanying all kinds of solos, duets, and other ensembles. My youth pastor was instrumental in my choosing to enter college as a music major, where I earned my degree studying Music Education and Piano Performance, with German as a minor.  I studied under Drs. Sigrid Luther and Joyce Goodman. After graduating, I taught music classes for 12 years in private schools, including elementary music, middle and high school choir, band and orchestra. 

For 30+ years my private piano studio has served students in Minneapolis, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, New Hope, Crystal, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Corcoran, Hamel, and Maple Grove. There is nothing I enjoy more than working 1-on-1 with students of all ages and seeing them grow as people and musicians.

 

My education and experience trained me to be versatile in teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced students.

• Classroom teaching ~ 12 years, choir, band, orchestra, elementary music classes, music theory

• Private studio teaching for 38 years.

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Service  through Minnesota Music Teacher's Association

• Vice President of MMTA Piano Contests from 2006-2010

• Technology Chair for MMTA, 2005-2013

• Co-Chair of the MMTA Judge Education Committee 2010 - 2015

• Mentor to new members of MMTA

• Presenter on Motivation, Building A Website for Piano Teachers in the 2009 MMTA Studio Management and Business Seminar, Teaching Artistry From The Beginning,  Dealing with Parents, Getting Started with Technology, and Perfect Practice.

• Served on the Piano Exam Development Committee, re-writing the Piano Exam Syllabus (2020)

• President of Minnesota Music Teachers Association July 2017-June 2019

• Currently a Past President of Minnesota Music Teacher Association